Village passes rates increase
NEW BREMEN — Village councilors passed two ordinances at their meeting Monday night that will increase water and sewer rates for the village.
The need to increase the rates stems from the probability that the village will have to build a new wastewater treatment plan under orders from the Ohio EPA.
“[This is] to get us more in line with costs versus revenue,” said Village Administrator Brent Richter.
Last fall, council commissioned a study to be done by the Great Lakes Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) to see what the village’s options were.
At their Dec. 14 meeting, Nathan Davis of RCAP presented potential rates adjustments for council to consider.
Currently, New Bremen residents pay a minimum of $6 per month for up to 200 cubic feet of water. Customers are then charged $3.03 for the next 100 cubic feet of water up to 1,000 cubic feet. They are then charged $3.09 per 100 cubic feet of water over 1,000 cubic feet.
A resident who uses 600 cubic feet of water pays around $18.14 per month.
Davis had recommended raising the base rate to $11 per month for a customer who uses between zero to 200 cubic feet of water.
The base rate will change year to year. A customer who uses the typical 600 cubic feet of water per month would pay $23.20 per month in 2022, $25.60 per month in 2023, $26.80 per month in 2024, $28 per month in 2026 and $28.20 per month in 2027.
For the sewer rates, a customer who uses zero to 200 cubic feet of water per month pay $5 per month. With the new ordinance, the base rate will increase from $10 in 2022 to $20 in 2027.
The typical 600 cubic feet per month customer monthly charge would be $25.40 in 2022, $29.40 in 2023, $30 in 2024, $32 in
2026 and $37 in 2027.
Also Monday, council completed a third reading and passed an ordinance that annexes the Faith Alliance Church property in German Township.
Village Solicitor Jason This said that an annexation agreement was completed in 2014 but was never filed.
In other business:
• Councilor Jacob
Larger expressed his thanks to the road crews who worked to plow the roads in the village during the most recent snowstorm. “I know it was a challenge to clear those roads but I think they did about as dang good of a job as they could have given the circumstances,” he said. “A big thank you to the road crews for keeping us safe out there.”
• Richter reported
that he had a meeting with the Ohio EPA on Jan. 18 and they went over the sludge removal plan at the wastewater treatment plan.
• Richter reported
that he met with PAB Construction out of Coldwater to discuss pre-construction for the Jefferson Street reconstruction project. He said that construction will begin in mid-April and hopes it’s completed by midOctober.
• Richter informed
councilors that renewable energy credits from a hydroelectric plant in Bellville that were sold gives the village a credit of $111,718.34 that will appear as a reduced cost over the next three months for the village’s electric.
• Richter also confirmed with the Ohio Department of Transportation that state Route 274 will be paved in 2024.
• Richter told councilors that the sale of the village’s 1992 Pierce firetruck was sold for $3,900.
• Council completed
a first reading of a resolution that enters the village into an agreement with the YMCA of Greater Dayton. Fiscal Officer Amy Speelman said that the village enters into an agreement with the YMCA of Greater Dayton which manages the pool, is in charge of hiring staff members, training and day-to-day operations. The village pays the YMCA a one-time fee of $13,000 each year.
• Council agreed
to untable and reject a resolution to accept the donation of a sign for the Lockkeepers House from the New Bremen Historical Society and the Miami Erie Canal Corridor Association as there is no longer a donated sign that’s being discussed. Councilor Jessica Lomakin said council could always revisit the matter down the road and it could appear on the agenda in a different form.