Coldwater to raise water and sewer rates

COLDWATER - Coldwater village council members on Monday learned costs are increasing for water and sewer-related improvements and services in the village. As a result, councilors moved to raise fees for the services to keep accounts in good standing.

Council President Tim Buschur reported on the finance committee meeting held March 9. Discussion centered on possible increase of rates for providing water, sewer and storm service in the village.

"The goal is to replace all water lines as we do the streets," Buschur read from the report.

This is more cost effective and streets will not need to be torn up at a later date. As the village continues to do more streets and replace lines, costs have gone up. The cost of chemicals for water treatment has also increased, the committee noted.

The committee proposed an increase in charges for water and wastewater services.

Council gave first reading of an ordinance fixing the rates and charges to the users of water service, wastewater service, cistern water treatment and storm utility services.

Village administrator Jason Eyink said the village is redoing the streets, and money for those repairs comes from the income tax levy that was passed. Water and sewer lines are to be paid for from money in the water and sewer fund.

"We want to be proactive when the streets get done, so we need a little more money in those funds," he said. "Operating costs are going up and we haven't raised rates for three years."

Water rates would increase from $8 per 1,000 gallons to $9 per 1,000 gallons. Wastewater rates would increase from $7 per 1,000 gallons to $8 per 1,000 gallons.

A storm utility surcharge will be placed on all water and sewer bills at $2.67 per month per residential water user until May 31, 2028, and $3 per month after.

Effective June 1, 2028, a water improvement fee and wastewater improvement fee will be placed on all water and sewer bills. The charges will be $2 per month per residential water user and $2 per month per residential wastewater user.

A village resident's bill for water and wastewater services with usage of 10,000 gallons per quarter would go from $80 to $90 for water and $70 to $80 for wastewater with the new rate.

Water rates were increased in 2023 from $7 per 1,000 gallons to $8 per 1,000 gallons. Wastewater rates were also increased in 2023 from $6 per 1,000 gallons to $7 per $1,000 gallons.

Previously, water rates increased in 2014 from $5 per 1,000 gallons to $7 per 1,000 gallons and wastewater rates increased in 2019 from $5 per 1,000 gallons to $6 per 1,000 gallons.

The new rates would take effect June 1 and would appear on residents' October bills upon passage of the ordinance after three readings.

Also discussed at the finance committee meeting was health insurance for village employees. Finance director Dylan Schwieterman reported increases had been averaging 5% per year. New proposed rates with Anthem are up 24%. Other towns are experiencing the same issues with increased costs, Schwieterman noted. Village officials are looking for better options.

In other action, council heard second reading of an ordinance accepting the plat of RK Development Phase Two, the subdivision bounded by Burkettsville St. Henry Road to the west and West Vine Street to the south. Phase Two encompasses lots 1850 through 1862.

Eyink pointed out there was an error on the map that was handed out at last meeting. "It is 13 residential lots, but 6 of them are zoned for duplexes," he said.

Phase One of the subdivision was developed in 2024 and consists of five lots encompassing lots 1816 through 1820.

Eyink reported the village had a lot of issues due to the recent storms. There were electric lines down both south and north of town, two trees went down in Memorial Park, and a lightning bolt damaged some fence in the park. "We've got a lot of things to be fixed out there," he added.

Mayor Doug Bertke and councilors thanked village crews for the cleanup work done after the storms.

In his report to council Eyink said:

• water bills with important resident information will be mailed next week.

• the village received 2025 Tree City USA designation.

• email addresses changed from .com to .gov as part of the cybersecurity program.

Coldwater Village Council meets next at 7 p.m. April 13 at the village hall.