Village of Edgar will increase sewer rate

By Casey Krautkramer

The Edgar Village Board on Monday voted to increase the sewer rate for residents next year so the village can pay for its loan to construct a new wastewater treatment plant.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2023, the village of Edgar will increase the sewer base charge to $66 per quarter and consumption per 1,000 gallons to $7.50. This is a 3 percent increase in revenue. Jennifer Lopez, village administrator, said Tuesday for an average residential user (2021 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU): 8,760 gallons of consumption per quarter) the sewer rate would increase $11 per quarter. She said village residents should begin seeing the sewer rate increase on their April of 2023 sewer bill.

The village of Edgar will begin accepting bids in December for construction of a new wastewater treatment plant.

In other news:

n The village of Edgar’s total 2023 general fund budget is $1,049,186.89 which is a 1.47 percent increase compared to the village’s 2022 budget of $1,034,034.66. The village of Edgar’s 2023 property tax levy is $383,840.32 compared to the village’s 2022 property tax levy of $382,539.39. Lopez said the village’s property tax increase next year is due to a .34 percent increase in new construction.

n Dave Thurs of Edgar will have a temporary full-time lawn mowing job for the village next year. Lopez said the village board will determine Thurs’ salary at a meeting sometime in early December. The village will again spend $50 on employee holiday gifts.

Village board members voted to allow the village to pay Ayres $790,000 in engineering costs for 2024 village street projects consisting of replacing the sewer mains on Wisconsin Avenue and George Wagner Drive. The construction project would include new pavement, curb and gutter.

The village has experienced the most water main breaks on George Wagner Drive and at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue.