Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
Sewer rates in Clintonville will increase nearly 22 percent over the next two years to help pay for $3.5 million in upgrades at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
The first increase, of about 12 percent, will take effect with the July bills. The second increase, of about 10 percent, will take effect when the improvement project is completed in late 2015 or early 2016. The city last increased sewer rates in 2008.
The Common Council approved the plant upgrades and rate increases April 8.
City Administrator Lisa Kuss said for a family of four using 7,000 gallons per month, with a five-eighths-inch meter, the monthly base rate would increase from $8.50 to $11 in July and to $13.25 when the project is completed. The rates are higher for customers with larger meters.
The volume charge, per 1,000 gallons of water, also will increase, from the current $3.90 to $4.15 in July and to $4.40 upon project completion.
“I don’t like to have an increase — none of us like an increase — but things need to be replaced, and we’re going to have to pay it sooner or later,” Alderman Jerry Jorgenson said.
Alderman Greg Rose said that the proposed increases and resulting rates were not out of line when compared to area communities.
The city is still considering how to finance the project. A 20-year Wisconsin Clean Water Fund loan would be among the options. The current interest rate would be 2.625 percent.
Phil Korth, of Foth, an engineering consulting firm working with city, said the wastewater facility is not facing capacity limitations but improvements are needed. The most recent upgrades were made 25 years ago, he said.
The upgrades are expected to cost about $3,485,000, or about $135 per square foot.
“Your plant is well-maintained, and your operations staff and the city here, you should be proud of them for maintaining and operating it well,” said Korth. “If you don’t do it now, you will do maintenance as things break, but you will start to see higher and higher yearly maintenance costs including emergency repair costs.”