Greenville City Council approves water rate increase, effective Jan. 1

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GREENVILLE — At its meeting Tuesday night, the Greenville City Council unanimously approved an increase on city water rates.

The increase, approximately 4 percent, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2016. The move is intended to “help maintain the operation of the Water Department thereby better assuring the health, safety, and welfare of the City’s residents.”

The ordinance was given first and second readings at council’s September 1 and 15 meetings.

Earlier in the meeting, Greenville Fire Chief Mark Wolf presented two “Certificates of Appreciation” on behalf of the city to retiring firefighters Lowell “Chip” Fashner and Michael Hohler.

Fashner served on the fire department for 25 years; Hohler served 22 years.

In other business, Safety/Service Director Curt Garrison updated council on various street construction plans, including the Ohio Street/East Main Street project.

“We are now at the point of moving forward with the bid process,” he said, presenting council with the engineering cost estimates from Mote & Associates.

The total estimated cost of the project is $1,335,000, with $600,000 being covered by a state grant, $600,000 covered by a loan, and the remainder being paid by the city.

Regarding the current construction at Gardenwood Drive and Rhoades Avenue, Garrison said, “I’m happy to report that Brumbaugh Construction is doing an excellent job.”

Garrison reported that curb construction is scheduled to begin October 19 and that paving will likely begin later that same week.

He also reported that he, Mayor Mike Bowers and Water Department Superintendent Gary Evans had met with representatives of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week to discuss harmful algal blooms.

“[Greenville] is the only surface water system in our area that does not have a way to treat harmful algal blooms if we detect it,” he said.

“The EPA is going to require the city of Greenville to come up with a plan to treat harmful algal blooms,” he added, noting that he had no idea of the potential cost of a plan at this stage.

Garrison pointed out that October 12 will be “Fall Cleanup Day,” with city households being allowed to place up to five items on the curb for pickup. Anyone with questions about what is, or is not, acceptable for pickup is encouraged to contact the mayor’s office at 937-548-1482.

Council accepted a Utilities Committee report reviewing terms of the installation a new water meter, new sewer meter and billing rates for the BASF plant at 1175 Martin Street in Greenville.

Among other business, council passed an ordinance approving fund transfers for the purchase of a hand-held laser for the police department; an ordinance allowing the Wastewater Reserve Fund to be accumulated, maintained and utilized by the city auditor through Dec. 31, 2017 for maintenance of wastewater plant upgrades; and a resolution accepting a bid by J&A Construction for the removal and disposal of lime sludge from the water treatment plant.

The Greenville City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Municipal Building. The public is invited to attend.

Increases 4 percent starting January

By Erik Martin

[email protected]

Erik Martin may be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 937-569-4314.

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