photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Administrator Randy Russell, left, discusses matters with Commissioner Randy Wharton during Tuesday’s commission meeting.

WHEELING — Ohio County residents living in non-incorporated areas soon will see their sewer bills increase by nearly half.

County commissioners on Tuesday night unanimously approved a request from the Ohio County Public Service District raising the rates by 48%.

The rate increase will not affect those living in Wheeling, Bethlehem, Triadelphia or Clearview, according to Commissioner Randy Wharton, also a member of the PSD board. He noted that many of those living in affected areas actually aren’t connected to county sewer lines, but they instead have septic tanks and won’t see an increase.

“No one likes to do it (raise rates), but it is necessary,” Wharton said.

The major reason for the increase is that the West Virginia Public Service Commission suggests the county isn’t charging enough for sewer rates, and this could prohibit the PSD from receiving state grant funding for sewer system improvements, commissioners said.

“Your rates have to be enough to sustain the system,” Wharton continued. “So unfortunately, every so often this has to happen.

“It just costs a lot to operate the system, and an increase is going to be required.”

Only the sewer rate is increasing, and that cost is based on water usage, he noted.

The county’s hike in sewer bills comes after Wheeling officials last week proposed a 38% increase in water and sewer rates in the near future for city residents to help tackle an expected $61 million in needed improvements to the system.

In other matters, commissioners unanimously approved a plan to purchase property at 700 Market St. in Wheeling – the former site of the Mountain Aire Heating & Air Conditioning business – for a cost of $95,000.

The county plans to use the 11,000-square-foot building to store election equipment, as well as older county records books recently removed from the City-County Building, according to County Administrator Randy Russell.

The building already has adequate security and electrical generators, and few upgrades will be needed, he said.

Also, elections workers in Ohio County will be earning more money for working Election Day.

Poll workers and ballot commissioners are presently paid a base rate of $220 for their service, as well as another $20 for their time spent taking a training class. They receive a total of $240.

Commissioners unanimously passed a motion Tuesday night that would jump that pay to $270 for working Election Day, with an additional $30 for training. This would bring their paycheck after working next year’s elections to $300.

The commissioners are next scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.