Willard council tables multi‑year water/sewer rate plan; adopts garbage can replacement fee and planning commission stipend

The Willard City Council on July 10 postponed a proposed multi‑year increase in water and sewer base rates and approved two other utility‑related measures during a public hearing that drew several residents.

Councilmembers voted to table Resolution 25‑13, the ordinance implementing a staged increase in water and sewer base rates, and asked staff to return in August with alternative options and clearer breakdowns of debt, labor and depreciation impacts. The council approved two other measures that were on the agenda: Resolution 25‑14, a change to the city’s charge for replacement garbage cans, and Resolution 25‑12, which authorizes a $25 per‑meeting stipend for planning and zoning commission members.

Why it matters: The proposed multi‑year water and sewer adjustments would change monthly household utility costs and were the most contested item of the evening. Council members and residents asked for more detail on how the city’s debt service, depreciation budgeting, labor costs and impact‑fee policy feed into the proposed increases. Council direction to delay the vote gives staff time to assemble clearer comparisons with nearby cities and to present alternatives for council consideration.

Discussion and public comment: During the public hearing on rates, several residents spoke. One resident said the increase “should have been done a couple of years ago” but several council members asked for more analysis before voting. Councilmember Jordan said he would oppose the measure as presented: “I will have to vote no on it because I don't feel comfortable without the information about those things.” Jordan pressed for a written comparison of Willard’s water and sewer charges against similarly sized nearby towns and for a set of alternative approaches showing tradeoffs (for example whether to use impact fees to reduce debt service or to adjust depreciation assumptions).

Council action: The council moved and seconded motions on the three resolutions during the same series of public hearings. Resolution 25‑12 (planning commission compensation) passed on a roll‑call vote. After extended debate, councilmembers voted to table Resolution 25‑13 (water and sewer rate schedule) so staff could prepare alternatives and a public newsletter explanation; the tabling motion was made by Councilmember Jordan and seconded by Councilmember Mike and carried unanimously. Resolution 25‑14 (garbage can replacement fee) was presented after discussion about can quality and replacement procedures; the council voted to adopt it. Staff explained the city recently purchased heavier‑duty cans (reported unit cost approximately $133 each) and that the new policy shifts replacement‑cost handling away from an indefinite city subsidy.

What the council asked staff to provide: Councilmembers asked for a succinct packet by mid‑July so residents could see the breakdown in the newsletter before the August meeting. Requested items included: (1) a simple three‑option memo showing fiscal and service tradeoffs (low‑cost/minimal depreciation, middle path with steady depreciation, and an approach that uses impact fees for debt reduction); (2) a per‑household cost table showing how each alternative would affect bills; and (3) a clear accounting of the sewer plant debt schedule, balloon payments and anticipated labor costs.

Next steps and timing: The tabling motion set an expectation that staff will return with the requested analysis so the council can vote in August. The garbage can fee resolution took effect per the adopted language; staff said details on how the replacement charge will be applied to customers will be posted to the city website and included in billing guidance.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25‑12 — Authorize $25 per meeting for planning and zoning commission members. Motion: approve; Mover: Mike; Second: Rod. Roll call: Jake: Yes; Rod: Yes; Mike: Yes; Rex: Yes; Jordan: Yes. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 25‑13 — Implement multi‑year water and sewer rate schedule. Motion: adopt (initial motion). Formal motion to table: Jordan (mover), Mike (second). Vote to table: carried (tabled to August for further analysis). Outcome: tabled to August. - Resolution 25‑14 — Implement adjustment to garbage service replacement charge (replacement‑can fee). Motion: adopt; Mover: Rod; Second: Jordan. Roll call: Jake: Yes; Rod: Yes; Mike: Yes; Rex: Yes; Jordan: Yes. Outcome: approved.

Context: Council members repeatedly cited the sewer plant’s financing, required permit‑driven operating conditions and rising labor costs (including difficulty recruiting qualified operators) as drivers of higher sewer costs. Staff and council referred to nearby municipalities for rough comparisons but said differences in infrastructure, commercial rate bases and secondary‑water systems make direct comparisons imperfect. The council directed staff to surface the clearest, comparable metrics in the August packet.

Ending: Staff will prepare the requested materials for publication in the city newsletter ahead of the August meeting and return the rate question to the council then for a vote.