Mahoning commissioners approve water rate hike

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County commissioners approved a five-year water supply agreement with Aqua Ohio, with annual rate increases of 4.2 percent in the first two years and 4.5 percent in the third and fourth years.

There’s also an optional 4.5 percent increase in the fifth year.

Aqua serves customers in Lowellville, Struthers, Poland, and Boardman and in Coitsville, Springfield, Beaver and Canfield townships.

The rate increases will help pay for $28 million in county in improvements at the dams impounding Aqua Ohio lakes, at Aqua’s Poland water treatment plant, and in the company’s water distribution system.

Evans Lake is Aqua’s primary local water supply.

Also Thursday, Sheriff Jerry Greene told commissioners that unclaimed gold left behind by county jail inmates has a total value of $14,000 to $16,000.

After it is melted down and processing costs are paid, the proceeds will be divided equally among Friends of Fido, Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley and Akron Children’s Hospital, Greene said.

Read more about the meeting in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.