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WEIRTON -- Weirton Council on Monday approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase municipal water rates in order to meet state accounting regulations.
Council approved, by a 6-0 vote, the ordinance "establishing and fixing water rates, fees and charges of the City of Weirton."
Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh abstained from the vote, noting he had not attended the council workshop where the rate increase had been discussed.
According to Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni, passage of the water rate increase will put the Weirton Area Water Board in compliance with Senate Bill 234, enacted by the West Virginia Legislature in 2015. The bill requires municipal utilities to set aside one-eighth of their yearly maintenance budgets, which Mastrantoni said is approximately $440,000 for Weirton.
"The Water Board, in good faith, tried incrementally putting money into it," Mastrantoni said, noting, however, the state's deadline for having the account funded was approaching and the board currently does not have the necessary revenue.
During previous discussions on the issue, Mastrantoni explained water rates in the city would be increased by 27.64 percent, represented by charges going from $5.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used to $7.02 per 1,000 gallons. Mastrantoni has said the average household would see an increase of $6.90 per month in their bill.
Mastrantoni said this is the first water rate increase for Weirton in nine years. The rate increase also comes during a time when the water board is proposing an expansion to its water treatment plant.
Resident Steve Psaros attended Monday's meeting, questioning the process being used for the rate increase, as well as the funding of the proposed expansion project, accusing the city administration of not being open with residents.
"Enough is enough," Psaros said. "The project is being done in bits and pieces and fed to the residents."
City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo invited Psaros to meet with him to discuss the project.
Mastrantoni, however, explained many of the details for the proposed expansion project are still being worked out.
"We just authorized moving forward on that about a month and a half ago," he said, noting the design phase would take between nine and 11 months, at which time a better picture of the cost for the project would be available. Officials have said another rate increase would be likely at that time, although the city also will seek grant funding to assist with the costs.
City Clerk Kimberly Long noted she had received a call from resident Irene Crago, who also is against the rate increase.
A public hearing and a second reading of the ordinance must be held before it can go into effect.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)