Midvale water rate increases to impact Roswell, Brightwood and Barnhill
MIDVALE ‒ All customers of the village water service will see higher rates effective July 1.
And on Jan. 1, all Roswell residential and commercial customers will pay an additional $21 per month to cover loan debt Midvale assumed when it took ownership of that community's system in 2011.
Midvale still owes $326,197 on the loan, according to Councilman Randy Cadle. Loan payments of $10,631 are due each January and July,
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"The water revenue that's coming in from everyplace else is what's paying that loan because Roswell doesn't generate enough to pay it," said Fiscal Officer Georgianne Turner.
Village Council approved the increases unanimously on Thursday.
"We're trying not to gouge anyone," Cadle said. "But you have to have money to operate."
The new rates anticipate the installation of meters for areas that do not currently have them.
Councilman Mark Bassett said Midvale will not be able to institute metered rates in locations that do not have them until meters are in place. At present, only commercial customers and Roswell residential accounts are metered.
Village Council has yet to begin the process of seeking bids for meters.
How much will you pay?
The new monthly rates, effective July 1, are:
Midvale residential, $41 for the first 3,000 gallons and $2.25 for each additional 1,000 gallons. The current rate is $31.
Roswell, Barnhill, Brightwood and Dennison residential, $56.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $5.50 for each additional 1,000 gallons. Current rates for customers in the village of Roswell are $30.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $4.50 for each 1,000 additional gallons. The current rates for Roswell area customers outside the village of Roswell are and $36.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $5.50 for the next 47,000 gallons, with decreasing incremental costs thereafter. The other customers pay a $35.22 flat rate.
Commercial metered customers in Midvale, $106 for the first 3,000 gallons and $3.70 for each additional 1,000 gallons. The current rate is $31 for the first 3,000 gallons and $2.25 for the next 1,000 gallons up to 45,000 gallons, with decreasing incremental costs thereafter.
Commercial metered customers outside Midvale, $219 for the first 3,000 gallons and $6.50 for each additional 1,000 gallons. The current rate is $37.50 for the first 3,000 gallons and $4.25 for the next 1,000 gallons up to 45,000 gallons, with decreasing incremental costs thereafter.
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How will the money be spent?
The additional revenue is intended to help cover loan payments, operating costs, maintenance and capital improvements.
Proposed infrastructure improvements include:
Installing meters for all customers, including those with existing meters, and replacing lines on Vernon Street and Bean Alley, at a total estimated cost of $3 million.
Replacing the Barnhill Road main at an estimated cost of $330,325.
Building a filtration plant to reduce mineral content at an estimated cost of $2.3 million to $2.6 million. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the village to reduce levels of manganese and iron in finished water delivered to customers.
Replacing all mains over five to 20 years at an estimated cost of $2.3 million.
More numbers
Water service delinquencies have fallen recently from $18,000 to $1,090 due to the efforts of employees, Cadle said.
Year-end average carryover balances from 2018 to 2022 averaged $43,048, Cadle said.
"You can't operate a business on that," he said.
The new rates are projected to generate $242,355 in additional revenue per year, according to Turner.
"In January, we would look at the rates again" Cadle said.
The water system has about 900 customers.
Reach Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.
On Twitter: @nmolnarTR
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Water rate increases coming for Midvale, Roswell, Barnhill, Brightwood
