The Carroll City Council approved the first reading of three ordinance amendments at Monday’s meeting that will increase garbage collection, stormwater, and water rates for residents. The first ordinance discussed pertained to solid waste collection. City Manager Aaron Kooiker says the change comes at the request of the city’s contracted haulers to keep up with tipping fees at the Carroll County Landfill.
Kooiker adds that nobody likes fee increases, but the city will still have one of the lowest rates among its peer communities, even after the higher fees go into effect. Public Works Director Randy Krauel says the city is also considering annual increases for stormwater fees, which haven’t been updated in years, to keep up with inflation.
The final ordinance amendment concerns water rates, which Krauel says are increasing to help fund the Northwest Pressure Zone project to address longstanding low pressures in that area of Carroll.
Krauel notes these are only projections, as the cost estimates on the pressure zone project have not been completed. Under the current proposal, water rates would increase by a combined 27.41 percent by the time the final adjustment is made in Fiscal Year (FY) 2029. The council unanimously approved the first reading of the solid waste and stormwater rate change. The water rate’s first reading passed 5-1, with Ward 3 Councilman Kyle Bauer voting no over concerns that the rate hikes were too high. Two additional readings are required before the ordinances are approved and adopted, and those readings are slated for the council’s upcoming meetings.
