Council approves design contract and first-reading sewer rate increase for wastewater upgrade

The New London Common Council voted to approve a professional services agreement for preliminary design work on a planned wastewater treatment plant upgrade and took first-reading action on a sewer-rate increase tied to that project.

Director Garski presented the sewer-rate proposal and the professional services contract to the city’s public works committee and to the full council. In committee, members heard that the proposed sewer-rate change would raise the fixed-meter charge by $16.90 per month while leaving volume charges unchanged. Committee members were told sewer rates have not changed since February 2023 and that a broader rate study will follow to guide future adjustments.

At the council meeting, Mr. Hess moved to consider the ordinance to change the sewer-usage rates (first reading); Mr. Herder seconded. The first reading carried 9-1. The council separately approved a professional services agreement with Donahue and Associates, Inc. for the preliminary design, funding and bidding phase of the wastewater improvement project; the motion (moved by Mr. Hess and seconded by Mr. Dorsey) carried 10-0. Councilors were told the preliminary design will narrow costs and provide the information needed to choose a path forward.

The public works committee also recommended approval of the 2026 public works fee schedule, which includes new yard-waste noncompliance fees and other right-of-way and permit fees. That fee schedule was recommended to council and approved by the council (vote 10-0). Committees noted that yard-waste placed in the street during noncollection times will trigger a door-hanger notice and a five-day removal window before pickup or enforcement fees apply.

Separately, the public works committee discussed persistent standing water on the 1100 block of West North Water Street. Staff reported that underground utilities and elevation changes make installing culverts impracticable and that urbanizing the section with curb and gutter is the only viable option to reduce standing water. The committee directed staff to research that option further; no motion or funding decision was made on that item.

Councilors and staff said a more comprehensive rate study is expected in the coming months to examine long-term rate structure and impacts. The professional services contract for preliminary design is intended to produce engineering options and cost estimates that will inform that study and later council decisions.