An ordinance increasing the rate schedules for the sanitary department was passed Tuesday by Moundsville City Council. Councilman Rick Young voted against the ordinance.
The ordinance will increase rates to $2.90 per 1,000 gallons of use. This will amount to about $1.08 per household based on a 4,500 gallon usage, or 24 cents per 1,000 gallons. No bill will be rendered for less than $6.90 per month for domestic service or for less than $8.08 per month for commercial service. Glen Dale residents will see a 20 cent per 1,000 gallon of usage increase because of less plant usage.
City Manager Allen Hendershot said this increase is "strictly for operations and maintenance of the plant." He explained the city has had trouble obtaining grants because the West Virginia Public Service Commission believes the city's rates are too low.
"They would like our rates to be higher," he said.
The ordinance became necessary when the PSC vacated an ordinance passed late last summer by the council. The commission's action was prompted by an appeal by the city of Glen Dale because its use of the system was to be metered and they were going to be charged on a metered rate. A second ordinance will be necessary later to have the metering issue with Glen Dale addressed again.
Council also heard the first reading of an ordinance concerning the city's employee vacation policy, and amending the planning and zoning regulations to provide for off-street parking on lots without buildings in general residential zones in the city.
Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department Treasurer and Trustee Brad Varlas gave the department's annual report to council. He told council the volunteer department answered a total 342 incident last year. Of those 211 were in city limits. The department also reported to a total 42 structure fire calls, 16 within the city.
Varlas said he believes the number of fires has gone down in recent years due to cleanup efforts and fire safety instruction in schools. He also noted the federal grant, during the year, which allowed the department to purchase new breathing apparatus, a thermal imaging camera, and new turnout gear.
Councilman Gene Saunders expressed concern over a report of houses slipping on Poplar Avenue from mine subsidence. Hendershot said the state was drilling in the Poplar Avenue area to relieve drainage. The plan was to drill into cavities and fill them with concrete. He agreed some homes have sustained damage from the problem. Saunders also expressed concern over graffiti in the Second Street area.
Hendershot also told council the surplus sale at the Sanford Community Center had netted $3,300.
He also noted gas and electric bills at the facility last month totaled about $3,600. He said efforts are being made to reduce the amount of gas and electric being used.
Council rejected a bid of $15,000 for its old garbage truck. It will be rebid at a later date with a minimum bid.