Water, Sewer, Garbage Rates May Be Going Up in Wheeling | News, Sports, Jobs

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CYCLING – The city of Wheeling is scheduled to enact laws tonight to increase water, sewer and garbage collection rates for municipal customers.

According to one of the ordinances due for a first reading during today’s meeting of Wheeling City Council, increasing the sewage rate alone means a 45 percent increase, which would provide funding for modernizing and improving sewage systems. The new legislation states that the city plans to issue one or more combined bonds for up to $ 45 million in water and sewer revenue to help cover the cost of designing, purchasing, building, and equipping those projects finance.

Sewer projects through the sewage system of the city’s Department of Water Pollution Control serve both city residents and customers outside the city limits for the collection and treatment of sanitary sewage.

The ongoing capital requirements of the wastewater treatment system include projects to improve the existing wastewater capacities by cleaning, maintaining or expanding collecting pipes and pumping stations. to reduce “clean” Rainwater runoff from entry into the sewer system by separating storm runoff into special storm sewers; and replace defective sanitary sewer pipes and modernize the sewage treatment plant and operations.

“As part of our long-term control plan, sewer projects in particular are required.” City administrator Robert Herron said Monday that that $ 45 million target for both water and wastewater projects will include about $ 26 million for new wastewater projects.

Herron said the sewer separations, replacement of old sewer lines and improvements to the Warwood pumping station are planned for future projects to be funded by the issuance of bonds anticipating bonds in June. According to Herron, this includes improvements to the water treatment system totaling around USD 7.8 million.

The newly proposed wastewater tariffs for residential, commercial, and industrial wastewater service customers for dispensing customers are $ 10.44 per 1,000 gallons for the first 10,000 gallons, $ 8.66 per 1,000 gallons for the next 90,000 gallons, $ 6.16 each 1,000 gallons for the next 100,000 gallons. and $ 4.18 per 1,000 gallons for uses greater than 200,000 gallons per month.

The flat fee for customers with unmetered water supplies is 4,500 gallons of water usage, or $ 46.97 per month under the proposed tariff plan.

The ordinance states that the city deems it necessary to increase current rates and fees for providing sewage collection and sanitation services by 45 percent, resulting in a monthly increase in the average residential user of $ 11.74 and a monthly increase in the average at $ 43.32 leads commercial users.

Herron said the last time the city passed a rate hike on these utilities was in 2016, before $ 10 million in bonds were issued prior to various projects including the current Bedillion Lane sewer project in the Woodsdale area.

The proposed new water rates for meter customers are $ 12.99 per 1,000 gallons for the first 1,000 gallons per month, $ 5.88 for each additional 1,000 gallons up to 499,000 gallons per month, and $ 3.61 per 1,000 gallons for each additional 1,000 Gallons used over 500,000 gallons per month.

Pursuant to the ordinance, which proposes new water tariffs, fees and charges, the increases will be set to pay off outstanding debts for the city’s water system projects. The total cost of water projects on tap is around $ 7 million, according to the city administrator. The latest major water project in Wheeling, replacing a downtown water line first installed in 1886, started just last week at a cost of around $ 4.25 million.

Another regulation to be introduced tonight will change and readjust some of the city codes related to tariffs, with the collection rates for trash, trash and designated recyclables for recyclable materials going from $ 14.50 to $ 16.74 per month increase. The ordinance is slated to come into force from and after the date of its adoption, with the intent of increasing the June cycle fee so the price increase will appear on customers’ July bills.

The last time the city increased garbage collection rates was in 2012, according to Herron, who pointed out that operating costs within the department have increased over time. The city is also keen to replace trucks in the department every three years, taking into account the need for a rate hike.

The regular session is expected to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the first floor of the City County building at 1500 Chapline Street. In addition, the regular committee and finance committee meetings are expected to take place at 5:00 p.m. and 5:15 p.m., respectively.

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