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Council approves Willard's share of wastewater plant budget, discusses rate schedule and enforcement
Summary
Willard approved its portion of the Willard–Perry wastewater treatment plant budget and attached contingencies about enforcing BOD limits. Councilors also discussed a proposed structured schedule of water and sewer rate increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026, citing plant debt and operating costs as drivers for higher rates.
The Willard City Council approved the municipality's share of the joint Willard–Perry wastewater treatment plant operating budget at its June 26 meeting and attached contingencies requiring interlocal enforcement of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) limits.
During discussion, staff explained that Willard's relatively high sewer rates stem largely from long-term debt associated with the plant (staff referenced roughly $10 million in outstanding obligations), the plant's technical complexity, higher electricity and chemical costs, and regulatory changes that increased treatment requirements. Staff told the council the city will begin tracking staff labor hours more closely to attribute costs across water, sewer, roads and parks.
Councilors approved the plant budget; the meeting record lists Willard's portion as $252,157. The council attached a contingency that both Willard and Perry must actively enforce BOD limits at the plant, and that enforcement could include pretreatment requirements for businesses that discharge problematic wastes. Staff said fines and pretreatment may be needed for businesses that consistently send fats, oils and grease or other problematic materials to the plant.
Separately, staff presented Resolution 25-13, a proposed multi-year schedule of water and sewer rate increases set to begin Jan. 1, 2026. Council members asked whether water and sewer increases should be aligned or staggered, and whether the public would have adequate notice; staff said a January start was chosen to give residents roughly six months' notice and suggested additional outreach (including an explanatory video) before implementation.
What happens next: staff will post final budget documents, work with Perry on enforcement procedures for BOD and pretreatment, track labor allocation for more precise rate modeling, and return with formal public hearing notices for the rate schedule.
