Briarwood board announces utilities and dues increases, cites need for water and sewer upgrades

Brandon Buehler, chair of the Briarwood Action Association board, told attendees at a special meeting April 6 that utilities will increase to $130 per month beginning July 1, 2025, and that annual dues will rise in 2026 to $500 for buildable lots and $350 for patio lots. He framed the changes as necessary responses to rising costs and to prepare the subdivision’s water and sewer systems for future demand.

The board said state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guidance counts about 3.7 people per household, and used that figure to estimate future needs. Board members said the subdivision will eventually need enough water storage to sustain more than 500 people for at least 24 hours in the event of a power outage. The meeting record noted that the existing 5,000 capacity tank will not be able to meet that need (the transcript did not specify units for the “5,000” figure cited).

Board members also cited DNR guidance that systems with more than 50 sewer connections require additional tanks; the board said the subdivision currently lacks those extra tanks and that expanding water service would in turn require sewer upgrades. The board discussed the regulatory threshold as the primary trigger that would require capital investment in the sewer system.

The board reported that a representative from Utiliworx reviewed the community’s current systems and advised homeowners on steps to reduce strain on the sewer processing plant. According to the meeting account, Adam from Utiliworx told residents to ensure grinder/sewer lids are secure and above ground level and to avoid routing sump pumps into floor drains, which can introduce excess stormwater into the system.

Buehler compared the new utility charge to neighboring subdivisions to provide context: Lake Forrest currently pays $130 for water, sewer and trash; Wawwanoka pays $110 for sewer and trash (not including water); and Raintree pays $180 for water and sewer, according to the meeting record.

The board said planning for storage and sewer upgrades will be part of preparing Briarwood for broader use of its water and sewer systems, but no formal vote on capital projects or bonds was recorded at the meeting. Next steps discussed included further planning with consultants and homeowner outreach about short-term plumbing measures to reduce overload risk.