ALBION - Once again, the Albion City Council could not conduct business during its regular monthly meeting because of the lack of a quorum.

Only two councilmen, Rick Mahoney and Nate Warren, were present. Councilman Don Bowden was too ill to even participate by phone, so the appointment of a person to fill the remaining two months of Kelly Forsgren's term could not be approved. The meeting was tentatively rescheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the city office. This will be after the city election, so the council will be able to canvass the ballots.

Because no business could be conducted, items of information only were presented. Bill Hays, a circuit rider with the Idaho Rural Water Association, explained a computer program the association has that will help the city determine its new water rates.

In introducing Hays, Mayor Don Danner said, "The council wants to be sure we are setting the fairest rate possible, but still covering city expenditures."

Hays showed what facts are fed into the program to determine reasonable and effective rates.

"No two cities are alike," he said. "There are many variables."

Hays explained that the fixed expenditures determine the base rate and variable expenditures the usage rate or cost per so many gallons.

"The program cannot figure tiered usage rates," he said. "That has to be determined by the council."

He answered questions from the council and the audience. He noted that in Idaho, the average water usage per person is 300 gallons per day as compared with a national average of 125.

Other matters discussed or announced were: issues to be resolved concerning the Mountain Meadow subdivision; a rescheduled date for the final Gem Community presentation of the year; a letter of recommendation requested by Galena Engineering that performed the water study for Albion; a letter for the city auditors to proceed with the audit of the city's books.

Also, Marcella Mahoney announced that the annual turning on of the Christmas lights in front of the city office/library will be at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3.