PRE-ADOPTION PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED INCREASE
OF WATER RATES AND CHARGES
The Village of Bethlehem, a municipal corporation, does hereby give Public Notice that it will consider for adoption, pursuant to WV Code 8-11-4, et seq., and the Rules of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, An Ordinance of the Council of the Village of Bethlehem Adopting Increased Water Rates and Charges for the Water Utility Service Provided by the Village of Bethlehem and Setting an Effective Date for Such Rates, the purpose of which Ordinance is to increase the rates and charges for the water utility service provided by the Village of Bethlehem, which Ordinance provides as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF
THE VILLAGE OF BETHLEHEM:
Section 1: The water rates and charges adopted by Ordinance dated January 6, 2014, and approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia effective February 20, 2014, are hereby amended, effective as provided in Section 2., hereinafter, and shall hereafter be as follows:
SCHEDULE NO. 1
APPLICABLE IN THE ENTIRE TERRITORY SERVED
AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Available for residential and commercial service, and for fire protection service
GALLONS USED
PER MONTH RATE
First 3,000 $12.42 per 1,000 gallons
Next 3,000 $11.14 per 1,000 gallons
Next 4,000 $9.56 per 1,000 gallons
Next 90,000 $8.27 per 1,000 gallons
All Over 100,000 $7.00 per 1,000 gallons
MINIMUM CHARGE
No Bill will be rendered for less than the following amounts, according to the size of the meter installed, to wit:
5/8 inch meter $ 37.26 per month
3/4 inch meter 53.56 per month
1 inch meter 94.90 per month
1 1/4 inch meter 148.67 per month
1 1/2 inch meter 213.82 per month
2 inch meter 380.68 per month
3 inch meter 856.26 per month
4 inch meter 1,521.27 per month
SCHEDULE NO. 2
APPLICABLE IN THE ENTIRE TERRITORY SERVED
MINIMUM CHARGE
No bill will be rendered for less than Thirty-seven Dollars and Twenty-six Cents ($37.26) per month.
DELAYED PAYMENT PENALTY
The above schedule is net. On all accounts not paid in full when due, ten percent (10%) will be added to the net current amount unpaid. This delayed payment penalty is not interest and is to be collected only once for each bill where it is appropriate.
RECONNECTION CHARGE
When water service has been disconnected for non-payment of a water bill or fraudulent use of water, water service shall not be restored until all past due water bills and penalties have been paid in full and a reconnection charge in the amount of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) has been paid.
FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE
Service charge (for which no water is furnished) for 4 – 6 inch Fire Hydrant – $2.25 per month.
INCREMENTAL LEAK ADJUSTMENT
$6.09 per 1,000 gallons. To be used when the bill reflects unusual consumption which can be attributed to eligible leakage on customer’s side of the meter. This rate is used to calculate consumption above the customer’s historical average usage.
SERVICE CONNECTION FEE
A service connection fee (Tap Fee) in the amount of Five Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($550.00) shall be charged for all new water connection installations with a 5/8″ or 3/4″ meter.
A service connection fee (Tap Fee) in the amount of Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) shall be charged for all new water connection installations with a 1″ or larger meter.
RETURNED CHECK CHARGE
A service charge equal to the actual bank fee assessed to the water utility by the utility’s bank, up to a maximum of $25.00, will be imposed upon any customer whose check for payment of charges is returned by the bank for any reason.
SCHEDULE NO. 3
APPLICABLE TO THE VILLAGE OF BETHLEHEM
AVAILABILITY FOR PUBLIC FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE
On a date within each quarter of each Fiscal Year to be determined by the Administration and approved by the Council and included in the budget for each Fiscal Year, the water utility system of the Village of Bethlehem shall be paid an amount equal to Two Dollars and Twenty-five Cents ($2.25) for each month within said quarter multiplied by the number of municipally owned fire hydrants, which shall be the fire hydrant rental for said quarter.
Section 2: The rates, fees and charges adopted by this Ordinance shall be effective September 30, 2021, which effective date is not sooner than forty-five (45) days after passage of said Ordinance.
Section 3: The rates, fees, charges, delayed payment penalty charges, service connection fee, and fees for the disconnection and reconnection of water service, incremental leak adjustment, return check charge, fire protection service charge, and fire hydrant rental as shown in Section 2 are hereby fixed and determined to be the rates, fees, charges, delayed payment penalty charges, service connection fee, and fees for the disconnection and reconnection of water service, incremental leak adjustment, returned check charge, fire protection fee charge, and fire hydrant rental to be charged to customers of the water facilities of the Village throughout the territory served.
Section 4: The rates, fees, charges, delayed payment penalty charges, service connection fee, and fees for the disconnection and reconnection of water service, incremental leak adjustment, and fire hydrant rental provided herein shall be effective September 30, 2021, which is not sooner than forty-five (45) days after the adoption of this Ordinance.
Section 5: Upon introduction hereof, the Village of Bethlehem shall cause a copy of this Ordinance to be published as a Class I-0 Legal Advertisement in compliance with the provisions of West Virginia Code Section 59-3-1 and Section 59-3-2, and pursuant to the Rules of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. Said notice shall state the subject matter and general title of this proposed Ordinance, the date, time, and place of the proposed final vote on the adoption of the Ordinance, the place(s) within the municipality where such proposed Ordinance may be inspected by the public, and that interested parties may appear at the meeting and may be heard with respect to the proposed Ordinance.
Section 6: A reasonable number of copies of this Ordinance shall be kept at the Village office and will be available for public inspection.
Section 7: The Mayor or Treasurer of the Village of Bethlehem shall file the rates, fees, charges, delayed payment penalty charges, service connection fee, and fees for the disconnection and reconnection of water service, incremental leak adjustment, returned check charge, fire protection service charge, and fire hydrant rental established by this Ordinance with the Public Service Commission of the State of West Virginia, together with such information showing the basis of same as the Commission may deem necessary.
The Council of the Village of Bethlehem will have a Public Hearing and its final reading and vote on the Ordinance on August 16, 2021, at 8:00 o’clock P.M. The Public Hearing and Council meeting for the vote on said Ordinance adoption will be open to the public and will be held in the Council Chambers of the Village of Bethlehem at One Community Park Road, Bethlehem, Wheeling, West Virginia. Interested parties may appear at the Public Hearing and Council meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed rates, fees, or charges as provided in the Ordinance.
The proposed increase in the rates and charges for water utility service for both commercial and residential customers of the water utility system of the Village of Bethlehem is a proposed approximate 20% increase. The average monthly bill increase for the various classes of customers will be changed as follows:
($) Increase Increase (%)
Residential $ 6.21 20%
Commercial $ 20.95 20%
The proposed increase for water rates and charges, if adopted by Council, will become effective September 30, 2021.
A copy of the proposed Ordinance is available for public inspection at the Administrative Offices of the Village of Bethlehem, One Community Park Road, Bethlehem, Wheeling, West Virginia, between the hours of 8:30 o’clock A.M. and 12:00 o’clock noon, and 1:00 o’clock P.M. and 4:00 o’clock P.M., Monday through Friday.
VILLAGE OF BETHLEHEM, a
Municipal corporation
Matthew G. Saseen, Recorder
Intelligencer & News-Register Aug. 5, 2021