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Council opens hearing on water and sewer rate increases; first reading of fee ordinance
Summary
City administration proposed a 12% water and 11% sewer consumption rate increase (about $1/month for a low-usage household); council approved a first reading of Ordinance 638 and asked staff for multiple rate scenarios and impact analyses.
Park Rapids city staff proposed modest increases to water and sewer consumption rates at the Nov. 25 public hearing, and the council approved a first reading of Ordinance 638 to amend the fee schedule while requesting additional scenarios.
Administrator Angel Weasner told the council that a proposed 12% increase in water consumption rates and an 11% increase in sewer rates for 2026 would amount to roughly $1 per month for a typical low-usage residential account (about $12 per year). She said the adjustment is intended to help the water fund break even and better support future capital needs.
Councilmembers sought alternatives. Councilmember Liz Stone asked staff to prepare several scenarios showing the effects of higher and lower percentage increases — including what a larger increase would do to the city’s ability to pay debt and create reserves. Weasner said she would produce multiple scenarios, including dollar-and-cents examples for typical bills, and bring detailed options to the finance committee before the council’s next vote.
The council passed the ordinance’s first reading unanimously and directed staff to return with consumption scenarios, revenue projections and the impact of alternatives such as raising base rates or using enterprise funds to reduce assessments.
Next steps: staff will model additional rate scenarios and present them for committee and council review before a final ordinance adoption vote.
