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Warren County to raise sewer and water rates

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 7:27 PM Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Warren County will raise water and sewer rates next year, citing its largest customer leaving town and a looming waste water treatment plant expansion as the cause.

County commission approved raising the sewer rates five percent in 2010 and another five percent in 2011. Likewise, water rates will rise one percent next year and three percent in 2011.

According to Water and Sewer Department Business Manager Patty Solinski, the average residential customer uses 14,000 gallons every two months. The bimonthly combined water and sewer rates will go up $2.94 to $100.66 on average next year and rates will rise to $104.72 in 2011.

Sumco Phoenix Corp. announced earlier this summer it would be winding down operations in Hamilton Twp. and will close completely by June 2010. The silicon wafer manufacturing paid almost $1.5 million in 2008 for its water and sewer service.

The estimated $35 million expansion of the Lower Little Miami Wastewater Treatment Plant will begin next year. Bids on that project will be opened this week. The county is using a combination of stimulus money, cash on hand and bonds to foot the bill.

Even with the rate hike, commissioner Pat South noted that county customers still pay lower utility rates than many of their neighbors.

According to an annual survey compiled by the Oakwood Finance Department, Warren County had the eighth lowest combined water and sewer rates among 63 jurisdictions in March 2009. The city of Lebanon ranked 30th and neighboring Butler County was number 34 on the list.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.

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