T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Bill Brooks, concerned St. Clairsville resident, addresses Belmont County Commissioner Jerry Echemann and others Wednesday, requesting they join his group in opposing possible water privatization in St. Clairsville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The ongoing debate about the possibility of water and wastewater privatization made its way to the Belmont County Board of Commissioners this past Wednesday.

Bill Brooks, member of a concerned group of St. Clairsville and Richland Township residents who has been vocal in his opposition to privatization, asked Commissioners Josh Meyer, J.P. Dutton and Jerry Echemann for support. The city is considering a bid from Aqua Ohio, a private, state-regulated company that purchases and operates water systems in communities. Aqua Ohio is a subsidiary of Aqua America.

“The selling of the St. Clairsville water system to Aqua America Ohio is not in the best interest of the residents of the city of St. Clairsville. Such a sale will greatly effect the senior citizens on a fixed income, as well as hard-working families. It will also place a burden on generations to come,” he said.

Brooks voiced concerns that privatization will result in higher rates for schools, local businesses and the courthouse.

“Privatization is unlike our cable service or phone service where we can switch carriers. The business that purchases our water system will have a monopoly because they own the infrastructure,” Brooks said, adding that he is concerned this may lead to a reduction of population.

“I call upon you elected commissioners to go on record as to not supporting the sale of the St. Clairsville water systems and to work with the St. Clairsville city officials to reach a resolution,” Brooks said.

He added that a rally of concerned citizens is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in front of the courthouse.

During prior meetings of St. Clairsville City Council, it was noted that water and wastewater rates would increase regardless of the decision made. Mayor Terry Pugh and Safety and Service Director Jim Zucal have said the agreement will specify a rate increase from 2020 to 2026 totaling $4.13, with increments of $1, $1.67, 71 cents and 75 cents. After 2026 there would be an increase of up to 9.9 percent, with increases of 3.75 percent for 2027, 2028 and 2029.

Zucal added that should the city retain the water and wastewater systems, a steep increase would be necessary for the city to qualify for grants and loans to make upgrades, and that minimum rate increase would have to be between 1.8 and 2.3 percent of median household income, with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recommending an increase of 2.5 percent of the median household income, which is $68,000. This means a minimum monthly bill of $136 for water and sewer combined to be eligible for grants and loans, but the current water and sewer bill is $42.

The commissioners said the residents’ concerns were taken into consideration, but this was a matter for the city to consider.

“We’re aware of the issue and talked to city officials,” Meyer said, adding that the board has spoken with Zucal about the proposed sale, and the matter is separate from the county. “We will continue to discuss things with the mayor. We know it’s an issue they’re dealing with as far as whether to privatize or try to make improvements to an aging system.”

“This is a county issue,” Brooks said. “If people move out of St. Clairsville, that’s less taxes the county’s going to get.”

Dutton added that the commissioners are open to speaking with all sides.

“There’s county issues, and there’s city and village issues. We don’t tend to take stances with city and village issues. It’s for their leadership to take those positions,” Dutton said.

He added that the county is working toward water and wastewater upgrades using funding from the United States Department of Agriculture.

“We’ve been really focused in the last few years in Belmont County in term of what the long-term status will be of our system,” he said.

Brooks had spoken in favor of the possibility of the city going onto the county water service.

Afterward Dutton said the county serves as a potential tie-in and backup source of water for communities in Belmont County.

“We’re making sure that our system is strengthened so that we can be there to provide water for smaller systems inside the county if need be,” Dutton said, adding that he did not believe the county’s system was currently able to handle St. Clairsville’s likely water demands.

“Some infrastructure improvements would need to be put in place to do that. Belmont County does have excess capacity right now with the water we have in terms of how much we produce and how much we use with our current customers. One of our high-priority projects listed in the (United States Department of Agriculture) package is the upgrade of our 24-inch transmission line that basically feeds the western side of the county. Those and some upgrades to the pump stations at Route 9. Those projects would have to occur before we could adequately supply water,” he said.

“It could take two, three, four years,” he said. “Those kind of projects take time.”

St. Clairsville’s city council has seen copies of the proposed bid, and it is being negotiated by attorneys. Pugh has said a vote was unlikely until at least September. The next St. Clairsville city council meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the city building at 100 N. Market St.

Afterward, Pugh was contacted and said the city’s current contract with the county allows St. Clairsville to purchase up to 287,000 gallons daily.

“The EPA dictated we needed a backup water source. We have a 12-inch line that goes off of a county pump station on Ohio 9 to our plant on Reservoir Road,” Pugh said, adding that the city produces and uses more than 600,000 gallons daily and he doubted the county could supply more than 200,000 gallons per day. “As it is right now, they can’t supply us our daily needs.”

In other matters, guests included Richard Hord of Martins Ferry, who spoke favorably of the School Clothes for Kids program set for September, with applications ongoing at the Ohio Valley Mall. He noted thousands of children clothed since 2014 and an influx of funds into the Ohio Valley Mall stores.

“It’s a great program they offer every year. It touches a lot of lives throughout Belmont County,” Meyer said.

Hord also asked if children who live in Belmont County but attend school elsewhere are able to participate. Afterward, Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Director Vince Gianangeli said Belmont County children are eligible.