Stormwater rates reduced for ‘net zero’

At a special meeting on Monday night, the Ironton City Council raised water and sewer rates and lowered storm water rates for residents so that while the amount of the individual bills will change, the amount the residents pay will remain the same.

At the regular council meeting on Thursday, the council heard the first readings on three ordinances, one to reduce the stormwater rates to from $4.76 per thousand gallons used to $1.97 per thousand gallons used, another ordinance was on the water rate which would go from $10.04 to $12.50 per thousand gallons used.

Future rates would increase on Jan. 1 of every year, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and a third ordinance would raise the sewer rate from $10.01 to $10.80 per thousand gallons used. In 2026, it would go from $10.80 to $11.99 per thousand gallons used and from January 2027 forward, the amount would increase based on the CPI.

Council member Chris Haney said that council member Nate Kline put together the ordinances together so that the effect for city residents and businesses “would even out, make it net zero. So I appreciate your work on that.”

Vice Mayor Craig Harvey thanked all involved in the proposals.

The three ordinances had second and third readings at the council’s special meeting on Monday night and all three ordinances passed.

In other items on Thursday’s agenda, the council took the following actions:

• Authorized the finance director to enter into a three-year contract with Schonhardt & Associates to do the city’s financial 2024-2026 cash basis financial statements.
• Established salaries for the city’s non-union employees.

The Ironton City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month in council chambers on the third floor of the Ironton City Center.