photo by: Emma Delk

Moundsville Councilman Denny Hall cast the sole vote against a sanitary rate increase during Tuesday's meeting.

Moundsville City Council approved an ordinance for a two-step sanitary rate increase during Tuesday’s meeting, raising the average bill by $9 over the course of about a year.

The two-step hike eventually will result in a 30% sanitary rate increase for residents to fund a sewer system improvement project.

The first 15% sanitary rate increase will increase the average bill for residential customers using 3,400 gallons per month from $28.38 to $32.73. The second 15% sanitary rate increase will increase the average bill from $32.73 to $37.64.

The first rate increase will go into effect April 19 — 45 days after passage of the ordinance.

In response to a question from City Manager Rick Healy, Moundsville Sanitary & Stormwater Department Superintendent Brock Castilow said residents would not encounter the rate increase until their June sanitary bill, distributed on July 1.

The first rate increase is projected to generate an increase of $287,000 in annual revenue, an increase of 15%.

The second rate increase will go into effect on all bills rendered 90 days before debt service for the Middle Grave Creek Sewer Project is due or the project is certified by the Sanitary Board’s engineer as substantially complete, whichever occurs first. Castilow estimated substantial completion of the project will occur in February 2026.

The second rate increase is projected to generate an increase of $330,000 in annual revenue, an increase of 15%.

The amendment to the existing rate schedules accounts for 11% of the total 30% rate increase. The council was informed of the need to amend the existing rate schedules for the city’s Sanitary Department during a Moundsville City Council Finance Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 11.

During the February meeting, Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy informed council members that there had been a decrease in municipal sales revenue for the city due to the Northern Regional Correctional Facility and Jail’s water usage “considerably dropping.”

The jail’s drop in water usage was the result of computerized toilets and water usage devices being installed at the facility to cut its water usage by a certain percentage, resulting in a decrease in the collections for the water and sanitary departments.

Certified Public Accountant Michael Abraham, who serves as the Sanitary Department’s accountant, determined the city needed a 30% sanitary rate increase to both fund the upcoming sewer project and compensate for prior sanitary department revenue losses due to the Northern Regional Jail cutting its water usage. He proposed the two-step rate increase on Feb. 11 to cover both needs for the city.

The sewer system improvement project will account for 19% of the rate increase for Moundsville residents. The funding from the rate increase will allow the Sanitary Board to close on funding for the Middle Grave Creek Project and meet its statutory capital reserve requirement. The project will upgrade the Middle Grave Creek sewer, rehabilitate the primary digester at the wastewater treatment plant and replace the digester boiler and heat exchanger.

No members of the public spoke during a public hearing held before Tuesday’s vote.

Councilman Denny Hall asked during the public hearing portion of the meeting whether people outside of Moundsville, such as Glen Dale residents, would see the rate increase on their bills. Castilow responded that any resale customer, which includes Glen Dale and Middle Grave Creek residents, would see the rate increase passed on to them. Hall cast the sole dissenting vote on the sanitary rate increase ordinance.