WATER, SEWER RATES RAISED — Citing a need to raise revenue to support operations and improvements for the city’s water and wastewater treatment systems, Wellsburg Council Tuesday agreed to raise the city’s water and sewer rates. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Citing a need to raise revenue to support operations and improvements for the city’s water and wastewater treatment systems, Wellsburg Council approved the first readings Tuesday for increases the city’s water and sewer rates.

Pending second readings slated for council’s Dec. 10 meeting, the city’s minimum monthly sewer charge will be raised in three steps: From $21.40 to $27.50 45 days from its passage, $30.80 after 6 months following that, and $36.38 after 6 months from that time.

Non-metered customers will have a minimum monthly charge of $55.70 first, followed by $66.80 and $78.93 in the six-month intervals that follow.

City Manager Steve Maguschak noted the city’s sewer rates haven’t been raised since 2010 while its water rates were raised in more recent years.

Also pending a second reading on the same date, Wellsburg’s minimum monthly water bill is slated to rise just once: from $54.85 to $68.55.

The increase is expected to go into effect 45 days from its approval.

For both rate hikes, city officials have cited increased costs for operations and a strong need to update the water and wastewater treatment systems.

Maguschak said to be eligible for state and federal grants for improvements, the city must raise its rates to 1.5 percent of the state’s median household income.

He said according to the most recent Census, that is $43,000.

On Tuesday, he told council he and others met recently with staff with Thrasher Engineering to discuss up to 15 years of potential improvements for the city’s infrastructure, some of which is believed to be 100 years old.

Such improvements include the replacement of a main line along Charles Street from 12th Street to 30th Street with a wider line.

The wider line is expected to improve water pressure for customers and reduce the buildup of materials that can result in discoloration.

He said there also are plans to raise well heads supplying water to the city to reduce the impact of flooding from the Ohio River.

Maguschak said he would like to replace all of the city’s water lines, many of which are 100 years old, in phases.

He noted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called for the replacement of water lines containing lead and copper by 2027.

The order was spurred by lead pipes in Flint, Mich., that were linked to many health problems in that area.

Magushack said in compliance with EPA orders, an inventory of lead lines in the city has been done.

The city also is among cities ordered by the EPA to separate combined sanitary and stormwater sewers to prevent fecal matter from being released into the Ohio River when mechanisms separating the waste become overtaxed by heavy rainfall.

The city has completed three such separations but still faces others estimated at millions of dollars.

Ordinances raising the water and sewer rates also call for increases in tap-in fees for new customers, in the amount of $100 if paid before construction and $500 if paid afterward.

They also raise disconnection and re-connection fees for customers from $25 to $30.

On Tuesday, council also discussed business and occupation taxes paid by those doing business in the city.

Fourth Ward Councilman Charlie Harris asked if there’s a way for the city to be sure the businesses are paying their fair share.

He noted some council members have discussed increasing the tax, raising the yearly municipal service fee paid by residents or introducing an income tax for those who work in the city to generate more revenue.

Harris said he won’t support any of those measures without knowing if all businesses are paying their share of tax.

City Solicitor Ryan Weld said state code allows a city to investigate businesses it suspects aren’t paying what they owe or take to court those that aren’t paying anything but stops short of requiring businesses to document their income for cities.

Harris also suggested raising the city police chief’s salary from $30,000 to $48,000, effective July 1. The date follows the city’s next election, when the chief’s position will be on ballots.

Harris said the city has been fortunate to have a chief, Mike Allman, who takes more than an administrative role, putting his life at risk while enforcing laws, but he is paid less than his own officers and other department heads.

He suggested earlier that raising the salary would make the position more attractive to others who follow Allman.

Harris’ motion failed to gain a second.

First Ward Councilman Jack Kins said he believed the raise would be too high, while 3rd Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher questioned how it would be funded.

“You’ve got to find out where the money is,” he said, adding the police department was cut by one position in recent years so the city could provide raises to its officers.

Also on Tuesday, council agreed to table street paving until spring because the nearest asphalt plant will close on Nov. 28, leaving little time for a contractor to perform the work.

Plans were made to pave the pickle ball court at the Betty Carr Recreation Site before the season’s end.