Want to put in your two cents regarding the city's proposed sewer rate increase? Monday is your chance.

The city council will hold a public hearing at Ankeny City Hall during its 5:30 p.m. meeting on the proposed 9.75 percent increase to the city's sanitary sewer rate. If residents have concerns, Monday will be the opportunity to bring them before the council.

The proposed rate was first introduced to the council at a Jan. 30 planning session. At the meeting, the council was told it needs to raise the rates for both water and sanitary sewer services in order to keep up with demand and other obligations within the city’s utility department.

In addition to the sewer rate increase, the city also is in the process of approving a 6 percent increase to the water rate as well.

Perhaps one of the biggest projects affecting the sewer rate is the city’s ongoing effort to shut down Ankeny’s water treatment plant, located on the east side of Interstate 35 at the end of Creekview Drive, and connect to the Des Moines treatment facility located on the southeast side of the city.

“We realized many years ago that our existing plant is not big enough to provide service to our growing community,” Metzger told Ankeny Patch in an earlier interview.

The city then determined it was impossible to expand or rebuild due to lack of tributaries near the city. Coupled with the need to find a cost-effective solution, the city joined with the Wastewater Reclamation Authority to connect to the Des Moines facility.

Work on the switchover continues today, Metzger said. The project likely won’t be finished until fall 2013.

Following the public hearing, the council will consider the first reading of an ordinance which will put the new rate into effect. Subsequent readings will be held at the March 5 and March 19 council meetings.

If the rate is approved, it will go into effect July 1.

Here's a brief roundup of additional items on the council's Monday night agenda:

• The council is expected to approve the 2012-16 Capital Improvements Plan.

• A public hearing will be held for the 2012 Ankeny street patching program.

• The council is expected to approve a professional services agreement with Snyder and Associates for engineering services related to the Gay Lea Wilson Trail Extension - Phase 2 project.

• A public hearing date will be set for the Southwest 18th Street extension project. This project is expected to add access from Irvinedale Drive to Prairie Trail Elementary School when it opens in August 2012.

• A public hearing date will be set for the Southwest Irvinedale Drive reconstruction project.

• The council will hear the results of the city's 2012 Citizen Survey.