Ronceverte faces water rate increase as council reviews system costs and upgrades

By Dakota Baker, RealWV

RONCEVERTE W.Va — Ronceverte City Council met Monday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. The meeting was rescheduled from the council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 3.

In attendance were council members Emilee White, Tanya Clark, Matt Bergman, and Mayor Deena Pack. Leah Smith and Mark Trent attended by phone. 

Meeting minutes from the July 6 regular council meeting were not approved because they were not available. However, minutes from the special city council meeting held July 4 were approved.

Council members then discussed an update to the city’s personnel handbook. Previously, some city employees worked four days a week on 10-hour shifts, while others worked five days a week on eight-hour shifts. This scheduling difference raised questions regarding holiday pay.

For example, if a holiday fell on a Friday, questions arose about whether all employees would receive holiday pay or only those whose regular schedules included Friday.

Under the updated policy, the city’s normal workweek will return to Monday through Friday, with employees working from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Holiday pay will only be provided when the holiday falls on an employee’s regularly scheduled workday.

Next, council members conducted the second reading of Ordinances 2026-03 and 2026-04, which address water and sewer tap fees, insufficient-funds, or NSFcheck fees, and reconnection fees.

The ordinance sets the minimum tap fee at $950, changing the previous wording from “up to $950.” City Administrator Pam Mentz clarified that if the actual cost of the tap is less than $950, the city will only charge the actual cost. However, a set fee was needed in the ordinance.

The fee for an insufficient funds (NSF) check will increase from $25 to $35, while the reconnection fee will remain $40. Sewer fees will follow the same fee structure as water. The second reading of both ordinances was approved by council.

Council members also approved the purchase of a new trash truck, as the current truck is more than 14 years old and requires significant repairs. Two estimates were presented, totaling $207,576 and $225,000, respectively. The purchase will be financed over seven years through Country Road Leasing for the $207,576. 

Additionally, council members discussed several water-related matters. Council approved a notice of intent to bid for Phase 4 of the city’s water upgrade project, which will include work along Monroe Avenue. 

During a recent audit, several deficiencies were identified within the city, including an issue with the water rate. Ronceverte currently does not have a water rate high enough to cover the cost of the water it purchases from the city of Lewisburg.

Although Ronceverte is paying its water bills to Lewisburg on time, the city’s current water rates are not generating enough revenue to fully cover those costs. As a result, the city’s general fund has been covering the difference to ensure the water bills owed to Lewisburg are paid.

Because the water system is not generating enough revenue to cover its expenses, the city has been advised that water rates will need to be increased.

The last time Ronceverte raised its water rates, the city incurred approximately $90,000 in attorney fees as a result of protests against the increase. The city administrator expressed concern that another rate increase could result in similar legal expenses.

While the city has been actively working on its water upgrade project to replace damaged water lines, officials have not yet been able to identify all of the system’s leaks. The project has been ongoing for several years, and water loss continues to occur. 

Mayor Pack said, “…we have kind of kicked the can down the road, so to speak, and have put ourselves in a position to try and figure out what the best solution is moving forward, while providing our citizens with safe drinking water”. 

The city has been approached by American Water with an offer to purchase the water system, and there has been discussion with other municipalities about potential options. A public hearing will be held at which American Water representatives will be in attendance to answer questions from citizens. 

The public meeting will be held on Aug. 17, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the Ronceverte Fire Department, adjacent to the Lions Club gym.