WATER AND SEWER RATES INCREASE — Citing the need to increase revenue to support the operations and improvements of the city’s water and wastewater treatment systems, the Wellsburg City Council agreed Tuesday to increase water and sewer rates for the city. –Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Citing the need to increase revenue to support operations and improvements to the city’s water and wastewater treatment systems, the Wellsburg Council passed first readings Tuesday to increase the city’s water and sewer rates .

Pending second readings scheduled for the Dec. 10 council meeting, the city’s minimum monthly sewer charge will be increased in three steps: from $21.40 to $27.50 45 days after approval, $30, 80 after 6 months after that and $36.38 after 6 months from that time.

Unmetered customers will have a minimum monthly charge of $55.70 first, followed by $66.80 and $78.93 at subsequent six-month intervals.

City Manager Steve Maguschak noted that the city’s sewer rates have not increased since 2010, while water rates have increased in more recent years.

Also pending a second reading on the same date, Wellsburg’s minimum monthly water bill is scheduled to increase only once: from $54.85 to $68.55.

The increase is expected to take effect 45 days after approval.

For both rate increases, city officials have cited higher operating costs and a greater need to upgrade water and wastewater treatment systems.

Maguschak said to be eligible for state and federal grants for improvements, the city must raise its rates to 1.5 percent of the state’s median household income.

He said according to the most recent census, that’s $43,000.

On Tuesday, he told the council that he and others recently met with Thrasher Engineering staff to discuss up to 15 years of possible improvements to the city’s infrastructure, some of which are believed to be 100 years old.

Such improvements include replacing a main line along Charles Street from 12th Street to 30th Street with a wider line.

The wider line is expected to improve water pressure for customers and reduce the buildup of materials that can cause discoloration.

He said there are also plans to raise the well heads that supply water to the city to reduce the impact of Ohio River flooding.

Maguschak said he would like to phase in replace all of the city’s water pipes, many of which are 100 years old.

He noted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called for water pipes containing lead and copper to be replaced by 2027.

The order was prompted by lead pipes in Flint, Michigan, which were linked to many health problems in that area.

Magushack said that, in compliance with EPA orders, an inventory of lead lines in the city was conducted.

The city is also among cities ordered by the EPA to separate combined sanitary and stormwater sewers to prevent fecal matter from being released into the Ohio River when the mechanisms that separate waste become overloaded by heavy rains.

The city has completed three of those separations, but still faces others estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

Ordinances that increase water and sewer rates also require increases in access fees for new customers, in the amount of $100 if paid before construction and $500 if paid after.

They also increase disconnection and reconnection fees for customers from $25 to $30.

On Tuesday, the council also discussed business and occupancy taxes paid by those doing business in the city.

Fourth Ward Councilman Charlie Harris asked if there is a way for the city to make sure businesses are paying their fair share.

He noted that some council members have discussed raising the tax, increasing the annual municipal service fee paid by residents or introducing an income tax on those who work in the city to generate more revenue.

Harris said she won’t support any of those measures without knowing whether all businesses pay their share of taxes.

City Attorney Ryan Weld said state code allows a city to investigate businesses it suspects are not paying what they owe or take those that pay nothing to court, but stops short of requiring businesses to document their income. for the cities.

Harris also suggested raising the city’s police chief’s salary from $30,000 to $48,000, effective July 1. The date follows the upcoming city election, when the chief’s position will be on the ballot.

Harris said the city has been fortunate to have a chief, Mike Allman, who takes on more than an administrative role, putting his life on the line while enforcing the law, but is paid less than his own officers and other police chiefs. department.

He previously suggested that raising the salary would make the position more attractive to others who follow Allman.

Harris’ motion failed to win a second.

First Ward Councilman Jack Kins said he believed the increase would be too high, while Third Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher questioned how it would be funded.

“You have to find out where the money is,” he said, adding that the police department was cut by one position in recent years so the city could offer raises to its officers.

Also Tuesday, the council agreed to postpone street paving until spring because the nearest asphalt plant will close Nov. 28, leaving little time for a contractor to do the work.

Plans were made to pave the pickle ball court at the Betty Carr Recreation Site before the end of the season.