Sewer rates will increase following months of deliberations

by Sue Serdinak

Aug. 6 Richfield Village Council meeting

After Finance Director Sandy Turk provided data showing escalating expenses, Richfield Village Council voted unanimously at the end of a long meeting to increase the charge for handling sanitary waste on properties connected to the sewer system.

Owners of properties discharging into the system have been paying $28.33 per mcf (one thousand cubic feet) since 2006. The new rate will be $42 per mcf. Properties outside the village that access the village sewer system will pay an additional 10%.

Property owners will not pay an additional charge based on their property’s frontage, even though such a charge was legislated in 1996. Council passed an ordinance to vacate the old legislation.

Turk’s data showed that village sewer charges are less than surrounding communities. She also said, “Currently, the sewer user fees bring in $2 million. … The sewer operating budget for this year is $2.2 million. Current revenue is falling short of covering operating expenses, without factoring in any capital improvement needs.”

As part of the legislation, the rate will be adjusted annually to match the change in the consumer price index. Councilperson Rick Hudak said the adjustment should prevent the fund from falling behind again.

Before the vote to increase the rate, Councilperson Bobbie Beshara introduced an amendment to remove the adjustment based on the CPI. Only Councilperson Jeff Stoppenhagen voted with her.

Beshara had also spoken against increasing the rate before an outside company performs a rate study. Councilperson Jeff Stoppenhagen agreed, saying, “I think it is irresponsible of us to not have a rate study done first.”

When it came to a vote, all of council approved the rate increase.

Council President Ralph Waszak later told the Richfield Times that a rate study could cost as much as $25,000 and added, “I would not be surprised if the rate study demonstrated the need for future rate increases.”

Turk emphasized that the rate increase will not cover the anticipated $2.7 million cost to replace the main sewer pumping station on Brecksville Road.

In 2019, the village’s previous Service Director Chris Papp warned of problems with the pump station and advised replacing the underground station with an up-to-date system above ground.

Current Service Director Scott Waldemarson has overseen major repairs to the system.  According to Turk, “In the last three years, we’ve spent over $5 million in repairs.”

Properties with well water that have not been metered for solid waste will be required to install water meters to measure the flow. The meters can be purchased from the village, and the service department will help with questions and inspect the meters after they are installed.

Residents speak

Council afforded significant time for residents to speak about sewer charges at multiple meetings.

Some challenged Turk’s figures on the sewer fund and recommended an audit. Mayor Michael Wheeler said all finances of the village are audited every year and the state performs a bi-annual audit.

Several speakers said it is unfair that only properties connected to the sewer line will pay for repairs to the pumping station. 

Many homes that are in less dense neighborhoods have septic tanks for sewage disposal. Councilperson Marty Kruszynski said those homeowners have the expense of maintaining a septic system.

One resident complained that the village used sewer funds to build the sewer system in the Briarwood development, which was in the township before it was annexed to the village.

Planning Director Brian Frantz responded that some TIF funds associated with the development would eventually be paid to the village in two to three years.

Service station moratorium

In other legislative action, council passed an ordinance to extend a moratorium until Dec. 31, 2024, “on accepting applications for, or issuing zoning certificates for, any building, structure, use, or change of use that would authorize the use of land as an automotive service station, truck servicing station, gas station, convenience store operated in connection with any of the foregoing, or any repair services for machinery or equipment.”

Safety forces

Wheeler swore in Sean Van Niel as a part-time fire medic. Niel works full time with the city of Cleveland Fire Department.

Fire Chief George Seifert reported that the department fought a house fire on Ridgeview Drive that caused significant damage. Fire departments from Bath, Brecksville, Hinckley, Valley and Fairlawn provided automatic aid. He said the family should be able to return to the home.

Police and fire responded to several accidents on the interstates and turnpike, including a cement truck that overturned. One day they responded to three accidents within five minutes. Rescue squads transported several people, some with serious injuries. ∞