City of Merrill
MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — The City of Merrill is looking at a slight increase in its water rates in 2021.
City Administrator David Johnson says the state Public Service Commission recently examined the department’s finances and recommended a steep 36% hike in rates, but residents will likely see just a fraction of that.
“What we have discussed is a 3% increase or a 6% increase,” said Johnson. The increase would be to allow the system to keep up with operating expenses.
The city’s last water rate increase came three years ago. Johnson adds while the full 36% increase would make the PSC happy, he doesn’t think it wise to put all that on residents at one time.
“This is why you want to raise [rates] in small increments on an annual basis,” he said while emphasizing that the recommended rate increase is coming from the PSC, and not the city itself.
Additionally, the city has no set plans for major water projects in the immediate future. Though Johnson does say that some wells may need to be rehabbed and the idea of a new water tower on the city’s far east side has been discussed.
In addition to the possible rate hike the city’s Water and Sewage Disposal Committee also recently discussed a movement to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water supply, which could go to voters in the form of a referendum.
“The argument by some is that because people outside the city don’t have it, and with the use of toothpaste and other fluoride products there really isn’t a need for it within the city.”
But the dental association and other health experts do encourage the addition of fluoride to municipal water sources. Johnson adds that it does come with a “very low” expense of a few thousand dollars.
Johnson didn’t have a hard timeline for when final decisions will be made on both issues. The earliest a fluoride question could be put before voters is April 6th, 2021 during the spring non-partisan general election.
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