The Village of Mineola Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 155 Washington Avenue, for the purposes of receiving public input and disseminating information at a new water rate schedule. Some residents are expected to see increases in their water rates due to increasing costs and safety mandates municipalities must comply with.

The current water rates were set in 1998 by the village board and went into effect in 1999. Residents are billed semiannually based on the amount of water used semiannually. The current (semiannual) rates are as follows (for semiannual consumption):

For one and two-family Residences, the minimum charge is $10, which entitles the user to 10,000 gallons of water. For those who use between 10,000 to 20,000 gallons (semiannually), the cost is $1.35 per gallon (semiannually). For those who use between 20,000 and 30,000 gallons, the cost is $1.75 per gallon. Those who use between 30,000 and 40,000 gallons, pay $2 per gallon and those who use over 40,000, pay $2.25 per gallon. Users other than one and two-family residences such as businesses are billed based on consumption and meter size.

However, the village cites increasing costs as the reason those rates may change come February 1. According to the village, improvements to the infrastructure of the water system as well as governmentally mandated programs have added significant costs to the village's water production and distribution systems. "The cost of producing water is higher than it was three years ago," said Village of Mineola Mayor John P. Colbert.

A review of the annual reports of the Water Fund since 1999 demonstrates an increase in expenses based upon increased labor costs, Federal, State and County mandated improvements and utility costs, say village officials.

A 14.94 percent in labor costs as well as infrastructure improvements completed, under way and planned for the immediate future will increase the water fund by $350,000, a 165 percent increase, over 1999's figures, according to the village. Also, the village cited increases in chemical costs, maintenance and leak detection expenses as factors affecting the water rates.

Among some of the other factors affecting the water rates are mandates placed upon municipalities for the safety of the water supply. For example, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is requiring chemical delivery containment facilities to be installed at four locations in the village-Well #1 at Elm Place, Well #4 at 8th Avenue, Well #5 at Roselle Street and Well #6 at Westbury Avenue. The estimated cost of the project is $400,000.

In addition, since 1999, the village has spent significant funds on infrastructure improvements such as $1.7 million for the water treatment plant on Washington Avenue, $686,000 on elevated water tank painting and rehabilitation and a significant amount on state mandated caustic tank replacements at four locations in the village, including leak detection systems.

Although the new rates will be unveiled at the hearing, Mayor Colbert did say that the board would make every effort not to increase the rate for those who use a minimal amount of water such as senior citizens, some of which are on fixed incomes.

For others, a water rate increase is imminent, even though Mayor Colbert said he is reluctant to raise them. "The last thing I want to do is increase anything, but everything is going up ... Costs have increased. This is a hearing for us to be able to tell the people what has happened. In order for us to keep our constant bond rating, we need to have a water fund that is going to stand by itself," he said.