Preston council enacts initial sewer-rate increase, advances sewer-code changes and infrastructure work

The Preston City Council held a public hearing on proposed increases to the city’s sewer rates and, after public comment and council discussion, approved Resolution 174 to enact the first round of increases, voting that the new schedule will go into effect May 1.

The council heard a presentation from Treasurer Kelly Mickelson, who said the city’s new wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion and that the project’s financing includes a mix of grants and loans. Mickelson told the council the total project cost is “around 69,000,000” and that the city’s borrowings total about $32,000,268; most of that borrowing carries a 1.75% rate, with a portion at 2.75%, and the loans were described in the meeting as fixed for 40 years. Mickelson also told the council the rates approved at the meeting “will not be the final rate” and that additional increases could be needed later when the budget is set.

A resident, identified in a pair of letters read into the record as from Mr. Koren, urged the council to shorten the loan amortization and cited higher long‑term interest costs under a longer payback; his letters asked the council to consider shorter payback terms or more detailed line‑item accounting of operating and maintenance costs. The council discussed those options; some members said a shorter term would increase immediate monthly bills and could “overburden our citizens,” while others said the council should revisit targeted assistance for low‑income households and consider a rate study for large commercial users.

Council members who spoke during deliberations framed the approved action as an initial, incremental step. Councilman Todd Thomas said the motion to adopt the published schedule was a measured approach: “we're only eating half the sandwich at once instead of trying to choke the whole thing…