Waynesville committee approves phased 4% water-rate increase, cuts storm‑sewer fee

The Waynesville finance committee voted Oct. 21 to adopt a phased 4% increase in the village water rate per 1,000 gallons over the next three years and to lower the monthly storm‑sewer fee by $2. Mrs. Miller moved the package—also raising the bulk-water price by $0.25—and Mr. Lauffer seconded; Mrs. Miller, Mr. Lauffer and Mr. Colvin voted in favor.

Mrs. Morley, who presented the proposal, said the village now has two full‑time water employees and that salaries and insurance costs are rising. She told the committee the storm‑sewer fund is restricted for storm‑related work and that about $20,000 of the balance is earmarked to replace the catch basin near Pat's Gas. "The average amount of gallons used is 3 to 5000 per resident household," Mrs. Morley said. She also said the village recorded large losses from leaks in 2023: "we lose about 4 million gallons a month."

Mr. Lauffer reviewed the arithmetic he used to project customer bills under the phased increase, saying the current per‑thousand‑gallon charge of $4.14 would rise to about $4.31, then $4.48 and finally $4.66 after the three increases. Mrs. Morley and others emphasized that the proposed $2 cut to the storm‑sewer fee (from $6 to $4) would offset much of the impact for a typical household. The committee did not record any abstentions or no votes during the motion.