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Council approves 4.5% water-rate increase and advances pipeline study planning
Summary
Ordinance 15-34 passed to raise water rates by 4.5% (largely a pass-through from Lawrence wholesale increases) and council discussed funding a design study for a multi‑mile pipeline replacement with early study estimates of $400,000–$600,000.
Baldwin City's council voted to approve a 4.5% increase in water rates under Ordinance 15-34, saying the change responds mainly to a roughly 9% wholesale increase from the city of Lawrence. Staff said the net effect would bring the water fund closer to—but still below—the 15% fund-balance target.
"With the 4.5 percent increase, at the end of the year we would end the year out at $328,000," staff said, while the 15% target was described as $402,000. Councilors emphasized that the increase primarily reflects pass-through costs to Baldwin from Lawrence for raw and treated water and noted that the three-year averaging approach for debt-service reduces sudden spikes in customer bills.
The meeting also included a substantive discussion about the city's water pipeline. Staff cited early design estimates of roughly $400,000–$600,000 to study 11–12 miles of pipeline route and explained that completing a study is a prerequisite for any grant application or bonding plan. Council and staff reviewed options to fund design work — including partial grants, temporary borrowing, or pre-bonding — and directed staff to pursue grant opportunities and to provide regular updates on the pipeline planning process.
