The city is in the process of determining those increases, City Manager Keith Johnson said. He said the recommendations will include a move to a soft water system, and likely a plan for increases annually over five years.
The city’s last two rate hikes were in 2001 and 2009, he said.
Council decided late last year to keep its water and sewer systems rather than contract through the city of Dayton or Montgomery County.
After meeting with residents and considering all options, officials thought it best to keep to maintain the city’s systems, said Miamisburg Mayor Dick Church Jr.
“I think our direction is the right one because it is an asset to our community and it’s good to be in control of your own destiny.” Church said.
Contracting those services was considered after a consultant’s estimate that it will cost as much as $68 million over five years to bring Miamisburg’s systems into compliance with environmental law, end problems because of aging pipes and facilities, and prepare the city for residential and business growth.
While the city has not finished it rate recommendations , quarterly billings for the average Miamisburg customer could jump — between 2014-2021 — from $109 to as much as $175 to pay for $39 million in sewer projects and from $91 to as much as $155 for $29 million in water projects, according to projections by the consulting firm, Hazen and Sawyer.
The rate hike recommendations will coincide with the system upgrades, Johnson said, as customers can expect the work on improvements to start this spring.
The sewer work is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency while the water system improvements are the city’s decision to address long-overdue upgrades, Johnson said.
He said the city’s infrastructure – some parts of which are 100 years old – is inadequate for the growth that has occurred in its service area.
“We’ve had significant development the 20 past years,” Johnson said, noting the development of Austin Landing in particular. “We’ve just fed it off of everything we have.”
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