McDonald OKs increases in water rates

By Sean Barron

Paving of four roads should begin in a few weeks, an official said.

McDONALD — For the first time in perhaps a decade, the village has seen its first significant increase in what it pays to have wastewater treated, so residents can soon expect to see increases reflected on bills they receive for sewer and water usage.

At a special meeting Saturday, village council voted to approve residential rate increases from $2.20 to $2.70, or 50 cents per 1,000 gallons of wastewater, as well as increases from $2.06 to $2.25 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed. Residents receive their sewer and water rates on the same bill.

McDonald has its own pumping station for wastewater that is pumped to and treated at a facility in Niles, which bills the village, explained Thomas Domitrovich, village administrator.

Costs to McDonald went from 50 cents per 100 cubic feet of wastewater to 68 cents, or a 36 percent increase, Domitrovich pointed out, adding that the average resident can expect to pay an added $7 per quarter.

Domitrovich noted that the difference in the sewer increases to the village, compared with those passed on to residents, is because of the two measurements used. One cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons, he continued.

The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District will be billing the village $1.86 per 1,000 gallons of water bought, effective Tuesday. That is up from $1.70 per 1,000 gallons, Domitrovich noted.

For residents, that will mean an average approximate increase of $4 per quarter for their water, the administrator noted.

The higher rates for residents are necessary to run the water department and for related projects, as well as for department employees’ salaries, he said.

Both increases should be on bills residents will receive in October, Domitrovich said, adding that some of the extra revenue will go into a capital improvements account that will, in part, be used to renovate the village’s water tower.

Also at the session, council entered into a contract with Butch McCree Paving Inc. of Hillsville, Pa., for $123,322 regarding the village’s 2008 Roadway Improvements Project.

Work on Oregon, Florida and Texas avenues as well as Eighth Street should get under way in mid-July and wrap up within a week, Domitrovich estimated.

In other business, officials appointed Bradley McFadden as a part-time patrol officer to replace Tony Villanueva, who resigns, effective Monday, after serving several years on the force. Villanueva accepted a position with Howland Police Department.