During a February 2 meeting, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board considered and approved the 2015 budgets for its water and sewer utilities. The budgets, as approved, will keep rates for water and sewer services steady during 2015 and will not require an increase.
Pleasant Prairie’s water and sewer rates are based on the size of the meter and the volume of water used. Water rates are tiered based on the number of gallons consumed; while sewer rates are calculated with a winter-based average to account for water used on lawns or in yards that will not pass through the sanitary sewer system. Pleasant Prairie posts rates (Utility Fees) and more detailed utility information here.
During 2015, the water utility plans to repaint the Timber Ridge water tower in order to prevent rust and possible metal failure. Staff will perform water meter and hydrant maintenance and upgrades; improve pressure-reducing pits; and replace check valves at the Village’s Booster Station 1. The sewer utility will continue its work to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration that leaks into the sanitary sewer system, identifying areas of need over the winter months and repairing these areas during spring, summer and fall in order to lower treatment costs. Staff will also construct a sanitary sewer relief line in order to eliminate the need to rebuild a sewer lift station (Heritage Valley) that has exceeded its useful life; rebuild lift station 192; and install a backup generator at the final outstanding lift station (Carol Beach Unit 6).
Utility staff will continue to leverage advances in industry technology to streamline ongoing operations and improve efficiency in order to control costs. During 2015, the water utility is expected to make its final debt payment and become debt free. At the end of 2015, the sewer utility is expected to have just under $4.6 million in outstanding principal. The debt incurred by the sewer utility is largely related to sewer extension projects completed over the past eleven years.
The Village intends to continue setting aside funds annually to pay down the remaining debt by 2020 and to build reserves for future infrastructure replacement. Moving forward, the Village will work to complete improvements and capital projects without borrowing whenever practical.