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East Canton council debates water-rate structure as repairs continue
Summary
Council members discussed pausing the routine 2% operational rate increase, a proposed flat capital-improvement fee increase to $10 every two months, recent water-main repairs and water-tower testing; staff will return with more details at the next meeting.
Council members discussed changes to the village’s water-rate structure and reviewed recent repairs to the water system during the Aug. 5 meeting of the Village of East Canton Council.
A service-department presenter said the village’s new water tower hookup and monitoring hardware are installed and that operators will run two bacteria tests before returning the tower to service. The presenter also proposed changing the capital-improvement charge from about $6.65 every two months to a flat $10 every two months and suggested waiving the routine 2% operational increase that the council has applied in prior years.
The proposal matters because the presenter said the village’s capital account balance stands at $39,364.84 and that raising the capital fee to $10 would bring in roughly $13,000–$14,000 annually for loan repayment and capital work. “Roughly $6.65… I’d like to make it move to 10,” the presenter said. The presenter clarified the capital-improvement money would not be used for day-to-day operations but only for loan repayment or capital projects.
Council members asked for more information about how the additional revenue would be split between operations and debt repayment, and whether the council should also apply the standing ordinance that increases rates by 2% annually. Council members confirmed the village waived its portion of the 2% increase last year and noted the village had already passed along other increases earlier in the year.
No formal vote was taken. Council directed staff to gather more details and return the item at the next council meeting. “We can discuss, and I can bring it back to you next council meeting,” the presenter said.
Background and next steps: staff said a water-main break on Leaver’s Alley was recently repaired and that Berger Associates installed a transducer and pressure gauge; two bacteria tests will follow the tower work before the tower is put back online. Council members asked staff to return with a recommended split between operating and capital uses and more precise revenue estimates for the proposed change.
The council did not adopt a new rate or change the standing ordinance at the meeting; members agreed to continue the discussion at a future meeting.
