Ironton City Council will give first reading to an ordinance that will increase the fees for use of the city’s waste water treatment plant by businesses that operate outside the city.

The ordinance would also redefine a “septic hauler,” as a hauler that has at least five full-time employees on whose incomes the hauler withholds and pays income tax to the city and has paid utility bills to the city that average at least $100 per month in the last year.

Any hauler not falling into that category will be considered a “non-residential,” or non-local, hauler.

The rates for local haulers will remain the same ($25/up to 1,000 gallons; $50/1,001-2,000 gallons; $75/2,001-3,000 gallons; $100/more than 3,000 gallons).

The rates will increase dramatically for non-local haulers. The ordinance would create a daily fee of $250. On the same scale, rates increase to $100 (up form $50), $200 (up from $100), $300 (up from $150) and $400 (up from $200), respectively.

Mayor Rich Blankenship said the increase in necessary because of the increase in the cost of chemicals and the amount of time city workers have to dedicate to the disposal.

“It’s estimated we (currently) bring in about $24,000 (a year),” Blankenship said. “I wouldn’t consider it a whole lot.”

Council meets Thursday at 6 p.m. at the City Center.