By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Ada held its January 21 meeting in the expansive meeting room of Community Health Professionals at 1200 S. Main, hoping for a larger than usual number of attendees because the subject of raising Village utility rates was on the agenda. With temperatures hovering around zero that evening, there were seven total guests in person and on Zoom, including media.

PROPOSED UTILITY RATE INCREASES

Visitors asked questions about four proposed ordinances that would provide for water, sanitary sewer and storm water rate increases to cover anticipated operating expenses, capital improvements and debt payments.

A memo from Village Administrator Jamie Hall summarizes the increases as follows:

Storm sewer rate ordinance - 0% increase for 2025 through 2029 and then 3% increase for 2030 and every year thereafter. 

Sanitary sewer rate ordinance – Combining the OMR (operations, maintenance, repairs) rate with sewer usage rate with 0% increase for 2025 through 2029 and then 3% increase for 2030 and every year thereafter. 

Water rate ordinance – 12% increase for 2025 through 2029 and then 5% increase for 2030 and every year thereafter. 

Refund ordinance – Updating ordinance from 1983 - “Utility deposit refunds of $10.00 or less will not be made unless requested in writing.”

The ordinances are presented in their entirety on pages 19-26 of the January 7 council meeting packet, when the first of three readings was approved by council. The third and final reading is scheduled for the meeting of February 4. https://www.adaoh.org/sites/default/files/2025-01/combined_files_1.7.25.pdf

The current water rate ordinance, which went into effect in 2015, is at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ada/latest/ada_oh/0-0-0-15775

A member of the public asked why the ordinance establishes annual rate increases after 2029 in perpetuity. Hall said that Council reviews income and expenses every year and will make any necessary changes to rates. In recent months the Waterworth consulting company has provided the Village with 5-year, 15-year and 25-year forecasts. He explained that this update to the ordinance is proposed to make expectations more transparent for future councils and entities that provide funding.

Hall also explained that current water-sanitary-storm rates would put the Village utilities “in the red” in 2029 and detailed types of maintenance that are required on an aging infrastructure, including two miles of water lines and $7M in water plant improvements mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Discussion with visitors also touched on the proposed 12% increase to water rates. Hall gave the example that monthly water charges of $24.99 would see a $3.00 increase. This is a typical water expense for Ada customers, but usage varies greatly.

The second reading of the four ordinances passed unanimously.

FUTURE EMS TRAFFIC ON GILBERT ST.

A N. Gilbert St. resident asked for updates on her request for beacons at intersections near the new Ada-Liberty EMS ambulance bay which is expected to become operational in a couple months. 

Council liaison Sheila Coressel reported the discovery that the Ohio Revised Code requires that no person shall park a vehicle “Within thirty feet of, and upon the approach to, any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control device.” Council members commented that reducing street parking was undesirable.

Coressel was also asked about the suggestion that ambulances take a U-turn out of the garage and drive down the south perimeter of the Liberty Township property to Main St. She responded that on January 20 the board took action to establish that crews will not make the U-turn to exit on Main St. Another guest asked council if it could put pressure on the EMS board to reconsider this action and commented that there should have been community forums on the construction of the EMS bay rather than the expected sleeping quarters for overnight shifts.

Streets committee chair Linda Mason called for a meeting of the Streets Committee at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, before the regular council meeting.