Water & Sewer Committee Creates Recommendation for Next Council Meeting
Editor’s Note: The proposed changes listed below are incorporated into an “Emergency Ordinances” on the Agenda for tomorrow night’s meeting that begins at 7 p.m. at the municipal building. Copies of the ordinances are currently posted online here. See pages 5-11.
On July 14, the Barnesville Council Water and Sewer Committee met in the council chambers to discuss the proposed water and sewer rate increases.
In addition to Mayor Jake Hershberger and Village Administrator Roger Deal, the following council members were in attendance: Lindsay Dowdle, Terry McCort and Robyn Misner. Six residents also attended the meeting.
Council member McCort began the meeting with a statement directed to the audience. McCort explained that the council could choose not to raise rates, “but it would be detrimental down the road, not only for this generation, but for the one coming up.”
Continuing, “If we don’t have the money to make those improvements that we need, then the next people, the younger ones, are going to have a much more difficult time than we are.”
McCort stated that there has not been an increase in water rates for five years. He pointed out that the Council recognized that people were suffering during COVID and that water sales to other entities allowed the Village to avoid raising rates. “But we are at this point because we haven’t increased for five years. This plan is really ideal for Barnesville, for the Village as a whole,” McCort said.
McCort also pointed out that other utilities do not ask for input for their increases. “There was no forum held for electricity or gas usage, or property taxes.”
Inflation will continue to increase. “If we keep the rates the way they are, with no increase, then we are going to hurt nearly everyone in the village and the surrounding areas that we service.”
Resident Patty Burcher said, “I understand that, but does an increase have to be such a high increase?” Burcher explained her personal struggle with fixed Social Security income and already needing assistance with making ends meet. “We older people are in a bind.”
Resident Linda Lucas asked, “Does the town still get money from the oil and gas?”
Deal responded, “We have sold some water to the gas and oil industry. We got money from leases in the past but nothing really recent.”
Mayor Hershberger explained that the raw water sales are dependent on companies fracking. So for planning purposes, these sales are not guaranteed monies.
The mayor also pointed out that a $6 million project five years ago would cost in the $10-12 million range today.
Through the discussion and community input, council committee members realized that the initial rate proposal was “too much too fast”. Council member Misner asked Administrator Deal, “How low can we go?”
Based on information provided by Hershberger, the committee came to a consensus, making a recommendation and asking Solicitor Myser to draft a resolution for the next council meeting.
The proposal is for both water and sewer rates, the increase over the next three years would be 15%, 15%, and 10%, respectively. Following years would be based on the rate of inflation, such as the consumer price index (CPI). The council would re-evaluate and make adjustments as needed.
Barnesville Water & Sewer Rates Based on Recommendation
| Current (2025) | Year One (2026) | Year Two (2027) | Year Three (2028) | |
| 1,000 Residential Bill | $23.25 | $26.74 | $30.75 | $33.82 |
| 2,000 Residential Bill | $46.50 | $53.48 | $61.50 | $67.65 |
| 4,000 Residential Bill | $81.60 | $93.84 | $107.92 | $118.71 |
The next Barnesville Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Monday, July 27 in the council chambers of the municipal building. Council minutes of previous meetings and agendas may be found on the village’s website.
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