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WHEELING -- Legislation is moving forward to secure money to pay for what is expected to be more than $65 million worth of prioritized water and sewer system projects in the city of Wheeling.
Members of Wheeling City Council are expected to gather for their first of two regular council meetings for the month of September at 5:30 p.m. today in council chambers.
Among the new pieces of legislation tentatively scheduled to be introduced are an ordinance and a resolution related to the previously discussed issuance of bonds in order to finance tens of millions of dollars worth of future water and sewer system improvements for the city.
While the financing is expected to be repaid over the course of the next 30 years, the water and sewer improvement projects are slated to take place within the next few years. Contracts for needed work at the city's Wastewater Treatment Plant have already been awarded.
The Public Works Committee of Wheeling City Council recently agreed to forward a recommendation supporting the proposed bond issue to the full city council for consideration. The Public Works Committee received detailed presentations on the list of prioritized water and sewer projects from department superintendents and consultants who have been working on the planned improvements.
In order to pay for the financed projects, Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron recommended a 38% rate increase for both water and sewer customers. City leaders stressed that even with the proposed rate increase, Wheeling's water and sewer rates will remain notably lower than the current rates for the same services charged by most public service districts in West Virginia.
One new ordinance scheduled on Tuesday night for consideration "for approval and adoption upon first reading," authorizing the financing of the various improvements through the issuance by the city of "not more than $80 million in aggregate principal amount of combined waterworks and sewerage system improvement revenue bonds."
The financing umbrella would cover the cost of the proposed projects, which are estimated to come in much lower at a total cost of around $65 million -- with priority water system projects estimated to cost around $21,495,000 and sewer system improvements projected to cost about $43,850,000.
A reimbursement resolution authorizing the reimbursement of expenditures from proceeds of these bonds made by the city for the water and sewer improvements is also scheduled to be introduced tonight.
Currently, Wheeling's water rate for the standard monthly usage measurement of 4,000 to 4,999 gallons is $30.63 per month. It would go to $42.26 if a 38-percent rate increase were to be implemented. On the sewer side, the current rate for 4,000 to 4,999 gallons is $42.76 per month. It would go to $57.62 if the proposed increase goes through.
Water projects on the prioritized list -- as announced last year -- include Mozart and Clearview booster stations and water main improvements estimated at $3,226,226; Atlas, Carmel, Grandview and Oglebay-Leewood/Pogue Run water main improvements projected at $6,323,888; Boggs Hill booster station and water main improvements valued at $7,346,472; and the Wheeling Water Treatment Plant sludge dewatering improvement project estimated at $3,333,686.
Improvements to the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility alone are expected to cost a total of around $30.6 million. Other prioritized wastewater projects include the Warwood area infiltration and inflow reduction estimated at a cost of $6.5 million; Mount de Chantal and Dorman Road area sewer and drainage improvements project at $1.7 million; GC&P Phase 2 sewer improvements estimated at $1 million; siphon replacement near WesBanco Arena projected with a cost of $3.8 million; and sewer improvements for the Dimmeydale-Oakmont area estimated at $2.3 million.