New rule would require rate change notice

FINDLAY — A proposed rule change in Findlay's water and sewer policy could help eliminate unexpected rate changes for city residents. A recommendation to Findlay City Council from its Water & Sewer Committee may be ready soon. The committee met on Wednesday and reviewed a draft proposal requiring city administrators to report to council at least once a year on the status of the water and sewer funds, and to give notice at that time if a rate change is needed. The yearly report would include performance data on the funds and take into account capital projects, with projections out to 10 years. No vote on a recommendation was made at the committee meeting, with members opting to continue discussions. Still to be determined is whether hiring an outside consultant to conduct periodic independent reviews of the funds would have merit. Committee members want more information about costs and frequency. Members of the committee include Grant Russel, R-at-large, chairman; Randy Greeno, R-at-large; Josh Palmer, R-7; Dan DeArment, R-4; and Brian Bauman, R-5. Service-Safety Director Rob Martin said the goal is to create a routine process that the city officials can follow. He said a 10-year capital improvement outlook on the funds is a reasonable goal. He said he would not be in favor of shortening that timeframe. Palmer said he would like the yearly updates to also benchmark the city against the performance of similar communities. The administration's first report to council could come later this year. The issue was first referred to the committee by council in January. The recommendation is meant to avert unexpected rate changes — and the accompanying public backlash — that occurred with this year's water rate hike. A 50% increase in the city's water rates took effect on Jan. 1. The new rate increased monthly water bills between $11.61 and $13.98 each month for a family of three, depending on the home's meter size, or between $139.32 and $167.76 for the year. Council and Findlay residents were given short notice about the rate hike by the city's administration. The last water rate increase by the city was in 2011. There was no discussion Wednesday by the committee about changes to the authority to raise rates in the city. Councilwoman Holly Frische, R-1, continues to argue that the reviews will mean little if council has no control over rate hikes. Attempts by Frische to rescind this year's water rate increase, to allow for a council review and decision, failed. Frische has challenged the service-safety director's authority to raise the water rates without council's approval. Findlay relies on the Ohio Revised Code to designate the authority, according to the city law director's office. However, Frische says state law doesn't designate the service-safety director, but instead gives a list of options. She has been pressing the committee to recommend that council make the designation.