The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Sewer Water Advisory Board seeks info
Pushes for COVID-19 money to help utility costs
Federal novel coronavirus pandemic relief money should help pay for upgrades to Lorain’s water and sewage treatment plants, the city’s Sewer and Water Advisory Board members said.
On Sept. 9, the Sewer and Water Advisory Board members voted 8-0 to recommend the City Council and administration consider spending COVID-19 economic aid on the utility systems.
That in turn could help stabilize or lower the bills that Lorain customers pay for water and sewer treatment.
The Board will compose a formal recommendation letter to be sent before the Board makes a formal report to the city officials in December, said Chairman Patrick McGannon. He voted for the recommendation with SWAB members Mark Ballard, Carrie Buckley, Bruno Catalano II, Jessica Cutcher, Bryan Goldthorpe, William Gollnitz and city Utilities Director Paul Wilson.
Lorain Safety-Service Director Sanford Washington
abstained from the vote.
“I think we need to stress in a letter that any use of these monies actually benefits — all the projects that people are applying for are great projects and well worthy — but this is a way to affect every citizen and every customer in one way, by helping keep the rates a little bit lower,” McGannon said.
New water plant
It was the Board’s first meeting since visiting the Lorain Water Purification Plant, 1106 First St., on Aug. 3, and the Black River Wastewater Treatment Plant, 100 Alabama Ave., on Aug. 5.
The Board members agreed the city has talented, professional workers ensuring Lorain has
clean drinking water and sewage gets cleaned properly. McGannon, Catalano, Goldthorpe, Buckley and Cutucher all remarked on the staff doing good work.
It appeared the Black River Waste Water Treatment Plant will benefit from future upgrades that ensure it keeps working in the future, they said. But age is catching up with some equipment and especially the Water Purification Plant, with its oldest section dating from 1906.
The Board members discussed how Lorain might build a new water treatment plant without increasing rates for residents.
The city’s last water rate study factored in the cost of paying for a new plant, Wilson said.
Those figures date from 2016, he said, and McGannon asked if federal money to pay for a new plant would defray costs or help the city avoid future rate increases.
Meanwhile, the Utilities Department is aggressive in pursuing grants from government agencies, Wilson said.
He listed at least eight grant requests ranging from $1 million to $5 million for eight water and sewer projects.
Lorain’s water treatment plant last was renovated in the 1990s, said Gollnitz, a former water purification superintendent for Lorain.
But since then, some businesses have left town, so a new plant would not need the current capacity, he said. In the August tour, the city staff said Lorain’s water plant can treat up to 16 million gallons a day.
More information
Buckley asked for a financial overview on rates and grant applications Board members suggested
the Utilities Department list how it will integrate recommendations from a state performance audit published in June by Ohio Auditor Keith Faber.
The Board members said they don’t agree with all those recommendations — particularly, cutting staff needed to maintain quality at the aging treatment plants.
Catalano, Gollnitz and Cutcher all remarked on elements they questioned in the state review.
The Board members discussed, but did not decide on, dividing into various committees to examine different elements of the water and sewer systems.
Mayor Jack Bradley has requested the Board have a presentation on the 2012 Lorain County Regional Wastewater Authority Work Group Findings.
That study examined the creation of a regional sewage treatment
system for Lorain County’s political subdivisions.
The Board heard from Lorain residents Garon Petty and Mindy Shawver.
Utility customers have sued the city of Lorain over utility issues and that case could affect water and sewer rates, but is not yet settled at Lorain County Common Pleas Court, Petty said.
He asked what enforcement power the Board had. Shawver called for lower rates and said her water bill is “outrageous,” in part because the city bills for trash collection through its utility bills.
The Board did not yet set a date for its next meeting. The Sewer and Water Advisory Board meetings are open to the public.