(Meeting Updates - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council will meet Tuesday to discuss the final reading of ordinances to approve sewer rate and sanitation fee increases.

The ordinances were approved on first reading at the May 27 meeting. The sewer rate hike for the Parkersburg Utility Board passed in an 8-0 vote for a total of 18.47% over the course of four years.

If the sewer rate increase is approved on Tuesday, the ordinance will officially go into effect.

The ordinance to increase sanitation fees from $18 to $22 per month will be effective July 1 if the final reading passes Tuesday.

On May 27, the first reading of the sanitation fee ordinance was approved in a 6-2 vote with Councilman Dave McCrady absent.

A potential Land Reuse Agency will be discussed during Tuesday’s meeting.

“The City Council wants to hear more about the LRA since it has very similar powers and authority that the URA has,” said city Development Director Ryan Barber.

The main difference is that a land reuse agency doesn’t have the power to pursue eminent domain, according to Barber. Eminent domain is when a municipality takes real estate for the fair market value.

There are roughly 16 cities in West Virginia who have established a land reuse agency. Tuesday’s discussion will include more information from Barber about other cities that use such agencies and how it has been successful in those cities.

“Right now, Parkersburg is the only URA or LRA that is comprised entirely of city council members,” said Barber. “In every other URA or LRA around the state, they have industry experts.”

Such experts could include bankers, realtors, appraisers and developers.

Council members won’t be voting on the land reuse agency Tuesday. The focus will be to get more information about options they could take.

The council meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com