BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington City Council Monday OK'd rate increases this summer for taxicab services in the Twin Cities.

A one-mile trip will cost $4.90, a 60-cent increase. Keeping a cab waiting will cost 50 cents a minute instead of 30 cents. The per-mile rate of $1.80 - or 30 cents per one-sixth mile - goes to $2.40 or 40 cents per one-sixth of a mile.

The flag-down or the minimum charge for a cab will go from $1.50 to $2.50. Currently, cabs charge a $2.50 flag-down rate, which includes a 50-cent fuel surcharge when gas is more than $2 a gallon and a second 50-cent surcharge when gas is more than $2.50 a gallon.

The new rates go into effect July 1.

As part of the rate increases, the fuel surcharge was eliminated, but a $1 per ride surcharge can be added if gas rises to $5.01 a gallon.

Base fares in nearby Central Illinois cities ranged from $2 to $6, it was noted in an earlier report to the mayor and City Council submitted by Barbara Adkins, deputy city manager, and City Manager Tom Hamilton.

With continually rising gasoline prices, now was the time to adjust the cost for taxi service higher, said one cab company owner after the meeting.

"It is modest, but it is a big stride," said Aaron Halliday, president of Checker Cab of Bloomington. "It (a rate increase) hasn't been done since 2001."

"We were considerably less than other cities," he said, noting comparisons were done with Champaign/Urbana, Decatur, Peoria and Springfield.

By agreement with Normal's council, Bloomington regulates the three taxicab companies that operate in Bloomington and Normal.

Retirements at the water department

In another matter, the council approved spending $16,500 on a knowledge transfer project with Clark Dietz Inc., involving the city's water department.

Craig Cummings, director of the water department, said the city needs to record workers' extensive knowledge of the water distribution system before several of them - including a 50-year employee - retire. Much of their knowledge of the water distribution system is not written down,

Cummings said recording their knowledge would not only update system maps and other records which are outdated, but head off future problems "not on anyone's radar."

Also, alderman Allen Gibson said he has received a lot of complaints about loud mufflers, especially on motorcycles, and it was not only in his ward but in other parts of Bloomington.

"We should be ticketing everyone out there," he said.