WELLSBURG — City Council on Tuesday approved the first reading of increases to the city’s water rate in two steps and mulled over eliminating civil service commission testing for prospective police officers.

Pending a public hearing and second reading slated for the April 10 council meeting, the base monthly rate of $5.55 per 1,000 gallons, for those who use 2,000 gallons per month or less, will be increased to $6.20 per 1,000 gallons.

If approved, customers using between 18,000 gallons and 20,000 gallons per month will pay $5.75 per 1,000 gallons and those using 20,000 gallons or more will pay $3.65 per 1,000 gallons.

The ordinance also raises the resale rate charged by the city to the Washington Pike Public Service District and others outside the city to $4.70 per 1,000 gallons, a 50 cent increase.

If approved, the increases would be effective in May.

The ordinance also proposes a second set of rate increases effective Jan. 1. Those monthly rates would be $6.94 per 1,000 gallons for the first 2,000 gallons, $6.44 per 1,000 gallons for those who use between 18,000 and 20,000 gallons and $4.06 per gallon for those who use more than 20,000 gallons. The resale rate for Washington Pike PSD and other suburban customers would be $5.25 per 1,000 gallons.

The last increases to the city’s water rates were in 2015.

City Manager Steve Maguschak said in addition to daily operational costs, the increases will help support upgrades to the city’s water treatment system.

He said there also are plans to replace all meters and main lines along state Route 2 and Charles and Main streets between 12th Street and the city’s southern border.

In other matters, 3rd Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher suggested eliminating the civil service exam for applicants for the city’s police department. He noted the test isn’t required of police departments in cities of Wellsburg’s size.

Fletcher said the city must test at least three applicants at a time, and the cost for each test is about $85.

He said some applicants have failed to receive a 70 percent passing score on the test.

The exam measures an applicant’s reading, math and writing skills; personality traits; ability to determine geographical distances; and other skills.

All law enforcement officers in the state are required to undergo training through the West Virginia State Police Academy. Admission to the academy requires passage of an agility test, psychological examination and criminal background check.

Third Ward Councilman Tom R. Diserio said not everyone is good at taking tests and some who score lower can perform well on the job. He added another function of the civil service commission is to represent officers in grievances with the city.

Fletcher said without the commission, city officers would have the same ability to file grievances as other city employees.

Maguschak noted elimination of the city’s civil service board must be determined by public vote under state code.

The matter was referred to the city’s community services committee, while council agreed to advertise for a vacancy in the police department at the request of City Police Chief Richard Ferguson.

In other business:

¯ Maguschak suggested replacing a retaining wall along Union Avenue and establishing a weight limit on the deteriorating road to prevent heavy trucks from using it. He said it’s one of several areas affected by flooding from streams on the hillside at the city’s east end. He said he hopes to secure funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to address such areas.

In related business, he and Mayor Sue Simonetti praised the city’s fire and police departments and other area first responders for their response to the recent flooding.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)