BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Water rates are going up slightly for village residents in Massena, a change that officials say hasn’t occurred in a number of years.

Village Trustees approved the markup, saying the village’s expenses outweigh its revenues.

“You’re seeing some small increases to the users inside the village,” Mayor Greg Paquin said.

For those inside the village, the monthly rate per 1,000 gallons will increase from $4.70 to $4.89 for the first 3,000 gallons.

For the next 17,000 gallons, the rate will increase from $3.99 to $4.15.

Anything in excess of 20,000 gallons will see a range of $3.21, up from $3.09.

A minimum usage of 3,000 gallons per month is required.

The changes come after trustees announced a public hearing back in April, during which time Paquin told trustees during a budget presentation that village expenses were continuing to mount.

Paquin told trustees last month that the rate hike would be anywhere from 2-4% in an effort to offset the village’s expenses.

Additional expenses could come in the near future as well, according to Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller.

Miller told trustees that a number of issues have popped up with the transmission distribution system and need to be addressed.

Miller also pointed to the potential expense to repair or replace the Bowers Street water tower, which engineers found some fault with in a 2019 report.

According to officials, the repairs or replacement of the tower could cost in excess of $2.5 million.

“Those issues are not fixing themselves, it’s not getting any better,” Miller said.

Miller pointed to the possibility of the village applying for grants to offset the cost of the repairs or replacement but noted that grant money “is usually not 100% funding for a project.”

Officials also announced new rates for users who are on village water but live outside of the village.

Monthly rates per 1,000 gallons will rise from $4.94 to $5.14 for residential dwellings.

For commercial and industrial properties, rates will rise from $8.99 to $9.35.