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Council holds first readings to average sewer billing and raise water/sewer connection fees
Summary
On first reading, council members advanced ordinances to switch sewer charges from actual monthly usage to an averaged billing (to reduce sprinkler-driven spikes) and to raise water and sewer connection fees (proposed residential and commercial increases); these were discussion-level first readings, not final adoptions.
The council held first readings of three ordinances aimed at updating how utility customers are billed and how much new connections cost.
At first reading, Ordinance 2024-05 would change sewer billing from a charge based on actual monthly usage to an averaged billing approach, a change members said is intended to reduce seasonal spikes caused by sprinkler systems. Separately, Ordinance 2024-06 would raise water connection fees and Ordinance 2024-07 would increase sewer connection fees; members discussed proposals to increase residential connection fees from $500 to $600 and commercial fees from $600 to $1,000 for both water and sewer connections as the town seeks to better align fees with the cost of installing service saddles and related materials.
Council members and staff emphasized the intent is to bring connection fees closer to the actual cost of performing new connections. No final votes on these ordinances were recorded at the meeting; these were read on first consideration and will come back for subsequent readings and potential adoption.
Staff said they will continue to refine rate and fee recommendations and return with calculations for the council’s consideration.
