Falkville’s Town Council adopted a 4 percent water rate increase at its regular meeting on Tuesday night.

The adjustment will become effective with the first billing in January 2013 and will add about 59 cents to the bills of residential customers using less than 2,000 gallons of water per month and about 79 cents for commercial customers using 3,000 gallons or less.

Mayor Bob Ramey said the rate adjustment was necessary because Hartselle Utilities, one of the town’s two water suppliers, raised its rates to Falkville.

“It’s a pass-through increase,” he pointed out. “There is no change to sewage rates.”

The council acted on other matters as follows:

•Approved an ordinance to increase the issuance fee for a business license from $10 to $12.

•Passed a resolution re-appointing Town Clerk Dawn Estes and Steven Parker and appointing Mayor Bob Ramey to the Falkville Planning Commission. Their terms are effective through Sept. 30, 2016. Parker was elected chairman.

•Appointed Jill Stidham to the Falkville Park and Recreation Board, Place 4.

•Approved the issuance of an ambulance business license to County EMS.

•Appropriated $140 to Falkville High School to defray the cost of running a full-page advertisement in the 2012-2013 school annual.