The city of Hermitage and the state Department of Environmental Protection are close to an agreement concerning the corrective plan for the city's sewer system that is raising the rates of residents' sewer bills.

"We're still negotiating about the consent order and agreement. I think we're close to an agreement," said City Manager Gary Hinkson, adding that at a special meeting April 3, commissioners should have a resolution to consider.

The city had to address problems with groundwater getting into sewer pipes during wet weather, which overwhelmed the capacity of the sewage treatment plant last summer.

Hinkson previously said the city had been aware of the problems and made long-range plans to address them. But the DEP said the problem was so bad that it needed to be addressed earlier to protect the community from inadequately treated or untreated sewage being released into the Shenango River.

As a result of the almost $13 million plan, sewer rates were raised by about $100 over three years -- a 44 percent increase -- to help foot the bill to correct violations outlined by DEP.

DEP issued the violations July 15 to make the city move up the timetable of its long-range plans.

The city turned in a corrective plan at the end of August which was expected to be implemented over three years.

Once the consent order is authorized by DEP and the city commissioners, Hinkson said the details of the updated consent order will be disclosed.