Tiffin council objects to OAC water rate hikes
By Kevin Risner, krisner@advertiser-tribune.comTiffin City Council approved a resolution Monday objecting to a series of rate increases by the Ohio American Water Co.
City Law Director Brent Howard said a group of Columbus area subdivisions led the way asking cities and towns to pass resolutions objecting to the rate increases. The matter is under review by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The Ohio Consumers Council is representing Ohio residents in the matter before PUCO, Howard said.
"When I took office a year ago in January, one of my objectives was to undertake a study to ascertain the feasibility of the city acquiring the local water system," Boroff said. "Some preliminary work was done, but the project was put on hold as we grappled with the city's financial issues. Given that the municipalities and townships served by OAC have been perennially subject to rate increase requests, and that this one is fairly substantial, I feel it is time to resume the study. The next step will be to form a blue ribbon committee to study the possible acquisition. This committee will be composed from all facets of the city."
Boroff said the study was only to ascertain the "feasibility" of the city acquiring the water system.
Tiffin residents pay significantly more for water compared to several neighboring towns and cities, according to information presented by Boroff in the meeting.
In another matter, work could be resuming soon on the Tiffin downtown river wall. Members of the city administration have been meeting with project engineers Peterman & Associates and Alvada Construction on a design to finish the project.
"We reached consensus as to how the project can best be completed, and the design work will be finalized shortly," Mayor Jim Boroff told city council Monday.
The new plan is to cost less than the original bridge-to-bridge construction plan, although final figures are not yet known, Boroff said.
Work on the river wall slowed to a halt recently as issues surfaced about the building nearest the construction. Alvada did not want to proceed with work near the building until structural repairs were done. The new plan is to prevent the need for major construction near the building.
"Most of the main components of the project-including the grass area and walkway-are still intact (in the new design)," Boroff said. "The new wall section will be melded with the old and a cosmetic overlay will essentially tie the two together aesthetically."
Also Monday, Seneca County Health Commissioner Marjorie Broadhead presented information about H1N1 preparedness in the community. She said the health district has been preparing since the spring.
Broadhead said H1N1 swine flu is different from seasonal flu. She said different strains of seasonal flu are similar from year to year, so county residents may have some resistance to seasonal flu without vaccinations. H1N1 is a significantly different strain of flu, she said, so most people would have no immunity to H1N1. Vaccine for H1N1 is to be available in late October and is to be distributed to priority groups first.
Because H1N1 is a virus, it can mutate and become more dangerous, Broadhead. So far, H1N1 in the U.S. remains more mild than is other countries.
Local residents should be sure to wash hands regularly, stay home if sick, exercise regularly and eat well, Broadhead said.
Council approved resolutions for the following:
* Accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
* Approving the mayor's appointment of Michael P. Hayes for an unexpired term on the Architectural Board of Review.
* Approving the mayor's appointment of Mark A. Steinmetz for an unexpired term on the ABR.
* Objecting to and opposing the proposed water rate increase filed by OAC with the PUCO.
Council approved the following ordinances after final readings:
* Adopting an identify theft (red flag) program.
* To revise the codified ordinances by adopting replacement pages thereto.
