Willard board approves 2024 budget amendment, advances building-code and developer fee ordinances

The Willard Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance amending the 2024 budget on June 24 and advanced multiple first readings that would update building codes and establish new developer and capacity fees.

Budget amendment: Finance staff told the board the net change across funds is $1,064,000, with increases in the general fund ($469,000), parks ($333,000), water and sewer and parts allocations noted in staff reports. Staff cited higher salary costs tied to new hires (including a full‑time city administrator) and inflationary increases in services and supplies. Board members asked for a clearer method to identify items that exceed previously authorized amounts; staff agreed to produce a simple spreadsheet showing overages and reasons. After discussion, the board approved the ordinance amending the 2024 budget on a roll‑call vote.

Building code and fee package: Staff presented a package of development‑related ordinances during the meeting's first readings. The proposals included:

- Adopting the International Code Council 2018 building code (with the city retaining the 2012 energy code for now) and adopting the 2017 National Electrical Code with local supplements.

- Adding a Commercial Construction section to the Willard Code to establish new connection fees for water services (staff cited draft fees such as $650 for a 3/4" meter and $750 for a 1" meter and proposed high‑flow/low‑flow meters for larger commercial services to improve billing accuracy).

- Implementing facility and capacity fees informed by a capacity study. Staff said the water capacity recommendation was about $2,000 per home from the consultant; they proposed shifting part of that cost to the building‑permit side (e.g., $800 of the $2,000 water capacity fee per home on the permit) and a developer/acre fee for street impacts. Staff presented three fee options (A, B and C) with differing multiplier and trade percentages; the board agreed to move the ordinance forward on first reading and to select among the fee options at the second reading.

Staff emphasized the proposals were intended to better align fees with the city’s actual inspection and infrastructure costs and to provide clearer up‑front cost information for developers. The building code adoption and the commercial construction/fee ordinances passed their first readings and will return for the second reading with specific fee options to be selected then.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance to amend the 2024 budget: Approved (roll call). - First reading — adopt ICC 2018 building code and 2017 NEC: First reading approved. - First reading — commercial construction connection fee ordinance: First reading approved. - First reading — facility and capacity fee and fee schedule (section 500): First reading approved; option selection deferred to second reading.

Next steps: The board said staff will provide more transparent budget overage reporting and will bring a recommendation on which fee option to adopt at the second reading of the fee ordinance.