Campbell water plant sold to Aqua Ohio | News, Sports, Jobs - Youngstown Vindicator

CAMPBELL — Following years of “Band-aid” repairs to the Campbell water system, Aqua Ohio will take over the plant and pay $7.5 million for it.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio announced this month that a deal between the city and Aqua Ohio was reached after bids were sought for the plant.

The transition is expected around Jan. 20.

Mayor Nick Phillips said that the plant has been “problematic” for about a decade due to antiquated equipment and new mandates from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Though the city tried keeping rates low for consumers, “the plant didn’t generate enough money” to keep up with repairs, he said. The plant was built in the 1970s.

Phillips said he made sure the nine people who work at the water treatment plant could keep their jobs.

It was put into the bid agreement that their jobs would be “absorbed” by the new entity, complete with full-time status and pensions, Phillips said.

“It’s their jobs, their livelihood, their families are here,” Phillips said.

Aqua Ohio will own and operate the city’s water system, providing water service to customers served now by Campbell city.

The company will also make capital investments to the aging system in line with Ohio EPA guidelines.

Mandates and recommendations by the Ohio EPA over the years have been “very expensive,” Phillips said, adding that one concern was replacing water pipes — Campbell has 43 miles of drinking water lines.

Phillips said that about 20 years ago residents stopped an effort to sell the water plant.

Since he took office in 2015, Phillips said a study conducted by CT Consultants of Youngstown concluded the plant needs $18 million to $20 million in repairs over the next 20 years.

“How do we bring that to the people? Our income tax base is low right now,” Phillips said, adding that about half of Campbell’s population is made up of retirees.

Noting he has raised water rates “considerably,” Phillips asked: “How do you keep going to the people?”

It was “with a heavy heart” that Phillips made the decision to sell the water plant, he said.

Aqua Ohio was the only entity to bid on it.

Before seeking bids for the plant, Phillips said town hall meetings were held to give residents a chance to voice their opinion and to hear what officials learned through the comprehensive study from CT Consultants.

By involving the community, Phillips said, “We want you to be a part of this. You have to be part of this. Without your blessing, it wouldn’t happen.”

PUCO also announced Aqua Ohio has been authorized to establish credit on customer bills to reflect the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Aqua Ohio will credit both water and sewer customers the amount the utilities have over-collected, with interest, since Jan. 1, 2018, under the previous corporate tax rate.

That will generate $4.8 million, which will be passed back to the customers throughout a 12-month period. Aqua Ohio will also return an additional $2.5 million annually.

A news release states that residential sewer customers will see about a 16 percent bill reduction for the first 12 months, followed by a 6.1 percent reduction afterward.

afox@tribtoday.com

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Campbell water plant sold to Aqua Ohio | News, Sports, Jobs - Youngstown Vindicator
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