Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Council adopts water and sewer rate changes; approves appointments and recycling grant
Loading...
Summary
At the April 6 council meeting the City of Washington unanimously approved a second-reading ordinance to amend water and sewer rates, confirmed appointments to the Liquor Control Commission, accepted a $28,000 county recycling grant, and approved the consent agenda; the FY2026–27 budget was introduced as a first reading.
The Washington City Council on April 6 unanimously adopted a second-reading ordinance updating water and sewer rates and approved several additional routine items including commission appointments and a county recycling grant.
City Administrator Fagan Shue presented the water and sewer ordinance as a second-reading adoption that amends section 54-134a of the city code. Council members praised staff for balancing revenue needs with minimizing impacts on residents; Alderman Moss called the ordinance "a true effort by the council and the city to reduce the impact of increased revenue on residents." The motion to adopt carried with unanimous approval.
On the consent agenda, the council approved the March 16 meeting minutes and a final construction payment related to police evidence storage. The council also approved appointments to the Liquor Control Commission (three-year terms for Dennis Carr and Brett Adams) and accepted a Tazewell County recycling grant of $28,000 that supports local recycling and related programs. Motions to approve those items passed unanimously.
In other business, the city introduced (first reading) the FY2026–27 tentative budget of $30,500,426 and an ordinance authorizing use of annual volume cap for the Assist 2026 First-Time Homebuyer Program (volume cap cited as $2,140,695 for 2026). Both items were presented for first reading; public hearings and later votes were noted as the next procedural steps.
Why it matters: The water and sewer-rate ordinance affects utility billing and the city’s ability to participate in programs that require enterprise fund revenue; the budget introduction sets the fiscal framework for the coming year. The recycling grant provides a modest, restricted revenue stream for program support.
What happens next: The FY2026–27 tentative budget is scheduled for a public hearing at the Committee of the Whole on April 13, 2026; final adoption will occur at a future council meeting. Additional details and rate schedules will be available in ordinance documents and upcoming staff reports.
