The Fort Oglethorpe city council, meeting for the first time without recently deceased member Eddie Stinnett and ousted member Charles Sharrock, held its last meeting of 2012 on Dec. 10.

Mayor Lynn Long asked for a moment of silent prayer for Stinnett and his family to open the council meeting.

Sharrock was in attendance in the audience but had no comments.

The council set water/sewer rates for the coming year. These are based on charges levied by the city of Chattanooga and Tennessee American Water Co.

For city residents, the rates will climb from $26.20 per month to $27.65, an increase of $1.45. Commercial rates will rise from $34.01 to $35.88, up by $1.87.

Outside the city limits, rates will climb by $1.05, from $17.54 to $18.59 for residences, and commercial rates will go from $22.15 to $23.87.

While concern was raised over a proposed regional water organization, city manager Ron Goulart said he felt that the city was in good condition and ahead of the game due to the recent upgrades that had been made.

In other business at the Dec. 10 council meeting:

· Lt. Gary McConathy of the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department addressed the council on an update of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety grant. This grant has been in existence since 2005 and is worth $15,000 in funds this year.

According to McConathy, the police department will use the grant this year to purchase breathalyzers, cameras, and a Lidar speed-detection device.

· City manager Goulart announced that the city's current workman's compensation insurance carrier would no longer be in effect after Dec. 31. He said he had received a bid from the Georgia Municipal Association for coverage in the amount of $148,166. The council voted to accept this bid.

· Council member Louis Hamm noted that Ronnie Davis had been appointed to the Downtown Development Authority board and requested council approval for this move.

· The council voted to continue its practice of giving each city employee a $100 gift card for Christmas and also voted to cancel the Dec. 24 council meeting.

· The council heard from election superintendent Orma Luckey regarding a special called election to fill the unexpired term of Stinnett. That election will take place March 19.