Residents may submit application by noon on Feb. 17 to avoid capacity fee increases
MOUNT VERNON, February 13, 2023 – The City of Mount Vernon is raising its water and wastewater tap fees for the first time in five years, effective Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. These fees affect only those residents and businesses tapping into the City’s water and wastewater systems for the first time, not existing customers.
New customers can avoid the higher rates by submitting a permit application no later than noon on Friday, Feb. 17 by visiting the City’s website, www.mountvernonohio.org, or by visiting the Engineering Department in City Hall at 40 Public Square, Mount Vernon.
At 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, the City’s water tap capacity fee will change from $550 to $3,000 for a standard 5/8-inch meter. In addition, the wastewater capacity fee will go from $825 to $2,000 for a standard 5/8-inch meter.
On Feb. 2, 2023, the City’s Utilities Commission voted to raise various fees after reviewing multiple recommendations from consultant Mark Ruffner of K.E. McCartney & Associates, Inc., Mansfield, as well as fee and cost reviews conducted internally by consultant Emily Platt and City Utilities staff. The Utilities Commission consists of Safety-Service Director Richard Dzik; Public Utilities Director Aaron Reinhart; Engineer Brian Ball, PE; City Council Person Tammy Woods, and commission members Jessi Busenburg and Mike Miller.
The last time any of these fees were increased was in 2018. The annual inflation rate at that time was 1.9 percent, whereas in 2022 the annual inflation rate was 6.5 percent. With substantial changes in the market, and more changes occurring daily, it is necessary that the City ensure costs for services are up to date and accurate.
A tap fee for new customers and new development consists of three components:
1. Permit Application Fee
This fee covers the specific administrative, material and software costs for the Engineering Department, which is in charge of water and wastewater tap fee permit reviews, processing, communications and documentation.
2. Material Costs
There are many materials needed when a new water or wastewater tap is to be installed, such as water meter pit and lid, copper service line, elbows, wastewater tapping saddles, gravel backfill, track hoe, as well as the labor of the Distribution and Collections crews.
3. Capacity Fee
The capacity fee is allocated directly to the water or wastewater plant maintenance and improvement funds. With this fee a new customer is paying directly for improvements necessary to ensure appropriate system capacity as new users are added to the utility system. Another way to view this fee is as an insurance policy. A new user is paying into the fund in order to assure the plant can be maintained and improved to provide the highest-quality product and service.
If you are interested in Water or Wastewater service, please contact the Engineering Department at 740-393-9528 to speak with a representative and determine if you are within appropriate distance of a public water or wastewater line. You can apply for Water and Wastewater Tap Permits online via our website, www.mountvernonohio.org, or by calling or visiting the Engineering Department.
Access to clean water and public wastewater are basic human rights. The City strives to provide the best products and services in its public utilities to uphold the highest standard of public health for all community members.