Mapleheightspress.com - County to double sewer rates in city next year

by Tim Troglen

Reporter

Maple Heights -- Residents could see their county sewer bills double next year, and even more hikes over the next decade, after the city asked the county to step in and take a greater role in fixing local sewer problems.

The city's sewer committee met with officials from the Cuyahoga County Sanitary Engineer's Office Aug. 7 to discuss a raise in the rates from the current 75 cents per foot of sewer line on one's property, to $1.60 per foot next year, $1.75 per foot in 2010 and $2.50 per foot in 2016.

That would mean the average city resident who pays $36.78 a year for sewer service would pay $74.78 a year in 2009, said Michael Dever, deputy to the Cuyahoga County sanitary engineer.

Dever said a vote on the rate increase would be on the Cuyahoga County Commissioners' agenda at the Aug. 14 or 28 meeting.

The city does not have its own sewer department. City Engineer Ed Hren said until this year, the sanitary engineer's office had been used "on a limited basis" by the city -- city service department workers used to be first-responders when residents called in with water in their basements or other sewer issues, and the county workers might be called in a day or two later to address the most difficult problems.

However, according to District 3 Councilor Anthony Cefaratti, after some service workers were laid off in recent years due to budget cuts, it became increasingly difficult for the city to handle these calls and regular service duties like street repairs. So the city this past January signed a contract with the county to take a more active role in dealing with sewer issues.

That, along with $1 million in sewer repairs his office projects are needed in the city this year, led to the proposed rate increase, Hren said.

The city has no control over any cost increase.

"Based on our contract, the county has the ability to do this and it does not require a vote of Council," Hren said. "They can take this and flat-out say it is $2.50."

"I think once the residents see the improvement with 24-hours-a-day and seven-days-a-week call in, I think they will appreciate the service," said Edward Premen, the county engineer's business administrator.

"They had brought up to us that our present rate ... was significantly less than what was being collected in other full-service communities," Hren added.

Hren said Bedford residents pay $1.60 per foot, Bedford Heights pays $1.95 and Walton Hills pays $1.60 -- and each of those communities still use their own employees to help fix many of the sewer problems.

Hren said while major sewer repair projects pegged for this year include a $500,000 refurbishing of the Granite Road pump station, that could be delayed because the county currently estimates a $234,511 deficit in funds available for Maple Heights sewer repair and maintenance this year. With the rate increase in place, those projects could come to fruition next year or beyond, he said.

Hren said the city will re-evaluate its contract with the county in 2012 "to see where we are at."

E-mail: TTroglen@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3165