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Gaylord council adopts tiered water rates and amends fee schedule
Summary
The council approved changes to the city's fee schedule, including a 3% water rate increase and a new four-tier water-rate structure, sewer and storm sewer increases, and an increase in the fee to access police body-camera footage.
The Gaylord City Council approved amendments to the city’s fee schedule that raise utility rates and implement a new tiered water-rate structure.
City staff said the council consented to a 3% increase in water rates, a 5% increase in sewer rates and a 5.5% increase in storm-sewer rates. Staff described a new four-tier water-rate system that bills customers at progressively higher per-thousand-gallon rates as usage increases. The staff presentation included sample bands and per-thousand rates for each tier.
Council members discussed potential impacts to large water users (including Michael Foods), and staff noted that billing timing means the new rates would appear on February bills for December usage. Staff also recommended increasing the fee to obtain body-worn camera footage from $35 to $50 to reasonably reflect staff time involved in processing requests.
After discussion, the council moved, seconded and approved the fee schedule amendments (Resolution 2026-04) by voice vote. Staff said the fee and tiered rates will be incorporated into utility billing following administrative implementation steps.
