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St. Paul council approves new water and sewer rates, effective Jan. 1, 2026
Summary
The council voted 3-0 to adopt water and sewer rate changes recommended by the Nebraska Rural Water Association: a three-year structure for water and an annually reviewed sewer rate applied for three years, with the ordinance scheduled for Nov. 3 and rates effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Randy Hellbusch of the Nebraska Rural Water Association presented the results of a water and sewer rate study to the St. Paul City Council on Oct. 20.
Council member Jerry Woodgate moved to amend the city’s water and sewer rates according to the association’s recommendations and to adopt the ordinance on Nov. 3, 2025. The motion, seconded by Council member Katie Kowalski, passed unanimously (Kowalski, Peters and Woodgate voting aye).
Under the approved plan, the city will move to a three-year rate structure for water and a one-year sewer rate structure applied for three consecutive years. The council set Jan. 1, 2026, as the effective date for the new rates. The council did not vote on the ordinance text at this meeting; staff will bring the ordinance for formal adoption at the Nov. 3 meeting as directed by the council.
The presentation and motion were carried with the participation of council members and a consultant from the Nebraska Rural Water Association; the transcript records no dissenting votes. The council did not specify the exact percentage increases in the meeting minutes; those details are expected in the ordinance and supporting materials to be published with the Nov. 3 agenda.
