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STEUBENVILLE -- City officials say prioritizing water and wastewater projects that actually have to be done over the next five years will help them determine if the current rate structure is fair.
Utilities Director Jim Jenkins told council Tuesday that a new rate study will be done once they know "where our projects need to go in the next five to 10 years."
"The water plan for sure will be completed by the end of the year," he said. "We have to meet with Ohio EPA on the wastewater side of things to determine when it will be accepted and finalized."
He said wastewater already has a long-term control plan in the design phase, but before it goes to Ohio EPA for approval, they want to review it in terms of "where we want things to go into the future, and also with what the EPA is mandating us to do."
"We're actually meeting with our attorneys Thursday to discuss some of that that work," Jenkins said. "Then we’re going to be setting up an Ohio EPA meeting on the wastewater side of things to kind of ... figure out where we’re supposed to be going and...prioritize our projects."
Jenkins pointed out the last rate study was done in 2018, "(but) a lot of things changed after those rates got put into place."
"In order to evaluate the rates, (we need) a new list of projects, which we are currently working on," he said. "They will be evaluated to see what (we'll) need to cover those costs. It could be more or it could be reduced--we won't know until everything is complete."
When rates inch too high, he said it can actually have a detrimental effect on departmental coffers.
"Eventually, raising rates to create income to complete projects can eventually turn your income down to where you’re going to lose money because people just can’t afford (them), so (they) move away," he told council. "So instead of increasing your income, you’re going to decrease it. Our affordability’s at the edge, it’s at the teetering point."
Council, meanwhile, voted 6-1 to lease the mineral rights to 19 city-owned properties, despite pleas from a handful of residents concerned it will adversely impact residents and the environment.
"This is not something you want by a park," one woman, a chemist, said. "Once its marred and once its damaged, it's never going to be the same."
Others voiced concern radon gas readings will spike, endangering the health and welfare of residents.
Councilman Dave Albaugh, however, said Franciscan University, the Jefferson County commissioners and private property owners have already leased mineral rights to specific sites. So if the city were to say no, those companies would still be able to drill horizontal wells under the city properties to extract the gas, and the city wouldn't get any remuneration.
Law Director Costa Mastros had previously pointed out there would be “no surface activity” on any of the city’s parcels, noting there is no language in the agreement giving the company the right to conduct surface activities without a separate written agreement signed by both parties.
Councilman Royal Mayo cast the only no vote, describing it as "absolutely terrible."
"There are no details to anything in this other than money," he said. "And it's not enough money ... for us to decide to just run with this."