Council Rejects Sewer Increase....Again
By Art Harvath

The Huntington city council on Monday voted down yet another ordinance that would have raised sewer rates 20% . Council’s action has no affect on the Huntington Sanitary Board’s request to the Public Service Commission for a 40% increase in sewer rates. The HSB is bypassing council and appealing directly to the PSC for a rate increase after council has repeatedly failed to raise the sewer rates.
The HSB is delinquent in bond payments and will not be able to repay a $500,000 loan from Fifth Third Bank that is due in December without a rate increase. The bank is refusing to give the HSB another extension on the loan.
In other action:
-Council passed an ordinance redistricting the City of Huntington for the 2004 municipal elections. Following is a breakdown of the nine districts by population and precinct.

Council District Voter precincts Total Population

One: Jim Ritter Cabell Co. 1A, Wayne Co. 59,60,61,61 5088
Two: Tom McCallister 1,2,3,5 5180
Three: George Malott 9,11 5554
Four: Mary Neely 4,6,6W,7 5570
Five: Larry Patterson 10,12,16,17,21 6510
Six: Cal Kent 13,14,18,22,25,31 6587
Seven: Trey Hanshaw 23,24,28,29 5457
Eight: B.W. Ellis 19,20,26 5526
Nine: Jim Insco 27,30,32,33,34 6303
- Council authorized a demolition contract worth $11,800 to KAR Construction of Lesage, WV. The contract includes buildings at 1605 19th St., 2222 Jefferson Ave, 3301 3rd Ave, 1338 R Monroe Ave, 2600 Wilson St., and 2900 8th Ave.
- Council approved a resolution adding $300,000 from the Contingency Fund to the contract for street paving. This brings the total to about $600,000 that will be spent on paving Huntington streets.
- The council passed a resolution in support of seeking a non-profit organization to operate the Olympic Pool.
- J. Roger Smith was appointed to the Huntington Municipal Development Authority.
- W. Michael Frazier was appointed to his first term on the Municipal Parking Board.
- Council appointed Thomas Kincaid Jr. and Carolyn Uihlein Nilles to the Human Relations Commission.

The Huntington city council meets at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.
The meetings are televised over cable channel 24.