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Council adopts fee schedule; water rates to rise as city prepares new wells and treatment plant
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance No. 503 (2026 fee schedule) including water-rate changes tied to new wells and the planned Woodland Cove treatment plant; officials said increases were minimized but necessary and monthly billing is planned by July 2026.
Minnetrista — The Minnetrista City Council voted unanimously Dec. 8 to adopt Ordinance No. 503, the 2026 fee schedule, after Finance Director Brian Grim said the most significant changes in the schedule are water-rate adjustments driven by completion of two new wells and the planned Woodland Cove water treatment plant.
Grim described the water-rate adjustments as the primary driver of changes in the fee schedule, and told the council staff had worked to minimize increases. He also said the city plans to move water customers to monthly billing no later than July 2026 to help residents budget for higher bills.
Mayor Lisa Whan and council members opened a public hearing on the fee schedule; no members of the public spoke. The council then adopted Ordinance No. 503 and approved publication of the ordinance by title and summary only. Both votes were recorded as 5–0.
During the discussion, council members and staff emphasized that the city controls only its portion of property taxes and that water-rate increases reflect the cost of delivering safe drinking water and the added capital and operating expense of new wells and a treatment plant. The council directed staff to publish the ordinance and to continue public outreach about the rate changes and the upcoming switch to monthly billing.
