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A system study will lead to accurate readings of Youngstown water customers
YOUNGSTOWN
A study of the city’s water system, as it embarks on a $14 million meter-replacement project later this year, will help provide more accurate billings of water customers, said Water Commissioner Harry L. Johnson III.
“It’s an archaic process; it’s outdated,” Johnson said of the city’s current water-billing process.
The city bills water customers monthly for at least 100 cubic feet — equivalent to 748 gallons — even if they use less than that amount, he said.
The city plans to hire the PFM Group for up to $50,000 for a water-rate study that will look at converting water billing to 1 cubic foot or 1 gallon, and assess the feasibility of reducing the cost of water bills for senior citizens.
City council approved an ordinance Wednesday giving the board of control authority to sign a contract with PFM for the study.
The report would take about six weeks, and the actual cost of the study would be closer to $40,000, Johnson said.
The meter-replacement project will allow the city water department and its customers to better monitor use, said Johnson, who added that some of the meters aren’t giving an accurate count of actual water use because they are too old.
“We don’t want to lose money, and we don’t want to overcharge our customers,” he said.
There are about 55,000 water meters in homes and businesses in Youngstown, Austintown, Boardman, Liberty and Canfield that receive city water.
There won’t be a water-rate increase connected to either the meter replacements or possible changes in how water consumption is measured, Johnson said.
Also, council members expressed concern that work was being done to remove equipment and fixtures from two of the three closed Bottom Dollar grocery stores in the city.
ALDI is finalizing the purchase of Bottom Dollar, which closed its Youngstown stores a month ago.
Bottom Dollar is removing items from stores it owns on Glenwood Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard, council members said.
The company also leased space on Meridian Road.
The city has asked about obtaining the two locations owned by Bottom Dollar as it’s become apparent ALDI is not going to open stores there or on Meridian.
But with the sale not finalized, there hasn’t been an answer to the city’s request to be given the two properties owned by Bottom Dollar, said Mayor John A. McNally.
“We need to be on top of this,” said Councilman Paul Drennen, D-5th. “The stores are basically being stripped.”
McNaly said he’s received calls from people wanting to buy the two Bottom Dollar-owned properties, including some who want to put grocery stores there. He declined to discuss the details.
Also, McNally said the owners of the Meridian Road property want to use the old Bottom Dollar site for a grocery store.
Council agreed to not vote on two pieces of legislation to authorize the hiring of a firm to serve as the city’s collection agency for demolition work, mowing grass, delinquent water bills and property maintenance code violations.
Both contracts were with Millstone and Kannensohn, a Liberty law firm specializing in collections. One contract was for $60,000 and the other for 30 percent of their collections.
Council members said they wanted to discuss the contracts further before considering them.