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SALEM -- Perry Township residents Linda Dickey and Maria Harrold asked trustees for help on two fronts Monday: water/sewer bills and speeders.
Dickey said she's lived in the township on West Perry Street for five years and the water/sewer bill has increased and now there's talk the city's going to raise the water rate again. She doesn't live in the city and has no say in what the city does. She asked trustees if there was anything they could do or if they could approach the city about the increases.
"I consider you guys our voice," she said.
Dickey said her bill in May was $29.93, then increased to $39.01 in September and the bill she just paid was $53.38.
"We're on a fixed income," she said, adding senior citizens should get a discount.
Harrold asked about the fact that Perry Township residents pay more than city residents and Trustee Vice Chairman Jim Armeni explained that outside customers of the city pay a 50 percent surcharge on the rate, meaning outside customers pay more than city customers for the same amount of water or in some cases sewer.
Armeni said he previously asked the Salem Utilities Commission to consider lowering or doing away with the surcharge, but he said he can make an inquiry again.
City council agreed earlier this year to increase the sewer minimum amount and the sewer rate. City council makes the decision on sewer rates, while the commission decides on water rates. Trustee Chairman Steve Bailey noted the city did the rate increase across the board.
"We have no control over that," he said.
When contacted Monday night, Salem Utilities Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson said the outside rate carries a markup of 50 percent and that's for anyone outside the city limits. The city supplies water to both Washingtonville and Leetonia, besides Perry Township. Some Perry Township residents get water only, some get sewer only and some get both.
In explaining the surcharge, he said city residents pay the city income tax which pays for a lot of city services. The city shoulders the cost for maintaining the water and sewer lines, equipment and water and wastewater plants. A water rate study recommended increases to both the minimum charge and the rate, which Hodgson said they'll be discussing during the commission's next meeting at 4 p.m. Nov. 18, following a special session at 3 p.m. to talk about the needed improvements to the water treatment plant.
Regarding the speeding issue, both Dickey and Harrold said drivers are flying on West Perry Street at all hours, including when children and adults are at the bus stop or out in the evenings walking dogs or playing.
"I'm afraid someone's going to get hurt or killed," Dickey said.
She asked police to set up a speed trap to slow the speeders down. The speed limit is 25 mph.
Bailey asked Police Chief Mike Emigh, who was there, whether police officers could set up in the area and slow the speeders down a little bit. Emigh said they can do that.
Harrold also brought up the poor condition of some houses on Georgetown Road near West Perry Street. Bailey said they're working on zoning to look at some of these houses so something can be done.
In other business, trustees thanked township residents for giving such overwhelming support to the police levy renewal. He said the extra police duty as security for the Netflix movie being filmed on the bypass is now over and the bypass is reopened. The township received more than $36,000 to pay the salaries for officers working that detail for the past three weeks and also received money for gasoline and vehicle usage. The township is still owed for an additional week of time on the detail, which will total in excess of an estimated $12,000, according to Fiscal Officer John Volio.
For zoning, trustees accepted the resignation of Larry Evans from the zoning board and appointed Jeremy Corbisello to finish the term through Jan. 3, 2022 and appointed Corbisello to an additional term from Jan. 3, 2022 through Jan. 4, 2027. Evans had served on the board for many years, but felt it was time to step away. Four zoning permits were issued in October.
In financial matters, Volio reported that funds were up $150,000 over the same time last year. He said the gas tax income was down, but the figure may have been overestimated by the state. Bailey said everything was looking good and that money from COVID-19 funds and the American Rescue Plan helped, with a huge difference in the general fund. Armeni asked what changed and commented the township was doing business differently.
He reported on the road crew replacing some pipe along Allen Road which should help a flooding issue there and also talked about looking at roads for paving and for chip and seal.
Bailey reported on some grant money the township received, including $10,000 for lighting from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, and small safety grants from the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority (OTARMA), with $1,000 each for the police and fire departments and $500 for the road department.
Trustees entered into executive session for personnel and a property purchase/sale, but with no action to be taken.
The next trustee meeting will be 4 p.m. Nov. 22.
mgreier@salemnews.net