City updates on well repairs and proposes small water and sewer rate increases for 2025

City public‑works staff briefed the Dayton City Council on water-system maintenance and a proposed modest rate adjustment for 2025.

Staff said a pump at Well 4 has been rebuilt after damage, at an approximate cost of $33,000, and that camera inspection and further assessment of the well cavity are planned. Well 5 currently shows an accumulation of sand at the bottom of the bore; staff described options including pressurizing and bailing material out or scheduling a more extensive well rehabilitation, which could extend into December because drilling contractors’ schedules are constrained.

On system reliability, staff said Well 2 could serve as a short-term backup but the system lacks full redundancy until wells 4 and 5 are fully online. The original backup plan relied on a link with Champlin, but attempts had shown that connection could only supply limited homes during peak irrigation.

On rates, staff recommended a modest 3% increase in water user rates and a 2% increase in sewer user rates for 2025, primarily to keep pace with inflation and higher Met Council wastewater charges. Staff emphasized that the water fund remains generally healthy but that reduced irrigation this year will lower revenues compared with budgeted 2024 figures.

Council discussed timing, depreciation assumptions for long‑term asset replacement and the degree of future increases; no final rate ordinance was adopted at the meeting — staff said any rate schedule will go through the fee-schedule process and local notice procedures.

The council directed staff to continue preparing the 2025 fee schedule and to return with a longer-term plan at a future meeting.