Trustees approve sewer rate increase for 2012-2016

Today, Trustees of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District voted to accept the recommendation to increase sewer rates effective January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016. The dissenting votes were Parma Mayor Dean DePiero and Middleburg Heights Mayor Gary Starr.

Report on public meetings' turnout provided to Trustees this week

During April and May, six public meetings provided customers opportunities to hear and react to the Sewer District's proposed 2012-2016 rate schedule and new affordability program. More than 490 residents attended, and a summary report will be provided to District Trustees this week.

Full house in Middleburg Heights hears proposed rate details

Hundreds of residents assembled at the Middleburg Heights Community Center last night for the fifth of six public meetings to present the Sewer District's proposed 2012-2016 rate schedule. A 15-minute presentation was followed by more than one hour of questions from the audience, many regarding Federal funding, our proposed Stormwater Management Program, Project Clean Lake, and billing.

"Whaddaya mean it's not a tax?"

During Tuesday night's Sewer District rate information public meeting in Cleveland, Alexandra was in the audience posting her comments on Twitter and directed one tweet at our @neorsd account after our speaker clarified that sewer rates are fees, not taxes: "WHADDAYA MEAN IT'S NOT A TAX?"

No more minimum charge? What it could mean for customers

Among the sewer rate changes being discussed at our public meetings is our proposed elimination of our minimum charge, a move made to address the most common concern from our customers. Here's a simple explanation and an example of how some of our users will benefit most.

Questions in Beachwood include Project Clean Lake, stormwater

The Sewer District's second public rate-information meeting in Beachwood April 11 welcomed a small but engaged group of citizens. After hearing the District's 2012 rates and affordability program proposal, questions about organization structure and current projects and programs. We've posted a few of the questions we received after the jump.

Maple Heights crowd hears details of 2012 rate plan

The first of six public meetings to present the Sewer District's proposed 2012-2016 rate schedule drew about 25 guests at Maple Heights Library last night. The presentation included an overview of the proposed rate changes, including a new affordability program and fee structure that address common ratepayer concerns. Read our Twitter thread (after the jump) that covered the discussion as it happened.