Members of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District met with Youngstown City Council and Mayor Tito Brown on Thursday to discuss a rate increase for water services to the city.

MVSD's Chief Engineer Michael McNinch told the city council members that the last rate increase was in 2012, which was three percent over three years.

McNinch asked the council for an increase of 11 cents per one thousand gallons of water over the next three years, which would help to help pay for the $46 million upgrades at MVSD, including a building clarifier, a building for the treatment of the water. The money would also go to replace a 90-year-old water line that serves Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Youngstown council will now consider the request, if they vote to approve, the matter would still need to go to the Mahoning Common Pleas Court for final approval.

MVSD also recently met with Niles and the Village of McDonald, and McNinch said both communities were receptive to the need in light of the current economic climate.

"We want to make sure that our neighboring cities know what those projects are and that this is the best course of action for the future of the Mahoning Valley," he told 21 News.