Wood County Commission approves water, sewer rate increases
Changes affect Claywood Park, Lubeck PSDs
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PARKERSBURG --The Wood County Commission approved rate increases Monday for the Lubeck and Claywood Park public service districts with the condition they may lower it if contributions from the county for certain projects can offset the need.
The commission unanimously approved a 11% sewer rate increase and an initial 4.5% water rate hike for Claywood Park PSD. Lubeck got a 9% water rate increase and a 8% increase for sewer.
Claywood Park has three different tariffs within the district where certain areas pay for upgrades in their area in order to have water service.
People under the first tariff currently pay $31.69 for 3,400 gallons of water. That rate will increase to $33.83, said Claywood Park General Manager Shayne Brabham.
People under the second tariff currently pay $54.85 and will pay $58.57 for 3,400 gallons. People under the third tariff currently pay $38.14 for 3,400 gallons and will pay $40.75 under the increase.
"On average, people will see a $2.82 increase on their water bill," Brabham said.
Claywood Park's sewer rate will go from $58.37 to $64.79.
Lubeck PSD Manager Rocky McConnell said many customers will see an increase of $1 per every 1,000 gallons on their water bills and an increase of $1.50 per 1,000 gallons on their sewer bills.
"Customers will see a $5-8 increase on their monthly bills," he said.
Around a dozen people attended the commission's meeting Monday in the Fort Boreman Room at the Judge Black Annex.
The commissioners said they received financial reports from both districts that were asked for during a hearing on the rate increases held last Thursday and talked to the PSD officials about different needs each district had and what money was available to address those.
Both districts need the increases to bring them into compliance with a state law that requires PSDs to maintain a working capital reserve fund account.
Commissioners said people in the community have said part of the rate increase will go to specific repair work. The commission asked if the county gave the PSDs a lump sum to help do those projects if that could bring the rate increase down some.
McConnell told commissioners the last estimate he got for a roof replacement for their building was $250,000. They had money in a reserve fund for that which had to go to other expenses. They have $20,000. With the rate increase, they should be able to bring in $86,000 from sewer and $184,000 from water. McConnell said Lubeck had other work that needed to be done including replacing a generator, doing well field work and more.
Commissioner Jimmy Colombo said many people do not fully understand what a PSD has to do to bring their customers water.
Commission President Blair Couch asked if the commission gave Lubeck $100,000 towards the roof work, if they could adjust the rates accordingly. Officials believed it was possible, but they had to run the numbers to see how it comes out.
Couch said the accountant Zack Dobbins will look at both PSDs to see if there is a project the commission can help with that can lead to a reduction in the rate.
Couch hopes the PSDs will be able to get them the figures soon so they might be able to take some action on Thursday.
After the commission approved the rate increase, Couch told them it should be a while before they come back again.
"You got the rate increase, don't come back again in a couple of years," he said of Lubeck's last increase in 2020.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com