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Lucas City Council adopts five‑year water and wastewater rate structure; approves consent agenda
Summary
After a public hearing, the Lucas City Council unanimously approved a five‑year, tiered water and wastewater rate schedule set to run March 1, 2026–Sept. 30, 2030, and approved consent‑agenda items including an order for the May 2 election and a $56,663.25 vehicle purchase.
The Lucas City Council voted unanimously to adopt a five‑year, tiered water and wastewater rate schedule after a public hearing Tuesday evening.
Finance Director Liz Exum told the council that Raftalis completed the water and wastewater study and financial plan, which the council approved on Dec. 18, 2025, and that the ordinance before the council would satisfy the Home Rule Charter requirement prior to adopting rate changes. She said the adopted schedule applies for five years and the study models a 6% escalation in rates per year.
Council members asked whether the ordinance adopts the entire five‑year schedule or just the next year; Exum said the ordinance adopts the five‑year structure and that staff will monitor actual usage as new meters come online and report back annually to compare projections to reality. A council member requested that the city track actual usage against the study’s projections during the annual budget review.
After the hearing — which drew no public speakers — a council member moved to adopt the ordinance amending Appendix C (fee schedule) to adjust water and wastewater rates for the five‑year period beginning March 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2030; the motion was seconded and the council approved the ordinance unanimously. The motion referenced the ordinance number as stated in the record (transcript text: 2 0 2 6 0 2 0 1 0 3 9). Mayor Kirkendall was not present.
Votes at a glance: the council approved the consent agenda without objection earlier in the meeting; that package included approval of Jan. 15, 2026 meeting minutes, an ordinance ordering a general election for May 2, 2026 (to elect seats Nos. 1 and 2) listed in the record as Ordinance No. 2026-02-01038, and authorization to purchase a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV for $56,663.25 to be funded from account 11-6999-326.
The council also unanimously approved a nomination to recognize retired Fire Chief Ted Stevens with the 2026 Service Tree award and to plant the memorial tree at the fire station.
The ordinance adopting the five‑year rate structure takes effect per the dates stated in the approved ordinance; staff said they will continue to provide annual updates and to use the new rate model as a planning tool.
