Utilities leaders signed the city up for an out-of-state mutual aid agreement after spring storms exposed how much Two Rivers relies on outside crews when the grid takes a hit. The rest of the meeting was mostly operational updates: sewer, water, and electric systems are moving projects along, but aging tech and storm response are driving new costs and planning.
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
The committee voted to accept MEUW’s out-of-state mutual aid agreement, which sets the rates for billable labor, equipment, and other costs when utilities help each other across state lines. Given how often storms now trigger multi-day restoration work, this is the kind of back-end paperwork that quietly shapes what residents ultimately pay when the city needs help—or sends help.
Electric utility leadership walked through the April 19 storm response, including bringing in mutual aid crews from multiple cities and specialized equipment to replace poles and restore service. The update underscores a basic reality: when damage is widespread, Two Rivers’ restoration speed depends heavily on regional partners and how quickly mutual aid can mobilize.
Wastewater staff reported that the May 17 windstorm caused outages at the treatment plant and 11 lift stations, forcing crews to rotate portable generators and pumps for roughly 23 consecutive hours to prevent overflows. The city avoided major reported problems, but the story here is the workload and risk: one long outage can quickly become a system-wide scramble.
Staff said the wastewater plant’s alert dialer only works on Windows 10, and there’s currently no upgrade path that keeps it compatible with Windows 11 and the city’s existing SCADA setup. The city is now planning a full computer/SCADA upgrade in 2028 and expects to buy Microsoft’s paid extended security updates through 2028 to keep the current system running. This is the kind of “hidden” infrastructure cost residents don’t see—until it shows up in budgets and rates.
The wastewater plant is performing well overall, but the city is still working to keep biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) loadings under its permit limit, with a commercial food processor identified as the main driver. Staff said they continue meeting with the facility and noted the annual report and resolution were headed to City Council so the report can be submitted to WDNR by month’s end. This is a compliance issue with real consequences if progress stalls.
Staff flagged ongoing and potential challenges with disposing of wastewater sludge and reviewed the rules and practical hurdles for land-applying sludge on farm fields. No decision was recorded here, but it’s a pressure point worth watching because disposal options and regulations can drive major cost increases quickly.
After the city’s recycling grant report was accepted, staff said Two Rivers was awarded about $83,000 in recycling grant funds and then got a WDNR reminder to update local recycling rules to match recent state-law changes—especially for multifamily buildings with four or more units. Staff plans to draft minor language revisions and send them to WDNR for review before bringing amendments back to the committee and council. This is a compliance cleanup now, but it can affect what landlords and tenants are required to do later.
The electric utility director said WPPI wants to present to the full City Council about extending its long-term agreement with the city, with council discussion expected afterward. No terms were discussed in these minutes, but this is a big-deal relationship for how Two Rivers buys and plans for power—residents should watch for what changes (if any) are proposed and what it means for long-term costs and reliability.
