The City Commission voted to adopt changes to water and wastewater rates that staff said are needed to support an approximately $1 billion capital improvement program over the next six years. Director Baker presented rate recommendations and said the typical customer should expect an incremental increase of about $5 per month once both drinking water and wastewater increases take effect.

Baker outlined program priorities funded by the rates: lead pipe replacement, cast‑iron pipe replacement, drinking‑water treatment and reliability improvements, odor and resiliency investments for wastewater, and a planned biosolids project. He said the utility enterprise has no tax base and relies on rate revenue; the increase is intended to sustain services and capital work while staff pursues grant funding.

Baker told the commission the utility had helped 582 families with direct bill assistance and 66 families with interior plumbing repairs in the last year — more than $400,000 in direct assistance — and that the assistance program will continue in 2026 and 2027. He also noted the utility brought in roughly $43.5 million in state and federal infrastructure grants recently.

Commissioners acknowledged the difficulty of rate increases and discussed outreach and leak‑investigation processes for customers reporting unexpectedly high bills. Director Baker reminded residents to call 311 or the county assistance number for support and said the city has leak policies and an assistance referral process through the Community Action Agency.

After further discussion, motions to adopt the wastewater resolution and to adopt amendments to the drinking‑water ordinance were moved, seconded and approved by roll call.