Preston council approves new $9,000 connection fees, raises sewer monthly rate and water overage after public hearing

Preston City Council voted on multiple fee changes Tuesday after a public hearing that drew developers, business owners and dozens of residents concerned about housing affordability and burdens on seniors.

The council set uniform connection fees of $9,000 for both sewer and water, approved a $23-per-month increase to the base monthly sewer charge and raised the water overage fee by $0.25 per 1,000 gallons over the 40,000-gallon allotment. The body tabled formal adoption of Resolution 178 — the written fee schedule — until its January meeting and set an effective date for the rate changes of Feb. 1, 2026.

Mayor Keller, who presented the city’s rationale as the applicant, reminded the council that judicial confirmation and state and federal grants funded more than half of the wastewater plant project. “We have incurred some indebtedness; we are asking for increases in fees,” he said. Treasurer Kelly Mickelson outlined the debt-service need, citing an annual payment on existing financing and a pending DEQ…