CAMPBELL — City officials have adopted a resolution by emergency to oppose Enbridge Gas’s proposed request to increase natural gas distribution rates.

“We can’t afford this,” city Councilwoman Mary Janek, D-3rd Ward, said after council’s regular meeting Wednesday evening at city hall.

Janek added that she has collected about 150 signatures, in part by driving through Roosevelt Park, from residents who oppose the rate hike.

In a letter dated Nov. 26 that the city’s clerk of council received, the company stated that under the proposal, customers would see an 8.8% monthly increase in distribution and supplier charges from $86.27 to $93.87. The supplier charge would remain at $32.35 per month, but the distribution rate would increase $7.60 from $53.92 to $61.52, the letter states.

Under the proposal, eligible customers of low income who are on the percentage of income payment plan would not be impacted. In addition, the new natural gas distribution rates will not affect customers’ bills this winter, the correspondence shows.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio intends to hold hearings regarding the possible rate increase, though no dates have been set, Janek said. She added that Enbridge’s coverage area includes most of northeast Ohio, so customers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties also would be affected if the PUCO approves the proposal.

Janek said she plans to attend any public meetings, where she intends to submit a list of signatures of those who are against the gas company’s proposal.

Many city residents are on fixed incomes or are struggling financially in other ways, so the rate increase would present an added burden for them, she added.

Also at Wednesday’s session, council declared an emergency to approve legislation that will allow Youngstown-based Wilson Contractors LLC to repair a sinkhole at 644 Robinson Road, at an estimated cost of $5,700. The sinkhole has been an ongoing problem for a considerable time and some residents have complained.