Update: Strongsville Continues Fight Against Sewer Rate Increase

The city has joined 11 other communities in a court fight against a rate increase sought by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

City Council agreed July 5 to pay $15,000 toward outside legal fees in the case, which seeks to thwart a proposed hike in storm water fees.

NEORSD is seeking an increase of about $14.25 per quarter to pay for a stormwater program to manage stream bank erosion, flooding and other issues, said Jeannie Chapman, public information specialist for NEORSD. 

The raise would be in addition to a recently approved 13 percent hike that will take effect in January. The typical suburban household will see its quarterly bills go from the current $90 to $157 in 2016.

"I believe we're in full support of this (the fight)," Council President Mike Daymut said.

The matter is set to be heard in court Sept. 6.

Being contested is whether the rate hike is "a fee or an invalid tax," Law Director Ken Kraus said.

The controversial 13 percent increase, approved by the NEORSD board in June, will raise $3 billion for environmental projects over the next 25 years.

Part of the money would pay for Project Clean Lake, which would reduce the amount of untreated sewage flowing into Lake Erie and other waterways by improving the regional sewer system and constructing several deep tunnels to hold overflow.

NEORSD negotiated the plan with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stave off being sued for not complying with the federal Clean Water Act.

The new money will also go toward maintaining and rehabilitating current sewer pipes, maintaining three wastewater treatment plants and other expensed, Chapman said.

She added that changed in the billing structure mean small users will see a decrease in their sewer bills.