Unanswered Questions: Vermilion's Struggle with Water Rates and the EPA Mandate

Lorain County Administrators attended the Vermilion City Council Committee Meetings last night to provide an update on the 6119 wastewater project. Jeff Armbruster and Lou McMahon spoke at length about the project’s scope and progress.

The project is currently in the public meeting and court proceedings phase, working toward becoming a public entity. They expect this transition to occur between the end of this year and early 2025.

For now, the 6119 project remains a concept supported by municipalities and administrators, with Avon Lake and Vermilion showing initial interest. County officials are working closely with the EPA, which has been receptive, to move the project forward and reduce regulatory pressure. Regionalizing water systems is one of the state’s and the EPA’s top priorities.

While this project shows promise, it also faces significant hurdles. The upcoming election in November could potentially change the composition of the County Commissioners. We have spoken to the Democratic candidates, and while both appear supportive, there’s no guarantee this will be the priority Vermilion needs.

In the meantime, the looming rate increases are concerning. A 49% rate hike is expected in 2025, followed by another 49% increase in 2026. The EPA mandate technically still stands, and these rate hikes are heavily impacting Vermilion residents, especially those on fixed incomes.

Unfortunately, the answers remain as unclear as they were in 2023. Council members pressed County Administrators on timelines, project viability, and the urgent need for a resolution, but did not receive the immediate clarity they sought. The situation remains uncertain, and the only sure thing is that residents will likely pay significantly more for the same service in the near future.

I have the full 38-minute video of the County Administrators’ presentation. Since it’s too long to upload in one post, I’ll be breaking it into 7-8 parts here in the comments on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Q4FX5k36AeEXznTg/