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Bengals scoreboard to cost about $10 million

The Cincinnati Bengals are a step closer to getting that new scoreboard. Hamilton County is reviewing bids to replace the scoreboard and control room.

County finance specialist Erica Riehl expects the total will be about $10 million based on bids the county received.

The county is required to pay for the upgrade, however, under a bargain struck last year, the Bengals are chipping in $2.5 million.

The contract will likely be awarded by the end of the year.

Scoreboard bids

Control Room bids

Meanwhile, county commissioners are expected to vote next Monday on the property tax rebate (PTR) for 2015. Right now, it appears the PTR will remain at 65 percent of the full amount. The rebate was promised when voters approved the sales tax to build the two sports stadiums.

Sewer rates to be set soon

We'll find out later this week how much sewer rates may go up next year. The Metropolitan Sewer District is putting the final touches on its recommended budgets.

Hamilton County and Cincinnati officials have been sparring for several years over how to run the utility. The county owns the sewer district but it's operated by the city.

On Monday County Administrator Christian Sigman was somewhat optimistic based on recent conversations with the new Cincinnati City manager.

"What I'm seeing out of the City Manager's office is a greater attention to the operations regardless to the interpretation of ownership and control," says Sigman. "I see some positive traction there."

Public hearings on the MSD budgets are set for:

Wednesday, December 3, 2014
11:30 a.m.
138 East Court Street, Room 605
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
 

 December 8, 2013
6:30 p.m.
138 East Court Street, Room 605
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

County Commissioners could set sewer rates as early as December tenth.  In June, Cincinnati Council approved a four percent increase in water rates for Greater Cincinnati Water Works customers.

 

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.