Elk Mound increases sewer rates by 5 percent
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
ELK MOUND — Sewer rates will be increasing in the village of Elk Mound by 5 percent.
Terry Stamm, village president, told the Elk Mound Village Board at the November 18 meeting that he was recommending a sewer rate increase of 3 percent based on conversations with Karin Wolf, village clerk-treasurer.
The sewer rates have increased by 10 percent in each of the last two years, he said.
Water rate increases in the village are determined by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, but the sewer utility is deregulated, which means the village board can approve increases at any time without PSC approval.
Tim Benjamin, village trustee, asked if the sewer utility was currently operating under a deficit.
The wastewater treatment plant is getting older, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources keeps adding more regulations, Stamm said.
While the Village of Colfax’s wastewater treatment operates with a lagoon system and discharges to the Red Cedar River, Elk Mound operates with a mechanical wastewater treatment plant that discharges to a wetland.
Adding more regulations is the DNR’s way of forcing an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant. Not many villages the size of Elk Mound have brand new facilities, said Mark Levra, director of public works.
Past estimates are that building a new wastewater treatment plant could cost between $3 million and $4 million if not more.
Wolf said the clerk-treasurer’s office has received complaints over the past several years about the utility rate increases.
Considering the re-valuation of residential properties in the village, “no one knows what their property taxes will do either,” Stamm said.
Generally speaking, when the equalized value increases, the mill rate for property taxes decreases, but whether an individual property pays more or less in taxes depends on how the individual property value compares to other properties.
The sewer rate increase was 10 percent last year and 10 percent the year before, with an 8 percent increase in the water rate, and a 4.1 percent water rate increase this year, Wolf said.
The village board approved the first sewer rate increase of 10 percent in November of 2022 after approving a rate increase of 27 percent in 2021.
Benjamin said he would prefer to see the sewer rate increased by 5 percent rather than 3 percent.
An increase of 5 percent still keeps the increase under 10 percent, he said.
At the November of 2022 meeting, several village board members pointed out that it would be a two or three year process to bring the sewer rates up enough to support the utility.
The Elk Mound Village Board unanimously approved a 5 percent sewer utility increase.
Voting in favor of the motion were Village President Terry Stamm and Village Trustees Cynthia Abraham, Bob Bachman, Tim Benjamin, Pat Lien and Joyce Price.
Village Trustee Pat Hahn was absent from the meeting.
2025 budget
In additional business, the Elk Mound Village Board approved a preliminary general fund budget of approximately $800,000 for 2025.
The budget has increased by about $25,000 over the 2024 budget, Stamm said.
The village will be receiving increased state shared revenue and increased interest revenue, Wolf said.
The general fund has a balance of about $500,000, Stamm said.
The Elk Mound Village Board unanimously approved a preliminary budget for 2025.
No additional budget numbers were available as of press time.
Sewer and water
The Elk Mound Village Board also approved a preliminary 2025 budget for the village’s sewer and water utilities.
The rental units at Settlers Ridge have resulted in increased sewer and water customers, Stamm said.
The DNR has set a phosphorus limit of .075 milligrams per liter (mg/L), Levra said.
Elk Mound has fewer people to support the sewer utility than the City of Eau Claire, Stamm said.
A water reservoir costs the same in Elk Mound as it does in Eau Claire, but the larger municipalities always seem to get the grants, Levra said, adding that Elk Mound has applied for grants four times and has been denied four times.
The City of Eau Claire treats as much wastewater in one day as the Village of Elk Mound treats in one year, he said, adding that Eau Claire has more customers and can generate more revenue.
Wolf said she could adjust the utility budget by the suggested 5 percent increase and bring it back for consideration in December.
The Elk Mound Village Board unanimously approved the proposed sewer and water utility budgets for 2025 with the 5 percent rate increase.
Other business
In other business, the Elk Mound Village Board:
• Approved tabling until spring the discussion and review of Ordinance 6-4-5 regarding abatement of tree diseases. Police Chief Chad Weinberger said that he and Levra had started with a list of about 30 properties with tree issues in the village, and the list was down to 11 properties. One property owner has died, and the property is going through probate. Family members have been advised not to do anything with the property until probate is finished.
• Tabled discussion and action of amending Ordinance 13-4-42 and 13-1-200(C) regarding Accessory Dwelling Units until village officials can talk to Allen Harvey, the attorney who advises the village on ordinances, about what has and has not worked for other villages.
• Approved resolution 24-4 regarding an increase in the Elk Mound fire district budget.
• Approved an agreement with Dunn County to collect real estate and personal property taxes at a cost of $2.35 per parcel for the Village of Elk Mound. The agreement “is worth every penny,” Wolf commented.
• Approved a three-year assessor maintenance agreement with Bowmar Appraisal.
• Approved changing the December 16 meeting to December 18 at 6:30 p.m.
