Archbold Village Council approved a 2% increase in water service, and a 3% hike for sanitary sewers, during the Monday night, Dec. 7, meeting.

The new rates will become effective with the March bills.

Dennis Howell, Archbold village administrator, said the council utility committee recommended the rate hikes, the first since 2006.

He said the recommendation to increase the village sanitary sewer charge by 3% came about because village officials discovered the wastewater treatment plant was “uncomfortably close to breaking even” when charging for large volumes of waste, such as that from commercial or industrial concerns.

Lowest

While water bills for intown Archbold residents are going up, they are still among the lowest in the area.

Howell presented council members with a chart comparing Archbold’s 2010 combined monthly charge for a homeowner who uses 5,000 gallons each month against other area towns.

Five thousand gallons a month is considered average usage.

The chart only compares communities who get their water from a “surface water” source, such as creeks or streams. Archbold water comes from the Tiffin River.

The comparison shows Archbold is the lowest, at $42.25. Next is Defiance, at $65.08.

Others are Wauseon, $71.16; Swanton, $73.26; Delta, $79.52; and Napoleon, $90.67.

Bryan

The City of Bryan charges $38.36 per month for water and sewer, but Howell said Bryan gets its water from wells. Well water is easier and less expensive to treat.

Also, he said Bryan City Council heavily subsidizes the town’s sewer service.

Bryan charges only $1.20 for every 1,000 gallons of sewage treated; Archbold’s cost is $3.05 per 1,000 gallons. Swanton has the highest sewer charge at $8.30 per 1,000 gallons.

The water and sewer rate-hike ordinances, like all other measures voted on by council Monday night, passed unanimously.

Ed Leininger, council president, was absent.

The next meeting of Archbold Village Council is Monday, Dec. 21, 7 pm, in council chambers.

A special meeting of the council is Monday, Jan. 4, 6:30 pm., to close out the 2009 year.