NILES — The city’s utilities committee met to discuss the cost of a rate study for both of its water-based systems, and its members hope to bring a request for proposals before city council at its next meeting.

In a meeting Thursday called by Councilman James Sheely, D-3rd Ward, who oversees the committee, Auditor Giovanne Merlo said the EPA requires the city to get a three-year rate study completed, and the last one was in 2022.

The rate study would entail both the water and sewer departments, Merlo said, noting that they’ve always done one for the electric department.

“In the previous rate studies, we’ve always talked about capital expenditures — where your capital outlay is headed, what our rates should be,” Merlo said. “What our current expenditures are, what we anticipate to spend in the next four to five years, is normally what they’re asking for.”

Merlo said the city has an approximate $30 million debt service with wastewater and sewer for the treatment plant. Merlo noted there were many infrastructural needs in sewer — both in storm and wastewater — that needed to be completed.

“With the debt service not being addressed, we really need to look at wastewater; we’ve been saying it now since 2023,” Merlo said.

Councilman Edward Stredney, D-at Large and the board’s co-chair, asked if there has been any objection from the city’s administration to consider separating the storm and sanitary sewers, and looking at them as line items or separate utilities since 2023.

Mayor Steven Mientkiewicz said there has been some conversation, noting that most municipalities he’s seen across the state that have a separate storm sewer account are funded from their general funds.

“I don’t know if that’s a requirement when you separate it or not; I don’t know why it’s done in those other communities,” Mientkiewicz said. “I do see that, though. That would be something we would have to consider.”

Mientkiewicz said he knew Merlo had concerns about separating the account.

Merlo said if the city wants to do anything with creating a storm sewer account, they would have to do it per the Ohio Revised Code and get it approved by the state auditor’s office.

“When you split them, what does that rate look like? Because you have to go back and look at a history of trying to figure out what expenditures were for storm water, what expenditures are for wastewater, rather than keeping them as one utility,” Merlo said. “Can it be done? I’m sure it can be done. It will take time, effort, a part of the rate study to do that, I’m sure, and there would be an additional cost.”

Mientkiewicz said storm sewers are not something that scores well regarding pursuing Ohio Public Works Commission funds.

“Road scores the best; used to be sewer that scores the best; now it’s road, water, (sanitary) sewer — storm’s sort of taken a backseat, in regards to OPWC,” Mientkiewicz said.

He said they’ve considered FEMA and Ohio National EPA funding for storm projects, noting that Boardman’s ABC Water District, a joint district including Austintown, Boardman and Canfield, received a “big shot of money.” However, Mientkiewicz said the money’s criteria was true flooding.

“Because of the lack of funds in the sewer department, storm has sort of taken a backseat with my administration,” Mientkiewicz said, noting that his predecessor’s administration focused on the storm sewer system.

“In turn, (the) water system wasn’t touched, and we all know that. We’ve made it a priority to focus on our water system, to focus on the sanitary system, and roads — as far as infrastructure goes,” Mientkiewicz said. “Have we done small scale storm projects? Absolutely. Do we have some projects built into our most recent comprehensive sewer plan? Absolutely.”

Mientkiewicz said those projects getting done was a matter of running through the rate itself and different grant and loan projects.

Merlo said the city could do a consumption rate study for the next 10 years, like they did to comply with a loan.

Mientkiewicz said he thought the city would be comfortable looking at five-year plans or rate schedules in accordance with the current capital plans.