BLOOMFIELD — Could utility rates in Bloomfield increase by 15 percent? That was part of the discussion this week at the Bloomfield City Council meeting.

A preliminary summary from Hall Engineering proposes a 15.03 percent spike, which received a collective gasp from audience members in attendance at the meeting.

The calculation reflects “only the pass-through of what the [Southern Iowa Electric Co-op] is charged,” said Ted Henderson, the city’s director of public works.

Councilman Jeff Anderson suggested that an evaluation of electric utility performance might help to understand the numbers while fellow Councilman Craig Scott said he had expected proposals that could be compared side-by-side.

Henderson said that a Hall representative is willing to attend the council’s Dec. 4 meeting to provide more detailed proposals and projections and to answer questions. The council approved the presentation and a public hearing for that date.

In other business, the council:

• Tabled a proposal that would allow ATVs within city limits for the purposes of snow removal. Currently the code of ordinances restricts ATVs to certain areas and during emergencies, and requires owners to register them with the county recorder.

• Discussed the possibility of outsourcing the maintenance of the I.O.O.F. Cemetery. “I think it’s an expense that’s a lot more than we think,” said Anderson, adding that the same could be done for Lake Fisher under one contract. Mayor Sam Eakins proposed that bids be solicited to explore the costs. Anderson said that bids should be due by the Jan. 15, 2009 meeting to evaluate the impact on the next year’s budget. That proposal was approved.