CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A 7-2 vote by South Charleston’s City Council Thursday night approved a substantial raise to the city’s sewer fee after a public hearing.
The raise, which has a 45-day approval period, will take the minimum bill on sewer rates from over $7 up to just under $21 for the first 2,000 gallons used.
Mayor Frank Mullens said the raise is necessary to comply with federal EPA regulations under the Clean Water Act.
“We wouldn’t be sitting here doing it if it wasn’t necessary,” said Mullens. “Nobody enjoys doing these types of things, but tough decisions have to be made and we made one tonight. Without taking action, we’d be exposing the sanitary board to potentially huge fines in the future that would end up costing the customers more money.”
The only resident who spoke during public hearing was former mayor Richie Robb, who ran against Mullens in last year’s city election. Robb thought there was no reason to raise rates, and questioned the openness of the hearing.
“There’s no reason for it to be done. They put on a dog and pony show; I asked questions, they won’t even let me speak,” he said. “It’s just a ram-it-through. They want to extend sewer service to people, they’ve expanded the city borders too long, and that’s what they want to do.”
After the public hearing was closed, Robb insisted several times to be allowed to speak again, but Mullens insisted the matter move forward, banging his gavel for order.
“This is not something we’ve randomly done,” Mullens said of lack of participation in the hearing. “We’ve been studying this thing for years. I’ve been the one that’s been most resistant until I got a grasp of it.”
Robb questioned why the hearing wasn’t more highly publicized and held in a more open forum.
“Why don’t they put it at the library? Why don’t they put it at the community center?,” he asked. “They don’t do that. They hide things. Why don’t they have a legitimate public hearing? Was that a legitimate public hearing? Absolutely not.”
Robb contended that the EPA could be negotiated with, but Mullens responded that the time for bargaining was long past.
“We knew it was going to be significant; we knew it was coming,” he said. “The idea is to get as much work done as we can so the DEP will know we’re working to be in compliance. Right now, we’re not doing anything. We need to get a shovel in the ground.”
Mullens said the raise would cover the costs of about half of a $60-80 million dollar project over ten years, remaining optimistic that the city wouldn’t have to raise sewer rates again in that period of time.
“As a citizen, am I for it? Not really. But as the mayor of the city I have responsibility. That’s what we’ve done,” he said. “We’re complying with federal law. This is an unfunded mandate that we have to deal with.”
Councilmen Jeff Williamson and Edd Brooks both voted against the increase.
After the 45-day period, Mullens expected the new sewer rates would go into effect sometime in the spring.