New Richmond council members passed an ordinance to establish rent payments for the New Richmond Utilities Department at their Dec. 13 council meeting.

“The village is allowed to charge enterprise funds rent for use of village property, such as village hall,” Administrator Dave Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the utility accounts including water, sewer and garbage are classified as enterprise funds and are separate operations in the village.

He said the utilities will be responsible for paying rent since they use space in village hall to operate.

“These funds then go directly into the general fund,” Kennedy said.

He said the water and sewer funds pay $400 per month and the garbage fund pays $200 per month.

“This was enacted to help offset costs to the general fund,” Kennedy said.