Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves water and sewer measures and a 37% wastewater rate adjustment
Summary
Lancaster City Council unanimously approved multiple water‑system actions Sept. 22 — including contract authorization for the North Water Treatment Plant, a loan application for Frederick St sewer separation, engineering for a pump station, an OPWC waterline grant application, and a wastewater rate ordinance that locks a 37% increase until 2029.
Lancaster City Council on Sept. 22 approved a package of water and sewer measures, including project authorizations, grant and loan applications, and a wastewater rate adjustment that council said standardizes costs across user classes.
Council passed Temporary Resolution 73‑25 to authorize the Service‑Safety Director to execute construction contracts related to the North Water Treatment Plant replacement because of final change orders. The measure passed on a 10‑0 roll call. Council also approved Temporary Resolution 74‑25, authorizing the mayor to apply to the Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for planning, design and/or construction of the Frederick Street sewer separation project; that motion carried 10‑0.
Additional approvals included Temporary Resolution 76‑25 (authorizing engineering services for the Lawrence Street pump station replacement) and Temporary Resolution 77‑25 (authorizing submission of an Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement Program application for the Tiki Lane waterline replacement). Both passed unanimously.
Separately, council adopted Temporary Ordinance 41‑25, a wastewater rate adjustment described by Mr. Wing as locking in a 37% rate increase until 2029 and standardizing the per‑gallon cost for all users, including industrial customers. Wing said the change "standardizes pricing" and called it "a big win for residential customers." The ordinance passed on a 10‑0 roll call.
Context and operational notes: Water Department operators were recognized for working 12‑hour days while operating two existing plants and preparing a new plant scheduled to open Oct. 1. The Main Street sewer separation project is in phase three and is slated to continue construction through Oct. 10, and council noted the sewer contract requires repaving the whole street after work concludes.
Next steps: Loan and grant applications proceed through the Ohio EPA and OPWC review processes; implementation and contract work will follow procurement and agreement execution. Council will monitor project schedules and budget implications in upcoming committee meetings.
