by Steve Wiandt
Reporter
Cuyahoga Falls -- While snow is on the minds of many, City Council is thinking about water.
The city's water rates will be raised by 17.5 percent following Council's 9-1 vote March 10. The usage rate for 1,000 cubic feet of water, the city's estimate based on what a family of four uses each month, will rise from $15.28 per month to $17.95 per month.
"Although rate increases are never popular, we are trusted with the responsibility of providing water service to our residents," said Councilmember Don Walters (D-6). "As our infrastructure ages and costs of supplies increase, we must ensure funds are available to provide the exceptional service our residents expect."
The city has not raised its water rates since 1999. According to Public Service Director Valerie Wax Carr, the goal is to start the new rate April 1.
Councilmember Carol Klinger (R-at large) voted against the measure, saying it was poor timing on the heels of a bad winter and at a time when gas prices have gone up.
Also, Klinger said with a three-week lead time to order supplies, the city orders six month's worth. She believes only what is needed should be ordered, making better use of cash at hand.
In past discussions, Carr has said the rate increase was needed to build up the water fund balance for the purchase of supplies, which have gone up, and the maintenance of the infrastructure.
Council's newest member, Vince Rubino (D-1), who was sworn in prior to the meeting, was excused from voting by a motion approved by Councilmembers.
The water rate ordinance states that customers outside Cuyahoga Falls who use more than 20,000 cubic feet or those within Cuyahoga Falls who use the next 130,000 cubic feet per month are to be charged $10.62 per month.
Because Silver Lake and Munroe Falls use more than 20,000 cubic feet of water, Carr said, they pay $10.62 plus the 20 percent surcharge to equal $12.74 per 1,000 cubic feet per month.
With the new legislation, the new rate will be $14.98 per 1,000 cubic feet per month. Carr stressed these are rates that are paid by the municipalities for water as a "commodity." Residents are then, in turn, charged each community's rate for the water used.
Last year, Silver Lake Village Council adopted legislation increasing rates through 2010. Village Clerk-Treasurer Teresa M. Spohn told the Falls News-Press she doesn't know "at this point, if we'll need to raise rates in the interim."
According to Spohn, current rates are a monthly fixed charge of $13.37 plus $2.78 per one hundred cubic feet of water used.
Munroe Falls is charging residents $42.98 per 1,000 cubic feet of water per month.
Expired contract
Carr said Silver Lake's 20-year service contract with Cuyahoga Falls expired last year and the city is working with the village under a "verbal contract." Carr later told the Falls News-Press the old contract did not specify water rates, so a new contract is not needed when rates are increased.
Carr noted Silver Lake has been contracting with the Falls for water since 1928. Munroe Falls' 20-year water contract will expire in 2010, she said, and they have been under contract for a "long time," as well.
Councilmember Kathy Hummel (D-at large) said March 10 she'd like to see the city's contract with Silver Lake, when it is renewed, only three to five years in length. She also said she wants to review water surcharges. She said some Falls residents who get their water from Akron and pay a 40 percent surcharge.
Walters told the Falls News-Press immediately following the March 10 meeting he also wants to review water rates and surcharges. "We don't want to price-gouge," Walters added. "but we want to be fair."
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