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Groves adopts year-two utility rate adjustments; solid-waste fee rises $2
Summary
The council adopted an ordinance implementing year-two increases in the city's five-year water and wastewater plan, and a $2 increase in the solid-waste fee; staff said the sewer system's costs to treat wastewater are a key driver.
The Groves City Council approved an ordinance on Aug. 25, 2025 amending the city's water, sewer and solid-waste rate structure as year two of the multi-year plan approved previously. Council members said the changes align with a five-year rate study intended to cover treatment, operations and planned wastewater improvements.
Staff explained the changes on the record: the packet showed a 12.8 percent adjustment tied to the year-two schedule for water rates, a flat-sewer charge increase (the packet showed the sewer flat charge moving from $6.50 to $7.33 in the proposed structure) and a $2 increase for solid-waste service. Staff noted the solid-waste charge had not been increased since 02/2022, and the ordinance advances the city toward the multi-year revenue plan that funds wastewater improvements and maintenance.
Council and staff discussed how sewer-treatment costs can exceed the costs of providing drinking water because treatment and regulatory compliance require significant infrastructure and ongoing expense. Staff said the city expects to issue debt to fund planned wastewater improvements and that earlier rate increases were paced to support those anticipated costs. The city will publish rate tables and provide bill inserts or web links to help customers understand the changes.
Council voted to adopt the ordinance amending the rate structures; the motion passed during the recorded meeting.
What to expect: staff said the water tier and wastewater flat charge changes become effective Oct. 1 as part of the five-year plan and that the city will notify customers via bill messaging and online links.
