Council adopts code change to reflect sewer rate step that took effect Jan. 1, 2025

The City of West Bend Board of Public Works and the Common Council approved an amendment to municipal code section 13.18 to update sewer service charges, incorporating the step 2 rate increase that took effect Jan. 1, 2025.

City staff said the ordinance change is necessary to make the municipal code reflect the rates already approved by the Board of Public Works and the Common Council. "Tonight we bring before you an amendment to section 13.18 of the municipal code specifically relating to sewer service charges for outside haulers and wholesale customers," a staff member said during the Board of Public Works meeting.

The amendment addresses charges for outside haulers and wholesale customers; staff told the board that a separate amendment addressing general utility billing service charges will be brought later once the city has the needed data. The Board of Public Works moved and approved the ordinance amendment, and the Common Council later considered the same ordinance. Council discussion was minimal; aldermen moved and seconded the ordinance and the council approved the change that night.

The change aligns the written municipal code with rate increases the boards previously approved; it does not alter any rate beyond the step 2 increase the council and board already adopted. Staff said the broader municipal-code changes for general utility billing will return to the council after staff complete additional data collection.

The ordinance amendment is recorded in municipal code section 13.18; the council vote carried at the meeting and the code will now list the updated charges described by staff.

Next steps: staff will draft the separate municipal-code amendment for general utility billing service charges and present the data needed to support those changes at a future meeting.