Residents will see increase in water rates March 1

The increases will generate about $160,000 this year.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CAMPBELL -- Water rates and the monthly debt service charge on the city's water treatment plant will increase effective March 1.
The water rate increase is 15 percent, and the debt service charge for capital improvements will increase from $5 to $6.50, said Mayor John Dill.
The mayor said the increases will generate about an additional $160,000 this year, the amount needed to operate through the end of 2007.
Dill said the average household uses 4,000 to 5,000 gallons of water a month. Currently, the cost of 4,000 gallons is $20.30 a month. That will increase to $23.35. Likewise, 5,000 gallons now cost $23.25. Under the new rate, the cost will be $26.75.
He said the rate increases are necessary because of a financial shortfall caused by the delay of the sale of the water treatment plant and distribution system to Aqua Ohio.
Hearings on lawsuits
Atty. David Hanni, representing the Let Us Vote Committee, which is opposed to the sale of the plant to Aqua, has twice asked for or caused continuances for hearings on the two lawsuits filed by the committee, Dill said.
The latest came around 3 p.m. last Friday, when Hanni subpoenaed the city's law director, Attorney Brian Macala, as a witness in the cases. Hearings before Mahoning County Magistrate Timothy Welsh had been scheduled for 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Once he was subpoenaed, Macala could no longer represent the city in the two lawsuits. Dill said Welsh gave Campbell 10 days to get a new attorney, but did not set a new hearing date.
The mayor said Hanni's move was an obvious delaying tactic. Further, Dill said, Hanni was asked when the suits were filed if he planned to call Macala as a witness. When Hanni said no, the city took Hanni at his word and did not seek another attorney, the mayor said.
Seeks referendum
One of the lawsuits asks the court to order a referendum petition to be forwarded to the Mahoning County Board of Elections for validation and processing. The petition opposes the legislation that approved the sale of the Campbell water treatment plant to Aqua Ohio.
Campbell Finance Director John Leskovyansky refused to forward the petition, saying it did not meet all the requirements of state law.
The second suit seeks to stop the sale of the plant to Aqua Ohio.
Dill said he would not be opposed to a referendum vote if it could be conducted at the May 2 primary. However, he said referendums can occur only at the November general election. The city cannot operate that long at its current level without additional revenue, Dill said.
Under the terms of the contract, Aqua, a private water supplier, would pay $3 million up front and $300,000 a year for 10 years to Campbell. Aqua also agreed to spend $100,000 a year for plant improvements and repairs, and the company would assume the current $4.2 million the city owes for past improvements.
Further, Aqua agreed to pay Campbell $1.8 million immediately, which was factored into the proposed 2006 budget. Without it, the city will have to look at other cuts, which means employees, Dill said.
Dill said the delaying tactics are endangering the safety and welfare of the city's residents.
"The longer this drags out, the more painful it will be for the city's residents," Dill said.
alcorn@vindy.com