Votes at a glance: Middleton council approves fee changes, task order and schedules wastewater hearing

The Middleton City Council on June 18 approved several procedural and administrative measures, including a task order for a sewer impact-fee study, a resolution to add civil engineering fees to the city’s fee schedule, the mayor’s library-board appointment and scheduling of a judicial confirmation hearing for the wastewater treatment plant expansion.

The council first approved an amended agenda and then approved the consent agenda, which included approval of minutes (June 4 and June 12), ratifying payroll through June 13, accounts payable through June 6, and items related to planning and plat filings. The consent agenda was moved, seconded, and approved by voice vote.

The council authorized the mayor to execute a task order with Clearwater Financial to prepare an impact-fee study for the city’s wastewater utility in an amount not to exceed $29,000. City staff described the engagement as a consultant study to review the wastewater impact-fee calculations and provide a report to city standards. The motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

On a public hearing item that had been tabled from June 4, the council approved Resolution 525-25 to add a new civil engineering fee category to the city fee schedule to capture review and consulting costs for commercial, industrial, institutional and multifamily developments. Staff said the change is intended to clarify which fees apply to larger commercial projects and to avoid applying residential fee assumptions to commercial groundwork and site work. The resolution passed by voice vote.

The council approved the mayor’s appointment of Christy Johnson to serve on the Middleton Library Board from July 1, 2025, through Jan. 19, 2027, filling the term of Logan Green. Council members introduced Johnson; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Finally, the council authorized the mayor to schedule a public hearing on July 16, 2025, to move forward with the judicial confirmation process for the wastewater treatment plant expansion. Bond counsel Stephanie Bond will handle public notice for the judicial confirmation process. That motion passed on a roll call with all voting members present voting yes: "Council president Keggert? Yes. Council member O'Mara? Yes. Council member Christiansen? Yes. Council member Marty? Yes." The council’s actions at the meeting were procedural approvals to move projects forward and did not, at this meeting, appropriate additional funds beyond the task order authorization.

Ending: Staff were directed to proceed with the task order, update the fee schedule as adopted in Resolution 525-25, and to publish notice for the July 16 judicial-confirmation hearing; formal project approvals and appropriation decisions will follow standard notice and review steps.