Utilities committee and council discuss implementation and customer outreach for 5% water-rate increase

Council and utilities-committee members told the council on Feb. 6 that the utilities committee approved a plan to implement a 5% water-rate increase that had been authorized in a 2013 ordinance and deferred in 2017. The increase will generate funds for a water-softening project; committee members also authorized expenditure of the newly collected funds to pursue additional grant funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

"Tonight, we voted to implement that 5% water rate increase," Dole said on the record. Officials noted there will be no sewer-rate increase at this time. Council members then focused on how the increase will be communicated to customers so that residents understand upcoming changes and staff can manage call volume.

Council members asked when the increase will appear on bills and what notices would accompany the change. Staff indicated that explanatory material would be included with the February or March bill and that calls will be redirected to staff prepared to handle questions. Council emphasized proactive outreach to mitigate confusion and expected an informational mailer to accompany the billing cycle when the increase first appears.

The committee also approved proposals for GIS mapping of city water/sewer lines and design services for a sewer extension; a grant/loan combination for reconstruction of North Hill Street was also reported as approved in committee and will proceed as funding allows.