Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1948-08-27
LIGHT RATE INCREASE
DUE HERE IN OCTOBER
10 % BOOST is
FORESEEN SOON
Street Lighting Costs Are
Also Due For Increases,
Cowgirl Announces

Port Clinton residents can eX-
pect an increase in their electrici-
ty bills in the near future, as H. A.
Cowgirl, division manager of the
Ohio Public Service company, an
N1ounced at council meeting Tues
day night that the company is no
longer able to operate on it's pres
ent rate basis.
While the new rate has not been
completely fixed, it will be ap-
proximately an increase cf 10 per-
cent, Mr.. Cowgirl said. Street
lighting rates will also be in
creased, probably six percent.
Both the street lighting contract
. and the 10-year agreement for
commercial and domestic rates are
scheduled to expire on October 19.
Mr.. Cowgirl proposed new
street lighting system which will
add IL more street lamps to the
"white way" and provide better
service. Present cost of street
lighting is $6,93O.5O and the pro-
posed cost will be $7,335.6O, an
increase of about six percent.
Under the proposal the "white
way" would be increased east in
Second street to the east portion
Of Adams street boulevard, west
to Armory park, while better lights
would be provided in Madison,
Fremont road, Fulton, Perry and
Third streets.
In announcing the proposed in
creases, Mr.. Cowgirl stated that
the Ohio Public Service company
has done it's best to provide good
! service and has fought against any
rate increase despite rising labor
and equipment costs.
"We are now at the point where
we must ask an increase, Mr..
Cowgirl said. Labor costs have
doubled, generating equipment is
costlier and coal is much higher"
he added.
Mr.. Cowgirl said that the aver
age bill for Port Clinton CUSTOM
ers is $3.50 and that the company
, serves 1900 families here.
The increase will affect only
customers in the city, as any in
crease for rural users must be
approved by the Ohio Public Util-
tiles Commission.
Port Clinton is the first city
served by Ohio Public Service to
face an electricity cost increase,
although Mr.. Cowgirl stated that
increases are imminent in all other
}, divisions served by the company
" As the new rate must be ap-
proved by the village council,
Mayor Becker appointed members
of the street and finance commit
tees to investigate the need for
the increase and to report at the
next council meet.
Rep. William Fleckner was
present at the council meet and
asked Mayor Becker to accom-
.pany him to Columbus Wednes-
= day to confer with Ohio Highway
department officials regarding the
opening of West Perry street.
Miss Pearl Cleaver, West Fourth
street, also was present in regard
to a controversy regarding sewer
repairs near her home.
Frank Richey requested the city
ask the Public Utilities Commits
sion for a report regarding lack
=. of telephone service to residents in
the Payne addition-Weis road area
He said the residents had asked
for phone installation but that
nothing had been done.
A lengthy discussion of the pro-
posed ordinance to appoint a board
of park trustees to be in charge
of the lakefront improvement and
other city parks was tabled fol-
further investigation. City Soil
citor George Slaughter announced
Sthat state statutes provide for
only four members on the board.