mgreier@salemnews.net12-
SALEM Â The city Utilities Commission is expecting to hear in June whether a $15 million loan is coming Salem’s way to fund up front the Phase 3 sewer treatment plant upgrade.
Commission Chair Bob Hodgson mentioned the possibility of receiving a loan for the full amount from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the project.
Funds from a sewer rate increase that takes effect May 1 will help cover the payments for the loan needed to cover the required upgrades to meet regulatory demands, replace outdated equipment and increase efficiency at the plant on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The commission also hopes to secure a grant of $235,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to cover nearly half the cost of a project to replace the rip-rap along the shoreline of the Salem reservoir off of Gamble Road to help protect the dam structure. The utilities department would cover $236,000 of the $471,000 project cost.
Staff Writer
SALEM The city Utilities Commission is expecting to hear in June whether a $15 million loan is coming Salem’s way to fund up front the Phase 3 sewer treatment plant upgrade.
Commission Chair Bob Hodgson mentioned the possibility of receiving a loan for the full amount from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the project.
Funds from a sewer rate increase that takes effect May 1 will help cover the payments for the loan needed to fund the required upgrades to meet regulatory demands, replace outdated equipment and increase efficiency at the plant on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The commission also hopes to secure a grant of $235,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission to cover nearly half the cost of a project to replace the rip-rap along the shoreline of the Salem reservoir off of Gamble Road to help protect the dam structure. The utilities department would cover $236,000 of the $471,000 project cost.
mgreier@salemnews.net
City council’s Committee of the Whole agreed Tuesday to send a proposed increase in sewer rates to city council for a decision.
Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey asked city Law Director Brooke Zellers to prepare the ordinance for the next city council meeting, set for 7 p.m. April 6.
The city Utilities Commission recommended the following sewer rate increase to council: a $12 increase to the minimum monthly sewer bill of 200 cubic feet plus a 5 percent increase to the monthly usage rate for usage over the minimum for 2021.
In subsequent years, the monthly base will increase by $5 for each year through 2025 and the monthly usage rate will increase by 2.75 percent each year through 2027.
mgreier@salemnews.net
SALEM Â A work session will be scheduled before the April city Utilities Commission meeting to review upgrades needed at the city water treatment plant off of Gamble Road.
The commission heard a brief synopsis of the engineering report Thursday from Michael Peleschak, an engineer with Alfred Benesch & Company. The report had just been delivered that day, with a possible price tag upwards of $14.5 million to $15 million for the upgrades.
He said the plant’s electrical system is in dire need of replacing, a new generator is needed, along with automating the system and updating equipment.
Commission Chair Bob Hodgson asked him to prioritize costs along the lines of what’s mandated, what would be good to have for more efficiency, what would be nice or what would be a dream.
As promised, the city Utilities Commission approved a recommendation to increase sewer rates Thursday, choosing a plan to spread the cost fairly to all users.