The council meeting opened with discussion on the unexpected spike in water bills for Holy Trinity Church. The church representative presented a perplexing situation where their water bill surged from a typical $88 to $1,890, attributed to a suspected leak. Despite initial checks revealing no leaks, the issue persisted, leading to confusion and financial strain on the church. The council examined the billing processes, focusing on the use of estimated readings instead of actual meter readings, which resulted in inaccurate bills.

Jason, presumed to be a city official, explained the timeline of meter installation and the transition to electronic meters in April 2024. The church’s bills had been based on estimates rather than actual usage, which led to the unexpected charges. The council debated whether the church had been adequately informed about the estimation practices and the potential for leaks. The church representative emphasized the need for clearer communication and requested a resolution to mitigate the financial impact of the billing error.

Further complicating the water billing issue, it was revealed that the church had not been charged for actual water usage from 2018 to 2023, instead only for connection fees. This oversight resulted in an estimated usage of 12,000 gallons monthly, creating a complex billing scenario when actual charges were finally applied. The council discussed potential policy improvements, such as alerting property owners to unusual water usage changes, to prevent similar issues in the future.

The council also turned its attention to broader financial management concerns. A member expressed discomfort with the city’s financial reports, highlighting discrepancies in fund balances and financial filings. The council addressed a $170,000 budget overage due to early bond payments and unexpected budget items, as well as a significant overage in the public works budget and legal expenses.

In an attempt to rectify these financial discrepancies, a motion was passed to set the 2026 levy at 5%. The council also approved a resolution certifying past due utility billing to the county auditor and postponed discussions on water rates and Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) renewal to gather further information.

Infrastructure challenges were another focal point of the meeting, particularly concerning the emergency backup well and generator. The current backup system was deemed inadequate, with the existing generator only capable of powering the fire department. The council discussed applying for grants to fund a new generator, estimated to cost $48,000, to ensure water supply during emergencies. The representative urged the council to prioritize the installation, given the well’s high iron content and the town’s reliance on a functional backup system.

In light of these financial and infrastructure challenges, the council also addressed a vacancy in its ranks. Despite receiving two applications, the council decided to extend the search for candidates, emphasizing the need for a thorough selection process. The discussion concluded with the decision to repost the vacancy announcement.