YOUNGSTOWN Councilmen mull Thermal rate issue

Council could grant all, part or none of Thermal's 9 percent request.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Councilmen Ron Sefcik and Mike Rapovy say they lean toward giving Youngstown Thermal less than its requested 9 percent rate increase.
Sefcik, D-4th, and Rapovy, D-5th, are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of city council's three-member public utilities committee,
Rapovy said he favors granting an increase "maybe somewhere in the middle."
He noted that the company has already received 5 percent rate increases in each of the past two years. "Another 9 percent -- that's 19 percent in three years. That's getting up there a little bit," he said.
Sefcik said he leans toward "something in the middle, if anything."
Public hearing: The councilmen made their remarks following a brief, sparsely attended Wednesday public hearing on the request from Youngstown Thermal, which supplies steam heat and cooling to many buildings in and near the city's downtown.
Mark A. Butta, Thermal's vice president for project development, said after the hearing that he'd be disappointed if council approved only part of the increase.
"We asked for what we believe is a fair rate of increase," based on fuel cost increases and improvements the company has been making to its system, he said.
Not only is the company paying more for the coal it burns, it is also paying surcharges for the diesel fuel used by the trucks that transport the coal, he explained.
Sole comment: The only comment during the hearing came from Tom Weems, building superintendent for the Masonic Temple, 223 Wick Ave., who expressed concern about high energy costs this winter at a time when Masonic membership is declining, and tenants have been moving out of the temple building.
"It's kind of hard when the costs of all our utilities go up to be able to maintain and operate our building at our present level," said Weems, who questioned the necessity for the 9 percent increase.
Sefcik said the committee could recommend no increase, part of the increase, or the full 9 percent, and the full council would make the decision.
Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2, who also belongs to the committee, was absent.