T-L Photos/ROBERT A. DEFRANK ABOVE: Belmont County Water and Sanitary Sewer Director Kelly Porter on Wednesday outlines water and wastewater projects in the county and the need for uniform water rates that will increase yearly. The county commissioners passed legislation for uniform rates and an annual increase.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County’s water rates will be uniform beginning next year, with a steady increase to begin in 2023.

On Wednesday, the Belmont County Board of Commissioners approved an increase in village water rates effective in January, based on a rate study for the water and sewer district through the Rural Community Assistance Partnership.

The rate per 1,000 gallons will be $5.33 for bulk customers including Bellaire, Belmont, Bethesda, Flushing, Morristown, New Athens, St. Clairsville and the Tri-County Water Authority. The prior rate for Bellaire was $5.7664 and for Bethesda $5.9225. The others were $4.9024 except for St. Clairsville, which had been $4.3624.

Bellaire has its own water treatment and distribution system, but the county maintains a connection to the village on Ohio 149 to provide backup water.

Should Belmont County need to provide water, the rate has been set at $5.33 per 1,000 gallons.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, an automatic annual increase of 2.5 percent will take effect in all these communities.

Water and Sanitary Sewer District Director Kelly Porter said this was part of the county’s water and wastewater upgrade project funded by grants and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He said about $62 million in funding was awarded for water improvements and $72 million when sewer improvement funding is added.

“As part of that funding package, USDA had requested, I guess required, a rate study be required to make sure we could meet our obligations. We’re following their recommendations. The biggest thing is they wanted a uniform government rate,” Porter said. “In the past, we had individual rates for each village, and prior to that we had individual district rates. This kind of brings everything together.”

“If we’re going to adequately maintain the water and sewer, we need to have the income to be able to do that,” Commissioner Jerry Echemann said. “For a lot of years there was a feeling that we should raise this stuff.”

“Our last village rate increase was November of 2017,” Porter said. “It’s been overdue, and we’re getting back on track.”

“To apply for the USDA loan, we had to make a rate adjustment just to be able to apply,” Commissioner J.P. Dutton said, adding the federal government could not justify a 40-year loan otherwise.

“It’s getting our house in order for future projects coming as well,” Porter said. “We have many coming.”

“No one wants to raise rates,” Dutton said. “Hopefully the residents of Belmont County will see the rates have gone up, but there’s a lot of work being done at the same time and you can see the projects that have been going on. … The return on investment, hopefully people can see that too.”

“It makes us grant-eligible,” Porter said.

The commissioners also congratulated Jack Regis, longtime building and grounds director, on his upcoming retirement. The commissioners noted the extensive responsibility of caring for county properties.

“He has so many buildings. I knew the county had a lot of buildings, but … I didn’t really realize how many buildings we have, and you’re responsible for those and the cleanliness of the courthouse,” Echemann said. “We’re sorry to see you go.”

Regis’ last day on the job will be Dec. 30.

“It’s been a great opportunity,” Regis said. “People don’t realize. They look at buildings, our grounds and grass cutting for all the areas.”

Other responsibilities of the position include snow removal and maintaining the grounds around county water towers.

Regis commended the county building and grounds employees who carried out their duties diligently, particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

“These guys worked through the whole pandemic and went in there, not knowing what to expect, and made sure these buildings were cleaned and sanitized and ready to go every morning when the people came in,” he said. “Whatever I did and whatever I accomplished was (because of) the workers I had under me that made me look as good as I did. I want to thank them and thank you.”

Regis also commended the commissioners who worked on consolidating the county courts and

other offices and moving them into new buildings. He said the former buildings that had housed these offices were in deteriorating condition.

Scott Larkin has been hired to replace Regis as the facilities manager for Belmont County, effective Nov. 29.

Due to next week’s Thanksgiving holiday, the commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday. The commissioners meet at the courthouse, 101 W. Main St., St. Clairsville.