By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
For the second consecutive meeting of the Delta Village Council, a resident demanded answers regarding the recently hiked water and sewer rates.
Rick Tressler mentioned the individual who asked about the rates at the last meeting before asking for the same information.
Village Administrator Andy Glenn interrupted Tressler and offered to stay afterward to speak with him as well as meet with him in his office at a later date after hours per Tressler’s availability to answer all his questions and show him whatever data he wanted.
Glenn said the issue had been explained in council meetings repeatedly in the past and that it was no longer the correct venue to ask those questions.
Tressler said he still believed that wasn’t fair.” To be honest with you, and I don’t mean to be a pest here, but if I make a meeting with you and you just tell me ‘It’s expenses’ and I walk away, well that’s the politician two shuffle and I don’t like that,” Tressler said.
He also said one of the prior questioners said “it’s never going to change because they’re not going to listen. “Shame on you,” he said.
That comment drew a response from council members who chimed in with more examples of how much the issue had been discussed publicly, while still offering similar assistance as Glenn.
Shortly after, Tressler was cut off from speaking further. People addressing the council are generally limited to two minutes per the rules listed on the agenda, Tressler was allowed four.
After multiple years of discussion in council and committee meetings, the rate increases came up for a vote last August and were passed after two readings.
As a result, the water rate increased from $3.93/100 cubic feet plus a $31 base fee to $9 for customers in the village and $15 for those in the county, with the sewer rate increasing from $4.24/100 cubic feet plus a $13.48 base fee to $8.50 and $12.75 for village and county residents, respectively. The base fees were not changed.
According to Glenn’s presentation prior to passage of the rate increases, the main reasons behind their necessity were that operational costs were already not being entirely covered and the necessity of an upcoming project estimated at $10 million on the low end including upgrades and expansion to the water plant, replacement of a water tower, repairs to the reservoirs required by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, repairs and upgrades to village infrastructure being required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and upgrades and expansion to the sewer plant to meet current OEPA requirements.
CAPTURING THE TAX BASE
The council passed by split vote on first reading an ordinance eliminating all undeveloped land from an existing Community Reinvestment Area established in 1992.
Under the designation, developers could apply for a 10-year, 100% tax abatement when building on undeveloped land.
Council members Lynn Frank and Chad Johnson voted against the measure, which passed 4-2. According to Glenn, the village is considering a tax increment finance (TIF) district in the area of two new developments as a better incentive program.
Through it, the village would take on the responsibility and cost of infrastructure for the new development, saving the developer money that can translate into lower housing prices once units are on the market.
In exchange, the village receives a large percentage of the property taxes from the district until its investment is repaid, at which point it shifts to a lower percentage.
Glenn floated the possibility of a 20-year TIF with 80 percent going to the village and 20 percent to the schools (normally 100 percent goes to the schools) until the TIF is repaid, at which point it would shift to 20 percent for the village and 80 percent for the schools.
The proposal will be delivered to the Pike-Delta-York School Board by Glenn, because to establish a TIF that calls for 75 percent or greater of the funds to be diverted or one that is 10 years or greater in duration requires approval from the school board.
WATER METER MONITORING
Plans to pursue the installation of antennas to continuously monitor residents’ smart water meters have been delayed due to the first company the village has been reaching out to not returning phone calls.
That company could also only provide a plan to continuously monitor 85 to 90 percent of residents. Glenn is now seeking a different company which can provide a 100 percent coverage option.
Continuous monitoring of the meters allows for alerts to be created and sent to residents as soon as a potential leak is detected.
Especially in the case of large leaks, such an alert could save residents hundreds to thousands of dollars in water and sewer fees.
OTHER BUSINESS
The council voted to officially appoint Jenna Flores as village finance director and Marlena Allwood as assistant finance director. Both had been serving in interim roles.
The council went into executive session to consider the employment, promotion, or compensation of a public employee.
The next council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 4.
