Council approves Perry-Willard wastewater budget amid questions over equipment costs and rate projections

Council discussed and approved the Perry-Willard wastewater treatment plant budget June 25 but pressed staff for clarity on some line items and on a projected rate increase.

Sewer representatives described needed equipment and supplies: IFAS repair parts, gearbox/gear-oil maintenance and step-screen work to reduce recurring maintenance costs. One presenter noted the gearboxes had not had regular oil changes in many years and that proactive maintenance would avoid premature wear. Staff tallied equipment and supply additions (examples cited in the discussion included roughly $17,331 for equipment and about $7,000 for supplies for FY 2027 in the packet discussion), and the council debated whether the proposed amendment applied to FY25-26 or set rates for FY27.

Members expressed concern that a per-unit rate referenced in documents varied across pages (figures cited in the discussion included $2.75, $2.81, $2.91 and $2.99), and asked staff to reconcile those numbers with the cityestimates passed earlier. After discussion the council approved the wastewater facility budget but asked that sewer staff and the city accounting team coordinate to reconcile the reported figures and return with clear documentation.

The council also discussed renaming the facility to the Perry-Willard Regional Water Reclamation Facility, a change staff said would require asking the state to update permits but would not be materially expensive.