Public Notice

CITY OF WHEELING
PUBLIC NOTICE OF
ORDINANCE
PROPOSING
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS
WATER PROJECTS
AND INCREASE TO
WATER RATES, FEES AND CHARGES
Notice is hereby given that, on the 16th day of September, 2025, the City Council of the City of Wheeling caused to be read an Ordinance proposing an increase of its current water tariff and the construction of a water improvement projects and is proposing the adoption of same. The title of such Ordinance reads:
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AND FIXING WATER RATES,
FEES AND CHARGES OF THE CITY OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA AND PROPOSING THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE CITY’S WATER DIVISION
The City Council of the City of Wheeling will have its final reading, public hearing and vote on the ordinance on the 7th day of October, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 1500 Chapline Street, Wheeling, West Virginia. The meeting will be open to the public for comments.
THE PROJECTS
The City operates as a combined waterworks and sewerage system and proposes to undertake the following capital improvements to its water system (the “Projects”): (1) Mozart and Clearview Booster Stations and Water Mains ($3,226,226) – replacement of booster stations due to main breaks, water loss and old infrastructure. The Mozart portion of the project includes the replacement of the booster station, chlorine fee equipment, piping, valves, 320 LF of water main, a new check valve and a jack and bore under State Route 2. The Clearview portion of the project includes replacement of the booster station, pumps, piping, valves and 900 LF of water main; (2) Atlas, Carmel, Grandview and Oglebay-Leewood/Pogue Run Water Main Improvements ($6,323,888) – improvements due to main breaks, water loss and aging infrastructure. Atlas portion of project encompasses around 5,600 LF of 6-inch water main, fourteen 6-inch gate valves and 233 LF of residential service replacements. Carmel portion of project replaces 1,500 LF of 8-inch water main and 375 LF of 2-inch water main. Grandview portion of project includes replacement of 500 LF of 20-inch water main using ductile iron pipe with anchor collars due to steep slopes. Oglebay- Leewood portion involves installing 5,090 LF of 8-inch water main, replacing 4,580 LF of 6-inch water main, reconnecting 85 residential services, and a 10-inch water main connection to several meters requiring approximately 300 LF of directional drilling and 50 LF of jack and bore techniques; (3) Boggs Hill Booster Station and Water Main Improvements ($7,346.472) – Targets Boggs Hill pressure zone to enhance redundancy and operation variability. Extends from National Road, down Edgington Lane to Stonegate Drive along Boggs Hill Road. The current water main ends where Edgington Lane becomes Boggs Hill Road, with an elevation change of about 475 feet to Stonegate Drive. A new water line and booster station are required to meet hydraulic demands; (4) WTP Sludge Dewatering ($3,333,686) – Replacement of two belt fed presses from the 1970’s with screw presses and upgrade related equipment such as polymer feed systems, thickener waste pumps, bypass piping, sludge flow meters, and thickener drive units. The new presses will be in the same building, with HVAC improvements as needed and also include additional sludge handling equipment like transfer pumps and mixer drive units.
The total cost of the four proposed projects is projected to be $22,000,000 to be funded through the issuance of Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System Revenue Bonds.
The rate increase is necessary to enable the Water Division to cover the on-going costs of daily operations including maintenance of a Cash Working Capital Reserve required by WV Code §24-1-1(k) of the West Virginia Code; pay the cost of budgeted expenditures; and to permit the City to issue bonds to cover the costs of the proposed capital improvements. The proposed rates will increase the current rates and charges for furnishing of water service by 38% which will result in a $11.63 per month increase to the average residential user, a $80.76 monthly increase to the average commercial user, and a $16,904.16 monthly increase to the resale users.
The current and proposed rates, fees and charges which are proposed to be effective on and after November 21, 2025, are as follows:
Current Rate
SCHEDULE 1 % Increase
Proposed Increase
Proposed Rate
First Next
1,000 499,000 Next 500,000
$ 12.99
38%
$ 4.94
$
17.93 Per 1,000 Gallons
$
5.88
38%
$ 2.23
$
8.11 Per 1,000 Gallons
$
3.61
38%
$
1.37
$
4.98 Per 1,000 Gallons
5/8
inch meter
$ 12.99
38%
$
4.94
$
17.93 monthly
3/4
inch meter
$ 19.49
38%
$ 7.41
$
26.90 monthly
1
inch meter
$ 32.48
38%
$ 12.34
$
44.82 monthly
1 1/2 inch meter
$ 64.96
38%
$ 24.68
$
89.64 monthly
234600
inch meter
$ 103.94
38%
$ 39.50
$
143.44 monthly
inch meter
$ 194.88
38%
$ 74.05
$ 268.93 monthly
inch meter
$ 324.80
38%
$ 123.42
$ 448.22 monthly
inch meter
$ 649.60
38%
$246.85
8
inch meter
$1,039.36
38%
$ 394.96
Resale
$ 3.79
38%
$ 1.44
$ 896.45 monthly $1,434.32 monthly
$ 5.23 Per 1,000 Gallons
Schedule 1: Other Fees
Tap Fee
5/8-inch and 3/4-inch 1-inch and larger
$315.00 $420.00
138%
$435.00
78%
$330.00
$750.00 $750.00
Reconnection Charge
$ 35.00
71%
$ 25.00
$ 60.00
Administrative Fee
$ 35.00
71%
$ 25.00
$ 60.00
Leak Adjustment
$ 0.57
554%
$ 3.16
Return Check Charge
$ 25.00
0
0
$ 3.73 Per 1,000 Gallons $ 25.00
Delayed Payment Penalty
10%
0
0
10%
Security Deposit
$ 50.00
100%
$ 50.00
$100.00
Schedule 1: New Provisions
TEMPORARY SERVICE
Whenever water service is requested on a temporary basis, such as at a demolition site, an application for service must be submitted along with a deposit. The cost of the service connections and retirement shall be paid by the customer. The deposit for festivals is $50.00. The deposit for a demolition site is $500.00.
Temporary service customers will pay for water at the rates and charges set forth above. For demolition customers the amount of the first water bill will be credited against the deposit, up to $500.00. Any amount in excess of $500.00 on the first water bill shall be paid by the customer. If any of the $500.00 deposit remains after payment of the first water bill, the remaining amount will be held as a deposit until service is disconnected. The deposit will also be charged the amount of any damages to City meters and property during the temporary service period.
2
METER REINSTALLATION In the event water meter is removed to prevent a customer from unlawfully obtaining water following disconnection of water service for non-payment of a water bill, at the request of the City’s Water Pollution Control Division for non-payment of a sewer bill, at the request of a sewer utility pursuant to the terms of an inter-utility agreement, or for fraudulent use of water, the customer shall pay a water reinstallation fee of $100.00 before the meter is reinstalled and water service is reinstated. This fee shall be in addition to any other reconnection fees.
RATE ADJUSTMENT
The rates set forth above shall be subject to adjustment every two years based upon changes in the published price indices as reflected in the published Consumer Price Index as set forth in the publication Value Line.
Current Rate
SCHEDULE 2 % Increase
Proposed Increase
Proposed Rate
Fire Service Lines:
2 inch or smaller
$ 67.20
38%
$ 25.24
$
92.74 per year
3 inch
$ 107.52
38%
$ 40.86
$ 148.38 per year
4 inch
$ 174.72
38%
$ 66.39
$ 241.11 per year
6 inch
$ 362.88
38%
$ 137.89
8 inch
$ 631.68
38%
$ 240.04
10 inch or greater Unmetered
$1,008.00
38%
$ 383.04
$ 100.80
38%
$ 38.30
$ 500.77 per year
$ 871.72 per year
$1,391.04 per year
$ 139.10 per year
Hydrants
$ 156.00
38%
$ 59.28
$ 215.28 per hydrant
A copy of the proposed ordinance is available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office located at 1500 Chapline Street, Wheeling, West Virginia, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
CITY OF WHEELING 3
N.R. Sep 12, 19, 2025