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South Lloyd council backs class A biosolids upgrade and directs 7‑year sewer rate schedule
Summary
At an Aug. 18 council meeting, members indicated consensus to include a class A biosolids upgrade in the city’s sewer-plant improvements and asked staff to draft a sewer-rate ordinance based on a seven‑year repayment schedule that would raise metered rates toward $24.42 by the end of the schedule.
South Lloyd — Council members on Monday signaled support for adding a class A biosolids upgrade to planned sewer-plant work and asked staff to prepare a sewer-rate ordinance using a seven‑year repayment schedule.
The council’s direction came after staff and consultants reviewed options for five-, seven- and ten‑year schedules to fund aging lift stations and other sewer-plant needs. The council’s preference for the seven‑year schedule was expressed as a consensus during discussion; the council did not adopt a final ordinance at the meeting but asked staff to draft one for formal consideration.
City staff said Lift Stations 1 and 2 are the oldest and the most urgent capital needs. A staff presentation included projected metered-rate outcomes under different schedules. Staff summarized the seven‑year option as beginning in the near term at roughly $13.90 per metered account and reaching about $24.42 by the plan’s end; nonmetered customers would rise from about $73.50 to about $129.07 under the same option. Staff emphasized the shorter schedules concentrate increases so the utility can finance necessary upgrades sooner.
On biosolids, staff warned that leaving off a class A upgrade would likely increase long‑term disposal costs. “Sludge disposal is now considered a prevailing wage job,” a staff member said during the discussion, noting prevailing wage requirements and broader labor and disposal cost increases as reasons to consider class A now rather than later. Council members who spoke said including class A could reduce recurring hauling and disposal costs and insulate the city from higher future regulatory or contractor rates.
Council members debated pacing: several favored the five‑ to seven‑year range; some council members said five years would be a heavier short‑term burden on ratepayers, while others said accelerating repayment avoids prolonged higher costs over decades. Ultimately the body asked staff to prepare an ordinance using the seven‑year schedule that includes the class A biosolids upgrade for formal vote at a later meeting.
Next steps: City attorneys and staff will draft an ordinance that reflects the council’s direction and return it for a formal vote. The council’s direction does not yet authorize contract awards or construction; those would require separate actions when the ordinance and funding are adopted.
