CENTERBURG—If the Centerburg Village Council approves legislation introduced at Monday’s meeting, property owners will face a hike in sewer rates.
The Administrative Committee recommended rate increases of 4%, 3%, and 3% over the next three years starting in 2025. Previous recommendations came through the Service Committee.
In 2023, sewer expenses exceeded revenue by $5,442. So far in 2024, expenses exceed revenue by $127,826.
The village makes two large payments each year on the wastewater treatment plant. In January, Fiscal Officer Mike Ullum transferred $230,000 from the village’s money market account to make the payment.
The sewer fund covered the cost of the second payment.
“Right now, our expenses are higher than our revenue because our revenue has to catch up with our expenses,” Village Administrator Teri Wise said. “But the bottom [graphic] shows you that I project based on our expenses and our revenue that we’re going to fall almost $50,000 short.”
Previously, wages and some other sewer expenses came out of the general fund.
“So in essence, we were subsidizing the sewer fund with the general fund,” Wise said. “The point is, the sewer fund needs to stand alone. So our expenses and our revenues should match pretty close.”
A 4% hike in sewer rates will generate around $34,000.
“Fifty thousand is what I anticipate that we going to be short, so we’re already still behind,” Wise said. “So that means a 4%, 3%, and 3% [increase] and look at it again.”
Highest sewer rates in Ohio
Councilman Greg Myers noted the village has the highest sewer rates in the state.
“They just passed the fire levy; they got more money. The county just raised all the property taxes and got more money. Now we have to tell them we need more money,” he said.
“Well, Delco is going to tell them they need more money, too,” Wise said. “We’re not any different than anybody else.
“My job as the village administrator is to make sure that our expenses meet our revenues. Mike and I have to work on that together.”
“And my job as a councilman is to make sure that those numbers are correct,” Myers responded.
“The Administrative Committee felt very strongly with using these numbers that the rate that we propose would be only adequate,” Mayor Greg Sands said. “Now that we moved [expenses] to where they belong, we can’t see ourselves coming out of that with any less of those increases.”
Additionally, the village did not hike sewer rates for two years.
“That’s the thing that we as councilmen have got to explain to our constituents, you have gotten no increases for pushing three years,” Sands said.
Councilwoman Saundra Dove said the village has no choice but to raise rates.
“Everything else is going up,” she said. “We’ve not increased it for two or three years. Now, we see that we need to do that.
“And then again, that’s why we have the three reads so we can talk this through,” she added.
Money market fund
The money market fund has a $3 million balance. It is unclear whether the money came from the general fund or whether it is sewer revenue.
“I can’t go to somebody and say I’ve got $3 million, but I need 10% more,” Myers said.
“Well, that’s kind of like the big picture future planning that we will have to do,” Ullom replied.
“We can take money from other accounts and pay for sewer expenses, but we can’t take sewer revenue and pay for other expenses,” Wise said. “That’s to Mike’s point as to what is that $3 million? If that’s sewer money, the only place it can go is sewer, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Wise and Ullom will research the source for the funds in the money market account.
Village council members will hold a work session on Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. to continue discussing a hike in sewer rates.
Other legislative action
Council members voted 5 to 1 to vacate a portion of Spring Alley. Council members agreed that while they do not favor giving away village property, in this case, the village has already given away property on both sides of the vacated area.
They took the following additional actions:
•Gave a first reading to an ordinance amending section 917.04 relating to billing and payment of wastewater charges (see PDF for changes)
•Gave a first reading to a resolution changing the zoning administrator job description (see PDF for changes)
Reports
Revitalization committee
Councilwoman Dove reported three new members joined the committee. Committee members prioritized three topics the group will tackle:
•Drug dealing within the village
•Communication
•A second round of the facade program
Village administrator
•Some samples from the 143 sent to the EPA from the wastewater treatment plant exceeded limits for E. coli but were still within range
•Workers are getting baseline I&I readings during the drought to compare to readings during the rainy season.
• The Jerry Street I&I project goes to bid this month; the project start date is 2025.
•Crews completed manhole inspections and will create a priority list for repair/replacement.
COJFD
Chief Mark McCann said the department received another $8,000 Ohio Means Jobs recruitment and retention grant, bringing the total to $24,000. He said OMJ has been a “tremendous partner,” providing help with a recruitment video at no charge in addition to the grants.
•101 runs in August
•Installed over 70 smoke detectors
•Received a $5,400 state grant
•Open house set for Oct. 9, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
•“Chat with the Fire Chief” set for Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
•Pastor Larry Hiles of Milford Church of Christ joined the department as volunteer chaplain.
Public participation
Tim Eyster of Centerburg AMVETS Post 59 asked about rates and the process for AMVETS to connect to the village’s sewer system. The interest is to connect the house on the property, not the club.
VA Wise explained the tap-in and sewer fees would double since the property is not annexed into the village. Eyster noted annexing into the village requires AMVETS to reapply for its liquor license, which means going on the ballot for voter approval.
Eyster will meet further with village officials.
