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Council approves Willard–Perry wastewater budget; debate continues over staffing, pretreatment and rates
Summary
Willard City Council approved the city’s portion of the Willard–Perry wastewater treatment plant budget on June 26, 2025, after weeks of discussion about plant staffing, regulatory costs and the need for pretreatment enforcement for some businesses.
Willard City Council voted June 26 to approve the city’s share of the Willard–Perry wastewater treatment plant budget for the coming year and discussed related rate decisions.
City staff and council members said the treatment plant’s operating costs and debt service remain the primary drivers of sewer rates. Council discussed that the plant is technically complex and needs more staffing than older plants — citing recent operations staff turnover following the retirement of a long-time plant operator. Staff reported an ongoing hiring effort to replace the manager and add technicians.
Council members and staff said the plant’s long-term debt — discussed in the meeting as remaining in the millions — constrains rate relief until bonds are paid down. Staff said the plant’s operating costs also rose due to regulatory changes requiring additional treatment chemicals and higher electricity bills.
Council also discussed enforcement of pretreatment limits (BODs) and the prospect of requiring pre-treatment for some businesses whose discharges plug or stress the system. The plant manager candidates mentioned enforcement and suggested that both cities (Willard and Perry) would need to coordinate to levy fines and require pretreatment where necessary.
On a separate but related topic, council reviewed a proposed structured schedule of water and sewer rate increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Council discussed the timing (January vs. October) and agreed to return the resolution for public hearing and final action; the stated intent was to give customers enough lead time for budget planning while avoiding peak season implementation issues. Staff said tracking of labor and expense allocation across services would improve in the coming year and could shift some cost burdens between water and sewer.
The council approved the wastewater budget by voice vote and directed staff to pursue the specified enforcement and operational changes. Staff also said they will continue hiring and report back on staffing and any pretreatment programs.
