[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6514376,"mediaKeyId","5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac","parentId",5030982,"title","Votes at a glance: Waukesha utility commission approves rate application filing, infrastructure contracts, insurance renewals and program extensions","audioSeconds",1295,"startMs",2484000,"endMs",3779000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac&start=2484&end=3779","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac/thumbnail_2484000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6514376/Waukesha-City/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Waukesha-utility-commission-approves-rate-application-filing-infrastructure-contracts-insurance-renewals-and-program-extensions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514376-0c7f52a7561f65aa99209bbea1568233/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170761&Signature=cRLBV3agdACU6S0eLiZE5nnZyWjtrnLBYqGdMeAf792boiymN9NCwQ1gClSH~mBlmMn5oUmUdi8RaxVsq38WJoARt5BuWb2brhYgt2eS7EZ1L4jPIfYuvlDUU7t6DdRL~k7VEHJ~-Gx1Ih11Zmnkt9EUfgo7QGCOrKfe8aMvc41V7WYxm4yaZcKbqut3h~Y4Dwi6C9IIiOvahVUeVQGw~Zn-OuZlet2gxzOJYNp85OQmdLoC7jIzxWXJmALJZZB6SyrPXS9EpjE1ytef0Ik5ZAtnx1O93cFlo3dZvU4lsYzhRVuoppONxs2QBzMjzT7-A0INYNNEiGsKHHkPUAoVlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Waukesha, WI","date","2025-06-19T00:00:00Z","article","Key votes and outcomes from the Waukesha City Water Utility Commission on June 19:

- Submit PSC rate application (Agenda item 5f). Motion: \"Submit an application to request an increase to water rates per Public Service Commission order in Docket 6240-WR-111.\" Mover: Commissioner Rivera. Second: Commissioner Curry. Outcome: Approved (voice vote; transcript records \"Aye\").

- Approve minutes from May 15, 2025. Outcome: Approved (voice vote; meeting record notes \"Aye\" and at least one abstention).

- Approve payments from the General Fund and Improvement Fund (Agenda item 5a). Motion passed on voice vote. Commissioners discussed several invoice items during the vouchers review (including attorney invoices and an architect’s design invoice). Outcome: Approved.

- Approve water-utility portion of staking/inspection services for Arrow & Associates for 2025 asphalt resurfacing (Agenda item 5b). Estimated cost: $30,000. Mover and second noted in meeting. Outcome: Approved.

- Approve water-utility portion of staking/inspection services for Rickett & Melky for Green Meadow improvements (Agenda item 5c). Estimated cost: $32,000. Outcome: Approved.

- Approve fiber relocation to Arson's (Sims) and project engineering by MCE for Highway 59 work (Agenda item 5d). Amounts: Arson's/Sims $88,462.75; MCE engineering $9,762.50; Total $98,225.25. Outcome: Approved (commission noted this was an unbudgeted but fundable relocation because other projects came in under budget).

- Approve professional services contract with Foth Infrastructure and Environment LLC (Agenda item 5e). Amount: up to $50,000. Purpose: enable former staff/retiree involvement in ongoing litigation support via a third party, per state retirement rules. Outcome: Approved.

- Approve business insurance renewals for the July 1, 2025 policy year (Agenda item 5g). Carriers: LWMMI (liability, crime, cyber), MPIC (property and equipment breakdown), Erie (workers' compensation). Net change: overall increase $10,857 (7.78%), driven by increased property values, fleet valuation and added fiber coverage; some offsets included a guaranteed workers-comp dividend. Outcome: Approved.

- Approve commercial, industrial and large multifamily cross-connection program services with HydroCorp (Agenda item 5h). Contract extension and preferred-provider designation requested to continue ~760 initial inspections annually; reinspection fee and expected reinspection workload discussed. Outcome: Approved pending final staff approval of contract language.

Several motions were moved, seconded and passed by voice vote; the transcript records “Aye” on the approvals and notes when items passed unanimously or with an abstention where stated. Where the transcript did not record a roll-call tally, the vote count is listed as not specified below.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Waukesha, WI - Waukesha Water Commission on 2025-06-19 6:00 PM - Jun 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Waukesha City Water Utility Commission on June 19 approved a package of procedural and procurement actions: a PSC rate application filing, multiple inspection and staking contracts, a fiber relocation, a litigation support services contract, insurance renewals, and an extension of the cross-connection inspection program.","taxTitle","Waukesha City, Waukesha County, Wisconsin","taxId",9326,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514381,"External auditor gives Waukesha water utility a clean opinion for 2024; staff discuss reserves and debt metrics",673,1403000,2076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac&start=1403&end=2076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac/thumbnail_1403000.jpg","/articles/6514381/Waukesha-City/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/External-auditor-gives-Waukesha-water-utility-a-clean-opinion-for-2024-staff-discuss-reserves-and-debt-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514381-fc70f565fe6335ff5b0dadaf233e2039/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170761&Signature=ar-UuJkBcsWAWYHlVoiFVFPOcY7bplxlUVaijQcvX4kQIFFcJfwyxKQ50XF-Rkttf~l1T8i9WQhW4i1VaYUPkiSDpQajYGR~YT4SRpFyIU-gm9nAwwhkEZjGglR3GgawyB1wXQwsfR~0ADfSV6OOabbjAn6qGNm2qLhcgSi2sZMcckp3F2B6dYa8Rcl-ool0SVKDmS8dmr4mKggqoUncHKTXO~SPpe1~P2yPeMpm6NKV-F6vJIpA1OodIG7OKHiidEopBZSDw3OHfHztHY5lTG4~i~O3YyTu5Kx9srfaRDNkGSMmmXu4LkR2a7HTwy~m-8q6L4JVcYTeOo78Nj44Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jody Dobson of Baker Tilly reported to the Waukesha City Water Utility Commission June 19 that the firm had issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the utility’s 2024 financial statements.

Nut graf: The auditor described the opinion as consistent with prior years, noted one new GASB accounting standard on compensated absences that produced only a small change, and highlighted several financial benchmarks: a 4.1% rate of return for 2024, months of cash on hand that remain a strong position despite a decline from prior years, and an unusually high debt-financing share driven by the recent Great Water Alliance project.

Dobson briefed the commission on operational and fiscal highlights. For 2024 the utility’s actual rate of return ended at 4.1% (up from a low interim figure in 2023 and below the PSC benchmark in effect earlier), and operating revenues and expenses reflected timing and one-time transition items related to the Great Water Alliance work. The auditor noted that the government finance officers association recommends a bare minimum of three months of operating cash on hand and that rating agencies often prefer six to 12 months for stronger bond ratings; the utility’s cash balance remained “pretty stable” at year end.

On debt, Dobson said about 81% of the utility’s capital investment was financed with outstanding debt at year end, a level the auditor described as typical for a utility that has completed a major wastewater or water-supply project and expected to trend down over time. The revenue-debt coverage metric exceeded the requirement cited in bond documents: the minimum is 1.1 times debt service and the utility reported a 7.1 ratio for 2024.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about how rating agencies weigh these metrics and whether high debt levels would affect future expectations; the auditor described agency scorecards as nuanced but said the metrics being reported were consistent with what one would expect after a large capital program.

No vote was required for the discussion; the auditor’s report will be incorporated into the city’s final financial statements following routine staff review.

","Baker Tilly delivered an unmodified (clean) audit opinion for the Waukesha Water Utility’s 2024 financial statements; auditors highlighted a 4.1% rate of return for 2024, strong cash reserves, and a debt-coverage ratio well above requirements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514387,"Waukesha utility board votes to file for water rate increase under PSC docket 6240-WR-111",1122,245000,1367000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac&start=245&end=1367","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac/thumbnail_245000.jpg","/articles/6514387/Waukesha-City/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/Waukesha-utility-board-votes-to-file-for-water-rate-increase-under-PSC-docket-6240-WR-111","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514387-bcecdd24bc75dc64afb4011aa801e4f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170761&Signature=nIBJOMx9QFTXXP3dW2-6R~TDZYv0NAKCeWtfjlz-k236tAIkSbECxyQ4XQv-SMNVbtq8RG9onOcfhUyfaZ1Hx1KXTtnjYWgF0DrMto6Zw5fNxrVF5gemHzFGxfEOC2T9LXEGh3qzAq7HfAd81Bh2aI5M-~saBJxmqZInibwycsq5WlxYH2xr-lqEbVivmMbEYkOm51x2JuZ038QE64cVbTgBh-kYt1Q2g2icg974iqBmH4aDMvIiLodCfyYNNjgMadpzaAGorIKVTvFe61BfeAnzIu3I22XClfrqYV0dYObDwUlh4Eb3acywH6hmrFpRfGG87Uv4MyQxktRjJNqw9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waukesha City Water Utility Commission voted June 19 to submit an application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) requesting a conventional increase in water rates under PSC Docket 6240-WR-111.

Courtney, a utility staff member, told the commission the filing requests a short extension of the PSC-required filing deadline — asking to move the filing to October 1 rather than the original August 15 date — to allow staff more time to compile annual PSC report data and close gaps caused by vacancies and training in the finance office.

Why this matters: The filing will prompt the PSC to review a year-and-a-half of actual Great Water Alliance costs, newly completed amortizations and updated projections tied to the project’s change of source from Oak Creek to Milwaukee. Courtney said those factors produce better actual-cost inputs for the PSC’s rate-setting process and that the utility is estimating a roughly 13% increase to the water portion of bills. The utility added that, when combined with return-flow and sewer charges, the projected change to a typical customer’s total bill would be about 6.6%.

Staff and residents described the technical drivers. Courtney said the PSC required amortization of prior Oak Creek-related study costs and that actual Great Water Alliance expenses are now available to replace earlier estimates. Dan, the utility general manager, summarized the financing and long-term planning: the water-supply pipeline will be financed roughly over a 38-year repayment schedule while being designed for a 100-year service life; by contrast, return-flow infrastructure is expected to be repaired as needed rather than duplicated.

Members of the public asked for clarity on customer impacts. Chris Wilson, a lifelong Waukesha resident and property owner, asked why an additional rate step was being proposed. Kurt Bauer, a resident and local realtor, said clearer public communication would help the city and local realtors explain changes to prospective residents.

Courtney and Dan explained timing and PSC review: the PSC typically takes 12–18 months to process a conventional rate case, and the utility expects PSC staff will use the new year-and-a-half of actual operating costs (for purchased water, chemicals, power, and amortizations) to set final rates.

The motion — described by the commission as “move to submit an application to request an increase to water rates per Public Service Commission order in Docket 6240-WR-111” — was made by Commissioner Rivera and seconded by Commissioner Curry. The commission voted in favor; the meeting record shows the motion passed on an oral “Aye” vote.

What’s next: Filing the application triggers the PSC’s formal review. The utility staff said it will proceed with the application and return to the commission as the PSC process unfolds.

","The Waukesha City Water Utility Commission voted June 19 to submit an application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission seeking a conventional water rate increase tied to PSC Docket 6240-WR-111; staff estimated a roughly 13% increase to the water portion of bills and said the overall customer bill impact would be about 6.6%.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514371,"Waukesha utility honors longtime general manager Dan on his retirement after 22 years",1826,2719000,4545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac&start=2719&end=4545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030982-22ffaeff37db5f40200dde8f458d9aac/thumbnail_2719000.jpg","/articles/6514371/Waukesha-City/Waukesha-County/Wisconsin/Waukesha-utility-honors-longtime-general-manager-Dan-on-his-retirement-after-22-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514371-fd9b7336391df04beb8550d25a28d891/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170761&Signature=Z1KOSucGxdOC1EcZVr9P4~z3leV-D9tGrIYq86W-QZNl~oMnDxuci27iKpdrpcBvZYaKuLvcHpc5qOYauBfsocNA8uAClQUgRII3HDtSUf52I8woIJhYpZjqAL-MZCYNKRymmvzrnlAErciZPqW8WCCPrv3Db2X1V3uGL-8TDweogLB5fOrYiVY-Ltjgu4fsfUujDQoTkpgp7Psbs1716lHPNx5ZWoqcXQijOJTG5QIrH1TrT0ZHMWSAI4heJVZXAgHyIK63DKeNM935rB~TOP7-at1PJLMau8khL-yelEHUPonu6ADE8iNQPgSd2GkGL1JJasZGwEz8byi5KfBzlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waukesha City Water Utility Commission on June 19 recognized Dan, the utility’s general manager, on the occasion of his retirement after 22 years of service.

Dan received a plaque read into the record by the commission praising his leadership during the Great Water Alliance project and citing his work in operations, administration, fiscal management, grant work, planning, and external relations. Commissioners and staff described his tenure as “high impact,” noting the utility’s transition to a new water supply and completion of major capital work.

Commissioners presented additional cards and a restaurant gift certificate intended to be used within Waukesha County. Dan thanked the commission and staff; he is leaving amid ongoing litigation referenced elsewhere on the agenda, and the commission approved a separate contract (with Foth Infrastructure and Environment LLC) that staff said will permit him to provide limited litigation support through a third party consistent with state retirement rules.

The commission also recorded gratitude for Dan’s responsiveness and guidance over his tenure and took a group photograph with the plaque. Staff said they are finalizing a transition plan and job description; the commission noted Dan’s final active day would be the following day.

","General Manager Dan, who led the utility through the Great Water Alliance project, was publicly recognized at the June 19 Water Utility Commission meeting with remarks and a commission plaque; commissioners and staff presented gifts and thanked him for his service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Waukesha utility commission approves rate application filing, infrastructure contracts, insurance renewals and program extensions

External auditor gives Waukesha water utility a clean opinion for 2024; staff discuss reserves and debt metrics

Waukesha utility board votes to file for water rate increase under PSC docket 6240-WR-111

Waukesha utility honors longtime general manager Dan on his retirement after 22 years