NILES Council to seek sewer-fee increase to finance repairs from flooding

The projects were deemed necessary by a flood task force.
NILES -- City leaders will address increasing sewer fees for residents and businesses to help cover costs of repairing and replacing infrastructure hit hard by this summer's floods.
Council's finance committee will introduce legislation at Wednesday's meeting to increase monthly rates by $2 for residents, $6 for commercial businesses and $20 for industrial companies.
The increases were proposed by Mayor Ralph A. Infante, who noted the extra fees would generate more than $223,000 annually, and would help cover the estimated $4 million to $5 million needed to fix or replace some of the city's culverts and sections of the sewer and sanitary systems.
The projects -- 25 total throughout all areas of Niles -- were deemed necessary by a floodwaters task force, made up of various city officials, and appointed by Infante last month. The task force met with residents and business owners for more than two weeks before compiling the list.
Tax abatement
Also at Wednesday's meeting, council is expected to approve the third and final reading of legislation granting a 75-percent, 10-year tax abatement on real and personal property taxes to Jet Stream International, 931 Summit St.
The company, the former Michigan Hangar Co., produces pipe supports for commercial use and plans to invest $1.875 million to expand the business. The expansion will also create 35 full-time jobs within the next three years.
Members met in special session this past Wednesday to give the ordinance a second reading in an effort to move the process along.
Because of a 1991 Ohio Ethics Commission opinion that says council members who work for the local school district cannot participate in granting tax abatements, council was forced to give three full readings to the request.
Three councilmen -- Robert L. Marino, Michael Lastic and Stephen Papalas -- work for Niles City Schools. The remaining councilmen -- Thomas Scarnecchia, Reggie Giancola, Frank Fuda and Paul Hogan -- approved the second reading at the special meeting.
Once the matter is approved by council, it will be addressed by Trumbull County commissioners.