GAMBIER — Gambier Village Council took up water and wastewater rate increases, water leak detection and an engineering study for a proposed storm water and sidewalk project in the village.
Council President Tom Stamp presided in the absence of Mayor Kirk Emmert who could not attend.
Village Administrator Suzanne Hopkins introduced an ordinance to increase water and wastewater which will increase the water rate by 2 percent and the wastewater rate by 5 percent.
In past years, the water rate was raised about 5 percent and the wastewater raised about 2 percent. The switch is being recommended because the wastewater fund was only breaking even and needs to have additional funds.
“Our water fund is in pretty good shape,” Hopkins said. “But we needed to build up the sewer fund. The sewer billing is based on the amount of water a resident uses so switching the rates would not increase someone’s water-wastewater bill. We felt it would be unfair to raise both billing rates by 5 percent so council decided to switch the rates.”
The ordinance received its first reading Monday night.
Hopkins also reported there were still problems with water leaks in the system.
“The village has been increasing water usage for the last couple of months,” she told council. “February and August are always the village’s largest months for water usage but we are definitely losing water and it appears to be increasing each month.”
Hopkins said she has contacted a professional leak detecting company that has been used by the village in the past.
