ONTARIO, Ohio — Ontario City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would allow the city to enter into a 30-year sewer contract with the City of Mansfield during their regular meeting Thursday evening.
Ontario uses Mansfield’s sewage treatment plant for the disposal of waste. In order for Ontario to continue using the plant, the cities must agree upon the terms.
Contract negotiations have been ongoing for the past several months. First Ward Councilwoman Pam Drake reasoned that they wanted to ensure the contract was “fair and equitable” for both cities.
The contract had not been updated since 2006.
Though Mansfield City Council approved the contract at their meeting Tuesday night, it will not be finalized until Ontario Council approves it. That could happen at their next meeting on Thursday, June 18.
If approved, new sewer rates will go into effect immediately, retroactive to July 1, 2014. The rates, Drake said, will increase, but she assured, “It’s not going to be massive by any means. It’s going to be well-affordable to the citizens of Ontario.”
At the next council meeting, she plans on explaining how the new rates will affect Ontario residents.
She noted that throughout this whole process, the City of Ontario has made improvements to its systems and mitigated many problems and future expenses through its new water meter reading system.
Further, she believes that the contract will help pave the way of the proposed campus district around The Ohio State University at Mansfield and North Central State College Campus.
Housing development study
At-Large Councilman Ken Earhart made a motion during the meeting to authorize Mayor Randy Hutchinson to utilize funds for a housing development study for the campus district and for marketing materials and displays for economic development purposes. The motion passed unanimously.
Improving city streets
Third Ward Councilman Mark Weidemyre highlighted the improvements made to the city streets, noting that the patchwork on Park Avenue West turned out “extremely well.” He added that both Lexington-Springmill Road and Whitney Avenue are slated for improvements.
Concert
In his report, Mayor Hutchinson said that the first Concert in the Park will be next Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. at the Marshall Park band shell, featuring the DeVault Ridge Band.
Clerk nomination
He also said that he received a letter Thursday from the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association, sharing, “They have over 400 clerks in this organization, which Miss [Cathy] Van Auker, [Ontario clerk of council], is a member of, and she’s been nominated for Clerk of the Year,” he said.
