photo by: Shelley Hanson

Moundsville City Council approved allowing the Moundsville Stormwater Board attorney to move forward with drafting a proposed rate increase for residential and commercial customers. Speaking before the meeting, from left, are council members Ginger DeWitt and Dennis Hall and City Attorney Thomas White.

Moundsville City Council took the first step toward a possible stormwater fee rate increase during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

In a 6-1 decision, council approved allowing the stormwater board’s attorney to move forward with drafting a proposed rate increase ordinance for council’s future consideration.

Voting in favor were council members David Wood, Eugene Saunders, Ginger DeWitt, Don DeWitt, Mayor Randy Chamberlain and Vice Mayor Sara Wood-Shaw. Councilman Dennis Hall was the lone “no” vote.

The proposed rate increases would be from $5 to $8 per month or an additional 60% for single-family residential and from $12.50 to $15 per month or an additional 20%, for a base fee for commercial, industrial and rental properties.

The base fee for commercial, industrial or rental properties would cover the first 4,000 square feet of impervious space. More than 4,000 square feet would incur another $1.50 per square feet.

The stormwater rate is a separate fee from water and sewage fees that residents also pay.

City Manager Rick Healy said the residential stormwater rate has not been increased since 2010. The commercial, industrial and rental property rate was last increased in 2021.

According to information from the board, the rate increases are expected to generate an additional $210,000 per year in revenue to maintain and make repairs to the Moundsville stormwater system.

The system includes 10 miles of pipe from 4 inches to 60 inches in diameter. It has 830 catch basins, 176 manholes and 116 outlets. The system directs rainwater and snowmelt into streams and the Ohio River.

Currently, more than 50 catch basins need to be fixed, rebuilt or replaced. More than 60 curb inlets need to be replaced because of safety and liability issues. On average, it costs $9,500 to replace a catch basin.

There are also eight different steel culverts that need to be replaced, along with five other projects related to headwalls, bar screens and sediment boxes. There are also 22 storm lines that need cleaning and televised inspection, according to the board.