Some in Trumbull face rise in water, sewer rates

County commissioners may ratify the contract at the
engineer’s office.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — The Trumbull County commissioners may consider increases in water and sewer rates and water tap-in fees when they meet today.

The increases would affect about 20,000 customers who pay for water and sanitary sewers and others who buy only water or only sewer service.

“It’s been long overdue. We feel comfortable that it’s justified,” Rex Fee, executive director of the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer’s Office, told the commissioners during their Wednesday work session about the increases.

The rates increases vary, Fee explained, because of various increases in the price of wholesale water from water providers and the varying times since there have been rate increases in different portions of the county.

The county buys water from Youngstown, Niles, Warren and Aqua Ohio Inc.

For example, Howland Township residents using metered county water will see an 18 percent increase, from $3.60 per 1,000 gallons to $4.25 per 1,000 gallons.

Fee pointed out Howland residents who use the county water distribution system haven’t had an increase since June 1999.

Those areas in the Four-Township Water District of Vienna, Brookfield, Hubbard and parts of Howland townships wouldn’t see any increase. Customers there pay $6.30 per 1,000 gallons.

If commissioners approve the increases, they will be included in the next bills. When those bills are received varies depending on the water district.

Possible sewer increase

Commissioners may also decide on a proposed sanitary sewer increase in the Metropolitan, Howland and Mosquito Creek sewer districts.

Customers will see increases from 17 percent to 21 percent. Fee noted that the sanitary sewer rates were increased in the districts in either 1995 or 2002.

Residential sewer tap-in fees, if approved, would be increased from $1,000 to $1,800 for a standard residential 3⁄4-inch line. Fee pointed out the cost of tap-ins in eight surrounding counties averages $2,095.

The increase is needed to upgrade lines and expand the sewage treatment plants in Howland and Brookfield, which haven’t been done since 1985.

Commissioners also will consider ratifying a three-year labor contract with 43 employees of the highway and engineering departments and office staff at the Trumbull County Engineer’s Office.

Members of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will receive 4 percent increases the first year and 3 percent raises in each of the last two years. Also, they will each receive a $150 signing bonus the first year rather than retroactive pay.

Laborer I is currently paid $15.49 hourly while senior laborers are paid $16.14 an hour.

A single employee will pay $390 annually toward health care, and a family plan is $780 annually.

Previously, employees didn’t contribute to mail-order prescriptions. They would pay $15 for generic prescriptions and $30 for name brands.

yovich@vindy.com