By Joyell Nevins
Record Herald Editor
Courtesy of the Weeklu
 WEST MILTON – Residents, start watching your water bills. Although the official vote will not be taken until the council meeting on Nov. 8, the first ordinance has been drafted and read to increase the water rates.
The ordinance proposed at council on Tuesday evening will take the service charge from $6.26 to $7.50, and a consumption charge of $4.51 to $5.45 per 1,000 gallons. This will take the minimum fee from $10.77 to $12.95 per 1,000 gallons of water. It would go into effect December 2011.
The ordinance gives the reasoning that “services are projected to exceed revenue” and that “the water fund is not sufficient to meet anticipated expenses without a rate increase.”
Resident James Green asked the council why the original group making the contract did not look into getting Union water, which he said was five times cheaper than Troy’s current rate.
Mayor Pat Grim informed him that Union was checked into, but that the council never saw any actual contract. She claimed that the manager, who then was Marty Gabbard, was the one who handled the paperwork.
Resident Kathy Utz also asked about the negotiations, saying “Why didn’t someone put a cap? Who was watching out for us?”
Councilman Jason Tinnerman replied to both their and Don Martin’s complaints, “My opinion is we have to work with what we have. I don’t want to go after the people who were trying to do what they thought was best at the time.”
What was voted on by the council was an environmental covenant with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  The dam is being removed, with no more debate.Â
However, the Village has agreed to keep a certain area around the former dam a natural zone. That means they cannot add any man-made structures. The coucnil vote was a unanimous yes.
In other action, Beggar’s Night was set for October 31 following Miami County’s precedent. The Chamber will be hosting a Downtown Halloween Party from 4 to 6 p.m., before the trick or treaters start making the rounds from 6 to 8 p.m.
Interim Municipal Manager Ben Herron also encouraged those interested to contact him about Habitat for Humanity’s new program “A Brush with Kindness.” They are trying to get into Union Township to offer assistance to families in need of repairs not just whole homes. Herron can be reached at the Municipal Office at 698-1500.
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