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Council sends proposed wastewater rate increase back for revision after split vote
Summary
After hearing a multi-year rate study and staff warnings about failing equipment, councilors split on a proposed wastewater rate plan; the mayor voted no and the third-reading ordinance failed, returning the item to council for further work.
During the March 3 meeting, council considered Ordinance 2603 (revising wastewater/wastewater utility rates) and received a detailed presentation from Bob summarizing a rate study that shows decades of erosion relative to inflation and projected capital needs. Bob said cumulative shortfalls over the last 25 years required substantial increases to keep pace with expected repair and replacement schedules.
Utilities staff described urgent plant problems: stainless steel pipes that have fallen into a 30-foot digester, broken clarifier valves, and lift-station needs that have reduced capacity and increased short-term maintenance costs. One councilor summarized the plant work now estimated in the high hundreds of thousands, saying the headworks and related projects could raise five-year repair projections by several hundred thousand dollars.
Council debated a number of options — including a large one-time increase (described in discussion as roughly 37%) versus staged annual increases and targeted assistance for low-volume users. After a motion by Mr. McCoy and a second by Mr. Payne, roll call produced both yes and no votes; the mayor stated he would vote no, and the measure failed on the third reading and will return to council for further revision.
Council members said the village needs to balance fairness for vulnerable residents with the long-term need to keep the system operable. Utilities staff warned that delaying capital work will push greater cost onto future councils and increase the risk of service interruptions.
