Oct 22, 2015 By Erin Hayes for The 3 min read

POINT MARION — Borough officials who’ve started drafting a 2016 budget said that residents can expect to an increase in their water and sewer rates next year.

“There’s an $80,000 deficit in the water fund, and the sewer fund isn’t far behind, so there are probably going to be some increases,” said council President Gary Reynolds at a council meeting Wednesday. Reynolds said a review of current budget revenues and expenditures will serve as a guideline when drafting next year’s budget.

Last year, officials held off on increases, but indicated then that hikes were in the pipeline and rates would eventually need to go up.

Borough Manager Art Strimel, who presented the state of the current budget, said the water fund took a big hit earlier in the year with the unexpected failure of one of the water plant’s two pumps.

Officials in February approved the purchase of a replacement pump for $23,158. Semi-annual debt service payments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture totaling about $43,000 also contribute to the deficit in the fund, Strimel said. The fund is at 71 percent of revenues and 100 percent of disbursements.

Reynolds appointed the following council members to the budget finance committee: Vice President Victoria Evans as chair, and Councilman Patrick Kelley and Councilwoman Kathy Griffith.

The committee will begin meeting next week, officials said.

Also at the meeting, officials requested community support for an upcoming fundraiser to benefit a trap, neuter and release program to help combat a growing cat overpopulation problem in the borough.

Donna Phillips, who addressed council with her ideas and concerns at their last meeting, will be accepting donations to sell at a yard sale on Sunday across from the post office, Evans said.

For additional information or to donate to the yard sale, Phillips can be reached at 304-951-8011 or cdphillips01@yahoo.com.

In other business, council:

n Reminded that the Point Marion Rotary Club is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner on Friday at the Point Marion United Methodist Church to benefit the backpack feeding program that provides weekly snacks to children at Friendship Hill Elementary School. Tickets are $8 per adult and $5 per children under 12, and may be purchased at the United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, United Bank, Clar-Mac Sales or from any rotary member. Tickets will be available at the door, and takeout is an option.

n Reminded that a Fall Festival event for is slated for 2-5 p.m. on Saturday. Organizers said the event would feature a bounce house and games for children with fall-themed attractions including cider and pumpkins, and perhaps hayrides. The event will be the last to be held at the park this year, Evans said.

n Reminded that The Point Marion Rotary Club’s Halloween parade this year is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The parade will begin at Herod Funeral Home and proceed to the fire hall, where contestants in various age groups will be judged on their costumes. Trick or treat will be held this year from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Officials said that anyone not wanting to participate should keep their outside lights turned off.

n Announced that a coffee and conversation session will be held at the borough building at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. The sessions, held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, are designed to encourage input from the community in an informal setting. The focus of this month’s session, to be held prior to Veteran’s Day, will be the restoration of a deteriorating veteran’s honor roll, Evans said.