By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
After a few years of steady water and sewer rates, city of Canal Winchester rates could soon be increasing for the vast majority of Canal Winchester residents starting Jan. 1, 2023.
The water rate per 1,000 gallons is currently $6.46 and the sewer rate is $6 per 1,000 gallons. Both rates would increase two percent each year for the next four years. For water, in 2023, the rate would be $6.59 and top out at $6.99 in 2026. For sewer, the rate would be $6.12 and peak at $6.49 under the new rates proposed at Canal Winchester City Council’s Sept. 6 meeting.
“Our last ordinance was two years of no increases for one and two years of two percent increases,” said Public Service Director Matt Peoples. “We went four years total with no increases on one. For water, we have quite a few capital projects coming up.”
The list includes work at the water treatment plant, public service administration building, a potential $18 to $20 million sanitary sewer headworks project, and compliance with new phosphorus regulation requirements.
“We are very conservative with our budgeting,” said Peoples. “We want to keep our rate increases at modest levels and still be able to fund operations. The chemical costs for supplies have gone through the roof.”
Other CW news
•Council heard the first reading of an ordinance to contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation to install a cable barrier starting at the Gender Road interchange to east of the Hill-Diley Road interchange.
ODOT assumes 100 percent of the cost of preliminary engineering, right-of-way, and construction costs. Canal Winchester agrees to assume the total cost of any features requested by the city that are not necessary for the improvement.
“I sent a letter out to everyone I could think of,” said Mayor Mike Ebert regarding support for the project. “It gained some traction pretty quickly.”
Peoples said the stretch of U.S. 33 from Gender to Hill-Diley has been the site of deadly crossover accidents.
•Council approved a resolution that provides the opportunity for a downtown optometrist to continue leasing the 20 S. High St. building he currently occupies, at least until next year.
The city recently purchased the site.
Development Director Lucas Haire said the lease agreement is with the Canal Winchester Industry and Commerce Corporation, who, in turn, is subleasing the building to Dr. William Murray for a year for $2,300 a month.
“The intention was for the CWICC to retain the rent funds and then use them to renovate the building at the completion of the lease,” said Haire.
