Canton City utility customers to see rate increase

Kelly Byer, The Repository
·4 min read
Canton City Hall
Canton City Hall

CANTON − The average monthly utility bill for residents will increase by about 6.5% this year.

Public Service Director John Highman announced the rate increase, which will take effect April 2, during City Council's council committee meetings on Monday. The service director can enact rate increases without council approval and has said that residents can expect annual adjustments based on the consumer price index, which measures changes in retail prices.

"The bad news is the CPI has remained high during 2022," he said.

Past rate:Canton public service director sets sanitation, sewer and water fee increases

The average monthly total for sanitation, sewer and water services will go from $56.99 to $60.70 ― an additional $3.71 a month or $44.52 a year for residents. Highman said regular rate increases help the city maintain infrastructure and afford the increasing cost of equipment and supplies needed to provide the services.

"People are getting what they're paying for, and it's infrastructure improvements that we absolutely have to do," he said.

Councilman Frank Morris, D-9, said if council had a vote, he would oppose the annual rate increases. He said the cost to live in the city is unaffordable for many people, especially retirees.

"We are forcing people out of the city," Morris said.

Rate increase breakdown

The monthly fee for trash and recycling pickup will increase from $24.01 to $25.57 for residents and $27.62 to $29.42 for out-of-city customers. Dumpster rates also will rise.

The monthly cost for the smallest dumpster ― 1 cubic yard ― will increase from $60.03 to $63.93, and the largest dumpster ― 8 cubic yards ― will go from $192.09 to $204.58. The 72-hour rental rates will increase between $7 to $25 and now range from $127.85 for a 6-cubic-yard dumpster to $415.54 for a 20-cubic-yard dumpster.

Water service for city residents will cost an additional $0.94 a month or $11.28 a year ― bringing the average monthly bill to $15.34.

The sewer rate will increase $1.21 a month or $14.52 a year for the average customer, according to Highman's presentation. The minimum residential bill would increase by $0.56 a month to $9.18.

Where is the money going?

The city's Sanitation Department has instituted a vehicle replacement schedule and introduced wheeled carts since regular rate increases began in 2018 after years of no changes. Meanwhile, the cost of doing business has increased.

The price of a rear-loading garbage truck has increased about 21% since 2019 ― from $270,000 to $327,000 ― according to Highman's presentation. The city also is planning to build a new $10 million sanitation building that will be put out for bid this year.

There are three major sewer projects planned for the Water Reclamation Facility in the coming years ― $4 million for raw pump replacement, $24.4 million for electrical improvements and $20.6 million for membrane replacement.

The city also has incurred costs related to a U.S. EPA mandate, which requires inspection and cleaning of the sewer system every five years, and it is nearly finished with a $2.6 million building upgrade to accommodate the Collection Systems Department's growth.

The Water Department's investments include a $46.9 renovation underway at the Sugar Creek Water Treatment Plant and wellfield and a planned $12 million replacement of the Cromer Reservoir. The cost of supplies also has risen. The cost of chlorine, which was $540 per ton in 2021, rose to $1,123 per ton in 2022.

Tax incentive grants to Midwest Industrial Supply, Union Metal

In other action, council:

  • Approved a job creation and retention tax incentive agreement with Midwest Industrial Supply Inc. at 1101 Third St. SE. The company will invest $1.2 million for maintenance and upgrades to infrastructure at the facility, according to a council memo from Economic Development Director Christopher Hardesty. The renovations should create 15 jobs and retain 55 jobs. Midwest provides dust control, soil stabilization, de-icing and other industrial services. The city will use non-income tax revenue funds to grant Midwest an amount equal to 40% of its payroll withholdings each year for seven years. That is expected to generate $400,000.

  • Approved a job creation and retention tax incentive agreement with Union Metal Industries Corp. at 1432 Maple Ave. NE. The company expects to invest $7.4 million for infrastructure maintenance and improvements and equipment upgrades, according to a council memo from Hardesty. The project should create 15 jobs and retain 135 jobs. Union Metal manufactures poles for lights and various transportation signs and signals. The city will use non-income tax revenue funds to grant Union Metal an amount equal to 40% of its payroll withholdings each year for seven years. That is expected to generate $450,000.

  • Mayor Thomas Bernabei and Council Majority Leader Bill Smuckler assured the council and people present Monday that, despite social media posts after the hazardous train derailment in East Palestine, the city's water is safe from contamination.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton utility customers to see rate increase