Wittenberg board deliberates about sewer rates

The Wittenberg Village Board got an update on the sewer rates in the village by fellow board member Barb Buchholz during the biweekly board meeting on July 6.

“We need to increase our sewer rates,” Buchholz said. “Our sewer rates have not increased in 16 years.”

She said work that needs to be done on sewers has been put off due to the expense of the maintenance.

“It just gets worse and worse and worse,” she said. “Everyone around us, meaning Bowler, Birnamwood, Tigerton and Clintonville have sewer rates that are a lot more than ours.”

Buchholz attributed the difference in sewer rates to the village having a lower population and being a small community.

“You have to divide the rates among that few of people,” she said. “It is not like we are a big city. It is not like we have 10,000 people living here. The problem is, is that the expense of running the sewer system is divided only among those people.”

Buchholz suggested that the board discuss and deliberate about an increase.

“We really have to think about increasing the rates, and we really need to think about doing it on a regular basis,” said Buchholz.

The current sewer rate in Wittenberg is $6 per every 1,000 gallons.

Trustee David Timm asked if businesses and residential rates were the same.

“Everyone pays the same rate,” said Village Clerk Traci Matsche.

Timm added that in regards to water, there is a discount based on the size of the water main that is being used.

“If a heavy-duty business or industry was using more water, they would get a discount,” said Wittenberg Sewer and Water Superintendent Joel Yaeger. “We only have one industry in this village, and they pay industrial rates.”

Timm said he noticed that Yaeger and other village employees have had their hands full with work on the lift stations around the village.

“We have eight lift stations,” Yaeger said. “The thing is, like Barb was explaining, is that things are just wearing out. We design a plan for 20 years, and we are at 16 right now.”

Matsche added that Yaeger had told her that this year alone, the village has spent over $23,000 to keep up with maintenance.

Yaeger gave an example on the maintenance of a lift station that needs to be done.

“This month, two blowers went out,” Yaeger said. “Those are the heartbeat of the plant. Brand new, those are 12 grand apiece. So one we are getting one new and one we are getting rebuilt. The generator also went down and that is about a $10,000 bill.”

Board President Bill Switalla said the village holds a separate account to use for wear and tear on lift stations and other sewer and water mechanics.

“We never used to touch that until like seven or eight years ago,” said Yaeger. “That is what is helping us out right now.”

Timm asked for Yaeger’s recommendation on a timeline of replacing lift stations.

“That one was just kind of a flukey situation,” said Yaeger. “It was the oldest in town. We have one more that I want to get rebuilt. All of the other ones are pretty new.”

Buchholz finished the conversation by saying that other bills go up and with the sewer rate not going up it is a strain on the system.

“It is just a matter of time before the DNR tells us to do it,” said Yaeger.

“Right, so do we wait until that point when the DNR tells us?” asked Buchholz.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com