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Council delays sewer-rate decision as staff prepares scenarios; residents press for action
Summary
Mark Landmore, a member of the public, urged the Alexander City Council on June 2 to follow through on a sewer-rate plan the council approved previously and said the utility "is getting worse and worse financially."
Mark Landmore, a member of the public, urged the Alexander City Council on June 2 to follow through on a sewer-rate plan the council approved previously and said the utility "is getting worse and worse financially." "I think it's time y'all got up and make a decision," Landmore told the council.
Councilors and staff described a multi-scenario review of the sewer fund that, so far, has not produced a clear short-term fix. Councilors said they have asked Lynn and his team (city staff) to assemble multiple scenarios, including ones that factor in new customers such as Willow Point and higher-than-expected revenue from Wind Creek. One councilor summarized the situation: the Willow Point revenue "will not be realized probably to sometime in '27," and therefore it "did not apply to solutions currently."
Councilors said several scenarios presented to the council did not include all data; staff noted that only one scenario contained complete numbers. The packet discussed a five-year plan that included proposed 7% increases in 2025 and 2026; councilors said even with those increases and projected new customers, many scenarios still did not cover system costs. A council member said the utilities department was preparing additional scenarios and that the matter could be addressed at the next work session.
Councilors emphasized the need to balance rate increases against impacts on residents. "If your sewer bill is 200 and your electric is 60, something's wrong," one councilor said to illustrate apparent rate pressure. Staff described operational items underway to address water-quality and treatment issues, including installation of an additional chemical injection at the Adams plant and training work on pipe welding and fusion needed to tie new developments into the system.
No vote was taken to rescind or adopt rates at the June 2 meeting. Councilors repeatedly said they were waiting for staff to present full, comparable scenarios so the council could make an informed decision at a future meeting.
