Willard discusses amended 2024 budget, adopts sewer inflow/infiltration ordinance and reviews building-code and fee proposals

The Willard Board of Aldermen on June 10 adopted an ordinance to add a new section to Title 7 (Utilities) establishing inflow and infiltration regulations for the city sewer system. Staff explained the change is required under the city's contract with Springfield for wastewater treatment and will help Public Works identify and abate sources such as roof drains, sump pumps and leaking service connections. "This addresses that policy that we will try to abate and amend any infiltration and inflow that we have on the system," staff said during the presentation.

Speaker 9 moved to adopt the ordinance adding the inflow and infiltration section; Speaker 10 seconded. A roll-call vote followed and aldermen recorded 'yes' votes (including Aldermen Smith, Villier, King, Lancaster and Splatov), approving the ordinance.

Separately, staff presented a first reading to update the city’s building-code adoption to the 2018 International Building Codes (replacing 2012 codes) with local exceptions, including a pad-elevation requirement for new construction and retention of the 2012 energy code for now. Staff warned that adopting the newest codes without fee adjustments could sharply increase permit fees; they proposed a permit-fee modifier and several one-time fees (a parks fee and a police facility fee per new residence) to distribute costs tied to growth. The board took no final vote on code adoption that evening and scheduled further review.

Finance staff presented an amended 2024 budget that showed increases in revenues (driven largely by building permits) and corresponding increases in expenditures and transfers. Notable items included a proposed $245,000 transfer to parks tied to project timing and grant receipts, additional capital for a public-works building and playground costs (the net cost to Willard estimated at about $16,080). Staff and councilors debated timing for grants, election-related expenses, and how capacity fees (a Cochran Engineering study) would be incorporated. Staff proposed capacity-fee adjustments initially suggested by the consultant but modified locally (for example, a proposed water capacity fee incorporated into the per-home building permit rather than a per-acre charge). Council requested documentation and additional time to review the proposed amendments before final adoption; members agreed to collect questions and return with more detail.

Next steps: the inflow/infiltration ordinance has been adopted and will be codified; staff will return the building-code, fee changes and amended budget with supplemental materials and a schedule for possible second readings and votes.