wastewater utility

Committees recommended approval of the full slate of 2026 utility budgets.

Staff proposed no rate changes for water or electric in the 2026 utility budgets, while noting operating losses in storm water, solid waste, electric, and telecommunications, and projecting a water cash decline after debt payments.

The 2026 utility budgets included staffing and pay changes, including new wastewater positions tied to state requirements and electric wage adjustments.

The 2026 utility budgets included maintenance and capital items such as leak detection equipment, a bucket truck delivery, meters, and security cameras.

A meeting agenda included an item titled “WASTEWATER UTILITY: UPDATES AND ACTION.”

Another meeting agenda included an item titled “WASTEWATER UTILITY: UPDATES AND ACTION.”

Staff introduced Shawn Taddy as the new Lead Operator and said he is expected to step into the Superintendent role in early May 2026.

Staff said the citywide sewer pipe-lining project is expected to start in late January or early February.

Staff said the regional Sewer Service Area Plan update is aiming for completion in early 2026, with the main change described as Kossuth Sanitary District (Rockwood) shifting discharge to Manitowoc along County Trunk R.

The topic appeared on the Environmental Advisory Board agenda.

City Council approved issuing up to $1,835,579 in a rate-backed loan for the sewer system (Wisconsin Clean Water Fund) at a stated 2.475% interest rate.

The council vote on the borrowing resolution was 8-0, and it passed.

The borrowing was described as funding sanitary sewer replacements on Harbor, 16th, and Emmet; lead service sanitary laterals; and pipe-lining in various locations.

The resolution materials state the borrowing is payable solely from sewer system revenues and does not constitute general city debt.

The pipe-lining topic appeared on Public Utilities Committee agendas ahead of City Council action.

The pipe-lining topic appeared again on Public Utilities Committee agendas ahead of City Council action.

Staff reported 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 commercial facility tied to the BOD loading issue.

Staff said the Compliance Maintenance Annual Report and a resolution were headed to City Council so the report can be submitted to the state by the end of the month.

Staff said the wastewater plant’s alert dialer only works on Windows 10 and there is currently no upgrade path that keeps it compatible with Windows 11 and the city’s existing SCADA setup.

Staff said the city is planning a full computer/SCADA upgrade in 2028 and expects to buy Microsoft paid extended security updates through 2028 to keep the current system running.

City Council adopted the annual compliance maintenance resolution for the wastewater treatment plant (Resolution 26-105).

The compliance maintenance resolution passed on an 8-0 vote.

Council awarded a contract to Visu-Sewer LLC for sanitary sewer pipe-lining for an amount not to exceed $759,000.

The contract award passed on a 9-0 vote.

The city described pipe-lining as a lower-cost alternative to digging up and replacing aging sanitary sewer pipe, and described the liner as covering imperfections such as cracks and open joints.

Council discussed PFAS detected in wastewater solids and heard staff identify leachate from the city’s decommissioned landfill as a major suspected source.

Staff said the city’s two main farm partners no longer want to accept the wastewater sludge byproduct, and the city needs a new disposal plan soon.

Staff said the wastewater plant produces about 18,000 cubic yards of sludge per year and has roughly 12 months of storage capacity remaining.

Staff said the city is required under its wastewater permit to test for PFAS and submit a report in July 2026.

Staff outlined potential stopgap options including private hauling and testing a mix of sludge with street sweepings for use as landfill cover, and described a longer-term option of an approximately $1 million treatment system for landfill leachate.

No vote was taken on the PFAS/sludge disposal discussion item.