SEWER RATES DISCUSSED — The Jefferson County commissioners took time following their regular meeting to explain the reasons behind sewer rate increases for its customers. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County commissioners said Thursday they continue to receive complaints and questions about recent sewer rate increases and wanted to take time, following their regular meeting, to discuss the reasons behind them.

Since July, the Jefferson County Water and Sewer District has been charging all customers a $7 monthly infrastructure fee while any customer whose water usage exceeds 2,000 gallons per month has seen an increase of $10 per 1,000 gallons per month.

Commission President Tony Morelli said some Crestview-Belvedere customers mistakenly believe a tap-in fee of about $6,500 will cover the cost of a $11 million sewer project for their area, but the fee serves only to connect their homes to a main line.

Mike Eroshevich, the district’s director, said the rate hikes are needed to support millions of dollars in upgrades and improvements to its wastewater treatment systems, many of them mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and address a deficit at which the district currently is operating.

The commissioners said the increase is sadly overdue, noting the rate increased by $11.84 between 2009 and 2024 while the district pursued more than $33 million in improvements to wastewater treatment facilities.

The projects included construction of sewer collection systems for Pottery Addition, the Crestview-Belvedere area and Amsterdam, with a new treatment plant also built for the latter village; replacement of the Ridgeland treatment plant; and rehabilitation of the Reeds Mill pump station and Murphy lift station.

Commissioners noted they include rehabilitation of a treatment plant and nine pump stations serving Smithfield the panel was ordered to take over after the village defaulted on a loan for it from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA has since forgiven the loan, but the county has invested more than $3.8 million to bring Smithfield’s wastewater treatment system into compliance with environmental regulations, said Eroshevich.

He noted the county also has been ordered to take over and replace package sewage treatment plants serving the Maplewood, Mellwood and Century Hills areas before 2030 at an estimated cost of $2 million to $3 million for each.

Morelli noted through charges to their customers, public water and sewer providers are expected to generate sufficient funds for their day-to-day operations.

Eroshevich said last month, about $186,000 from customer payments was applied to about $238,000 in expenses, including about $160,000 in operational costs and $78,000 in loan payments, leaving the sewer department about $52,000 in the red.

“We’re not trying to make money. We’re just trying to keep the lights on,” he said.

Eroshevich said the commissioners have been able to apply more than $600,000 from property tax funds toward debt owed on low-interest state and federal loans taken for the various projects.

But he said the district also faces $8 million to $10 million in sewer projects and $24 million in water projects in Amsterdam and Bergholz and won’t be approved for future loans “until we are able to prove we can pay them back.”

Eroshevich said it may seem to customers that they are paying for infrastructure for other areas but, “There’s not one area of our system that’s not getting attention. It’s everywhere.”

He previously advised the commissioners the county water and sewer district has failed to secure some financial assistance because of its size.

With about 8,000 water customers and about 3,600 sewer customers, it includes 300 miles of main lines, 1,500 fire hydrants, 18 water tanks, eight wastewater treatment plants, eight water pump stations and 43 sewage pump stations, said Eroshevich.

He said the various infrastructure connects smaller populations in rural areas across varying elevations that require specific accommodations to ensure fluid pressure is not too weak or too strong.

Eroshevich said it may be possible for smaller areas of the system to apply successfully for loans based on the number of low- to moderate-income households there.

He said next week he will be attending a workshop held by the Ohio Mid-East Governments Association that will cover potential funding sources.

County Commissioner Jake Kleineke said the commissioners will be approaching state legislators about changing criteria required for such funding.

Eroshevich said customers of the water and sewer district seeking information about the situation can find it at jcwatersewer.com.

During its regular meeting, commissioners:

�–� Approved a lease, of about $18,000 per month, allowing Viaquest Central Care LLC of Columbus on Sept. 15 to take over management of Shaffer Plaza, which consists of three care facilities currently operated by the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Mike Zinno, the board’s superintendent, said the county agency will retain ownership and license for the three homes, but the national entity will be able to provide greater service to the 13 clients who live there.

He said some of the homes’ current staff have been retained by the company, which has interest in providing related services to other areas of the region.

�–� Commissioners granted a request for $5,000 from opioid settlement funds awarded to the county to repair the roof of the main building at the Toronto Bandfathers Camp.

John Hartline, leader of the nonprofit group that maintains it, said in addition to being the summer camp of the Toronto High School marching band, the site is used by a Boy Scout troop, Cub Scout pack and a nonprofit group from Pittsburgh.

�–� County Engineer Eric Hilty advised crews with Ascent Resources have finished repairs to county Roads 26 and 25 as part of a road use management agreement allowing them to use them for hauling, and county crews are scheduled to chip and seal them next week.

He said crews will be spot paving county Roads 57 and 75 and trimming trees along county Road 53.