BELLE, W.Va. — Belle City Council tabled an increase plan to its city sewer system at its meeting Thursday night, in order to see if a cheaper option for its planned updated sewer project is available.
The city is currently planning a roughly $5 million project to replace the outdated system, with a $1 million dollar grant from the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.
During public hearing, several residents who spoke convinced council to table the move while a potentially cheaper option from the Public Service District is examined.
“It behooves the town to at least look at the numbers based on the Kanawha PSD, versus what it would be to do a main sewer project,” said David Fletcher. “If that project costs $2.5 million, and the project we know today is $5 million, then it could possibly save the citizens of Belle $2 million.”
The proposed increase would raise the city’s sewer rate in several steps, beginning on April 1. The minimum charge would be nearly $31. At the beginning of 2017, the minimum would be $37 even, and by July 1, 2017, just over $40.
“The mandate from the EPA (under the Clean Water Act), has got us concerned,” said Mayor Glenn “Buck” Chestnut. “But the deteoriation of our plant has also got us concerned. Between the two, we have to do it.”
Fletcher admitted that even a cheaper project wouldn’t stop a pending increase, but it could lessen the blow to city residents, many of whom live on fixed income.
“It may not reduce it but it may not take it to the level that it’s going to take it to by doing the $5 million dollar project, if you can do it for $2.5 million.
Chestnut said that the EPA has been patient with Belle as they prepare to renovate their system, a project which he said had been eight years in the making, but time was running short.
“They’ve been very patient with us so we can get the plant worked on before (they fine us). We haven’t really admitted too much (water) to the (Kanawha) River unless we have large rains,” Chestnut explained.
Tuesday night was the second reading of the proposed raise. The council didn’t set a date for discussing the matter again. Their next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 18, but Chestnut said the agenda had already been set.
Last week, the city of South Charleston approved a sewer rate increase for similar reasons.