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Salineville takes next step in raising sewer rates

SALINEVILLE — Salineville Council took the next step Monday night toward raising rates for sewer customers in the village, asking Village Solicitor Andy Beech to draw up the legislation.

Board of Public Affairs President Chad Bettis brought in a formal request stating the BPA voted at their April 9 meeting to ask council to consider the increase.

Bettis said the base sewer rate has been $25 since 2011 and the BPA would like to see that increase to $30 in 2021. If council passes the ordinance, the rate would increase $2.50 in August 2019 with another $1.25 increase in August 2020 and a final $1.25 increase in August 2021.

With the rising costs of running the wastewater treatment plant, Bettis said the additional money is needed to insure the plant continues to operate. The BPA also believes $1 of the $5 increase should be earmarked for the village to use to make repairs to the stormwater system, which needs reworked in places because it cannot be connected to the wastewater treatment system.

While council voted to order the legislation, Mayor Linda Adams said they intend to have all three readings on the proposed changes, which will give residents three opportunities to come and voice their opinions about it.

Bettis said there should be a letter placed in sewer bills in the future informing residents about the proposed change and letting them know about upcoming meetings where they can speak. The next meeting of village council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 6.

In other matters:

–Some council members also plan to meet at 10 a.m., Monday, April 22 in order to further discuss ordinances regarding nuisance animals, as well as where and how campers can be used within the village. The committee recently met about the animals with suggestions about the number of large animals and acreage needed to have many types of animals within the village limits. However, the committee still has some things to work on with the proposed legislation, such as what constitutes a large animal, pets, companion animals, farm animals; whether to have people register their animals and making farm districts within the village exempt from the proposed regulations.

— The village clean-up days will be held on May 16-17 with council considering the times of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents of the village may also bring four tires per household for disposal.

— Camp Gideon volunteers will be working within the village from June 24-27 and July 1-4. Adams explained the Camp Gideon group provides free labor and the projects they do only cost the village the cost of supplies, such as paint or mulch, if the work done is on public property.

— With concerns about communications when the power goes down, Police Chief Matthew Devlin asked council for permission to work on a project to upgrade the police radio system. The improvements will include battery back up, shelving to keep the equipment better stored and a system to protect it from being damaged should it be struck by lightning. Devlin said he has found a way to get the work done for $1,000 and he will try to get some grant money to help cover the costs.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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