Hubbard water bills to increase

By Linda Linonis

HUBBARD — In February, residents will see their water bills go up by an average of $9.62 per month.

Lanier Epperson, service director, informed council of the increase at a recent meeting. He explained that the new base rate will be $16.10; the current base rate is $11.80.

Residents will go from paying $2.44 per 100 cubic feet of water, which is 748 gallons, to $3.20 per 100 cubic feet. The average monthly household use is 700 cubic feet.

Epperson said the city has a 20-year contract with Aqua Ohio. The current cost for water, effective Nov. 1, 2009, is $1.50 per 1,000 gallons of water. The initial cost was 90 cents per 1,000 gallons of water. Epperson said the increase was not passed on to consumers, but borne by the city.

“The base rate covers the present debt, future debt, capital expenses and improvements,” Epperson said. The debt is $100,000 a year until 2020 for transmission lines.

Epperson said valve replacements are a top priority. “The valves must be in good working condition,” he said, noting that they are turned off to prevent water loss in case of a water main break. And, Epperson added, the city needs a new water tower.

Epperson said he is working on a seven-year plan to address current and future issues. He also noted that though grants have helped in the past, most grants ask for matching funds, which the city doesn’t have.

Council had a work session Monday to discuss city finances and utilities. Mayor Richard Keenan said the city must have a completed budget in place by March 31 by law. Since the budget is not yet set, Keenan said talk of layoffs and shortfalls are inappropriate.

“We will have a plan in place that will work and be satisfied with it,” he said.

In other business, council:

UAppointed Ray Moffitt as council representative on the Hubbard Fire District Board and Patton Gilliland as the citizen representative.

UAppointed Justin Silvidi and Bonnie Viele as city-council representatives on the cemetery board.

UHired Linda Clark as city-council clerk from 2010-11.

UHeard a report from Marsha Ruha about exploring a line of credit for the city.

UHad the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize the board of control to execute a one-year contract extension with Allied Waste Systems for the disposal of dewatered sludge at a cost of $112,700.