McDONALD — Village council on Thursday gave the initial reading for increasing water and sewer rates for customers effective Dec. 1.

Councilman Don Smith, chairman of the finance and capital improvement committee, said the water rate will increase from $7.50 to $9.75 per 1,000 gallons, and the sewer rates will increase from $6.90 to $9.32 per 1,000 gallons.

He said the village receives bills from the Niles water treatment plant and gets its water from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.

“We anticipate that these rates will not need to be changed for five years,” Smith said, noting the new increases take into consideration cost-of-living increases, salaries, benefits and operating expenses such as maintaining waterlines.

Village Administrator Tom Domitrovich said the village has not seen a water rate increase since 2017 or a sewer rate increase since 2021.

He said many communities have increases every three years, with step increases in each year of the three years.

“We have been frugal enough to hold these increases off for some time,” Domitrovich said.

Officials said the funds will be used for maintenance and replacement costs at the wastewater and sewage treatment facility. Smith said the new rates will be reflected in the water and sewer first-quarter billings in April 2026.

NEW OFFICER

In other business, council approved and swore in new full-time police officer Patrick Mulligan, who brings the department to full staff.

Mulligan had previously served and retired from the Youngstown Police Department. He will begin working for McDonald on Nov. 1.

Police Chief Ryan Ronghi said the department has been short-staffed for some time and is now at full staff, which is seven full-time officers and one part-time officer.

Smith said council members have been in talks with the McDonald Board of Education and school officials about possibly having the school get a full-time resource officer for the two buildings.

He said school officials told council it will depend on the school’s finances, and the board will discuss the matter at the Nov. 19 board meeting.

Also, council approved allowing McDonald High School seniors Rita Domitrovich and Juliana Krumpak to hold a Feed the Need fun run at 9 a.m. Nov. 29 with a cost of $10 per runner and donation of a nonperishable canned good to the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Mayor Ray Lewis said there will be a children’s 1-mile run followed by the 5K run through the village for adults. The event also will include food vendors, music and an awards ceremony.

Lewis said the event could have more than 50 participants.

Council also heard from Kathy Miskell, who asked council if her 19-year-old special needs grandson, who is on the autism spectrum, would be able to use the splash pad, which limits the age of use to those under 13. She said her grandson can use splash pads in Niles, Austintown and Mill Creek Park in Youngstown because they have no age limits. She said the water is calming for him.

Miskell said the splash pad is only made available for 8 to 10 weeks in the summer months.

Lewis said he will ask council at the next meeting to consider the age matter of the splash pad and whether to keep it the same or change it.

In other action, council:

• Heard from Lewis that people are not allowed on the McDonald Steel mill property, which is trespassing as the mill is being taken down. He said people on four-wheelers, bikes, golf carts and other vehicles have been on the property and will be stopped by police.

• Heard from Domitrovich that he is addressing older trees at the park as part of the village’s risk management insurance. He said Davey’s Tree Service in Kent is assisting with the project.

• Heard from Domitrovich Western Reserve Mechanical recently completed the installation of pumps at the pump station.

• Scheduled meetings for next month at 6 p.m. Nov. 5 and 20.