Utility Minutes 09.24.2025

Cassie Lang Village Clerk / Deputy Treasurer VILLAGE OF MARATHON CITY, MARATHON COUNTY, WISCONSIN UTILITY COMMISSION MEETING – HYBRID VILLAGE HALL – BOARD ROOM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. MINUTES _____________________________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER at 4:02 pm UTILITY ROLL CALL: A. BERENS-Present, B. BOHR-Present, M. TELFORD-Absent, D. SEILER-Present, K. HANDRICK JR.-Present 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. RECOGNITION OF VISITORS a. Virtual Meeting Guidelines i. This meeting will be recorded and available upon request b. Public Participation at Government Meetings No public in attendance. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS a. Discuss and Possible Action on Approval of Minutes for August 27, 2025 Utility Commission Meeting MOTION – Approve Minutes from August 27, 2025 Utility Commission Meeting Motion made by Handrick second by Bohr. Motion passed by voice vote. 5. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILLS The Utility questioned the following bill payments: Check 48973 – Land Clearing Services – hydrant replacement on 1 st St MOTION – Approve Payment of Bills Motion made by Bohr second by Handrick. Motion passed by voice vote. 6. PUBLIC UTILITY OPERATIONS & FACILITIES REPORT Director of Public Works, Ken Bloom, presented the Commission with a Facilities Report for September. The report can be found in the Agenda Packet. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Discuss Draft 2026 Utility Budget Administrator Cherek handed out a Draft Utility Budget to the Commission and began discussion showing a downward trend in consumption over the past 2 years. Cherek supplied 2 different Wastewater Budgets based on proposed sewer rates for 2026. With no change to sewer rates the proposed Wastewater Budget shows a deficit of $89,665. The Proposed Wastewater Budget for 2026 with a 5% sewer rate increase shows a deficit of $52,498. Cassie Lang Village Clerk / Deputy Treasurer The Commission and Cherek discussed the Cure-In-Place-Piping project approved with the Capital Improvement Plan. A rate increase of approximately 8% is needed to cover costs of project. Cherek noted the Utility has not increased sewer rates to account for inflation. He believes a 16% increase (8% for CIPP and 8% for inflation) over 3 years would get the Wastewater Budget closer to the positive, along with checking consumption numbers to see if they trend back to normal levels. After discussion the Commission guided Cherek to present them with a 2026 Proposed Utility Budget reflecting a 5.5% increase to Wastewater Rates and using the Utility Fund Balance to cover the deficit amount. Cherek will draft a resolution for 5.5% Wastewater rate increase for the next 2 years and have the Commission review revenue/consumption values in 2027 to determine the amount to increase rates for 2028. The Resolution and Utility Budget will be presented for approval at the October 29 th meeting. 9. SCHEDULED MEETINGS a. Regular Meeting: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 – 4:00 p.m. b. Special Meetings as Needed 10. ADJOURNMENT at 6:10 pm Motion made by Bohr second by Handrick. Motion passed by voice vote.