Parkersburg City Council President Mike Reynolds and Vice President Roger Brown were not in attendance at Tuesday’s regular council meeting. Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl, center, was appointed as president for the meeting. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg City Council approved the final reading of the sanitation fees increase from $18 to $22 per month in a 7-0 vote on Tuesday night.

After an extensive discussion, all members of council – excluding President Mike Reynolds and Vice President Roger Brown who were absent – voted to pass the ordinance.

The final reading to amend and re-enact the sewer rate increase also passed in a 7-0 vote after further discussion by the council.

Due to the absence of Reynolds and Brown, council was asked to appoint a president for the evening. Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl was selected by vote for the position.

The public was given an opportunity to speak before the second readings of the ordinances and a few spoke about their displeasure about the council not having a public forum for the first readings.

The public forum was open before the vote on ordinances for members of the community to come forward and speak about their thoughts and concerns. Parkersburg resident Deirdre Prince said that she wished the council had a public forum during the first readings so the public could voice their concerns before an ordinance was passed. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“I appreciate having a public hearing on this issue of sanitation and sewer,” said Deirdre Prince. “Maybe have a public forum before the second vote because it does seem like the decision has already been made.”

Before the final reading of the sanitation fees passed, councilman Zak Huffman attempted to amend the ordinance due to his concern about the rate of pay.

“My goal is to get a decent wage so that we can recruit new drivers and offer residents a more reliable service,” said Huffman. “The fact that we’re simultaneously raising fees but offering less of a service doesn’t sit well with a lot of people in District 5, including myself.”

Huffman said that a decent wage for CDL drivers would be closer to $17-21 an hour. Huffman made a motion to move the minimum range of pay for sanitation to $16 and one dollar less for trainees.

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck seconded the motion before it was determined that council couldn’t make those budget adjustments by amending the ordinance.

The agenda for the regular Parkersburg City Council meeting Tuesday included the discussion only section about the URA and land reuse agency. Development Director Ryan Barber was present to share information and answer questions the council might have had. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Mayor Tom Joyce also said he thought council definitely should pass the sanitation fee increase ordinance.

“Part of what I heard from Mr. Huffman, which I am opposed to, is creating a new job category for permanent, unlicensed drivers in our department.”

The wage increase is to encourage the workers to fully obtain a CDL, according to Joyce.

Joyce also stated that redesigning the ordinance would throw off the department and impact the budget which was approved in January.

Tuck then made a motion for an amendment of the ordinance to move finances from the Capital Reserves fund and put it in salaries. Similar to Huffman’s amendment, it was determined that the budget couldn’t be amended through the sanitation fee ordinance.

The sanitation fee increase of $4 will take effect July 1.

A few members of the public spoke during the forum about agenda items before the sewer rate increase was passed.

Tuck had questions about the commercial versus residential rates that were also raised by a few of the speakers in the public forum.

“All of our sewage goes to one treatment plant…the sewer system is the sewer system,” said Joyce.

All residents are asked to pay the rates because it’s all one system and treatment plant. Joyce said there aren’t geographical rates but if you have water and sewer customers then you have water and sewer rates.

After all of the ordinances on the agenda were passed for the evening, Development Director Ryan Barber came forward for the discussion on urban renewal authority and land reuse agency.

“What I want to avoid is saying that LRAs are better than URAs in certain ways,” said Barber. “While they’re increasing in popularity, it doesn’t mean one is better than the other.”

The discussion was brief and Kuhl said she wanted to wait to have the discussion until more information was available.

Barber said that other cities have been successful with the land reuse agency; it was agreed by the council that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have professionals on the committee.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.