Council approves average increase of 4.25% in sewer service charge

The Worthington City Council on Monday approved the city's sewer service charge for 2026, with the average residential user of 4,000 gallons per month seeing about a $2.45 per month (or 4.25%) increase.

Worthington Public Utilities General Manager Scott Hain explained during Monday's meeting that monthly sewer charges consist of a usage charge and connection charge. The usage charge recovers the cost of conveying and treating wastewater, while "connection charge" (or minimum monthly charge) recovers costs such as those for billing, collection system improvements, treating inflow and infiltration and debt service on reserve capacity.

The usage charge per 1,000 gallons will increase $0.538/1,000 gallons, or 9.36%, for non-industrial users. The monthly connection charge will increase $0.30, or 0.86%. Hain noted that the major drivers for the rate increase are the collection of an additional $90,905 to service debt, a $100,000 increase in the amount collected through rates for sanitary sewer collection system improvements and a $78,225 increase in the amount collected for employee labor and benefits.

The total revenue of $4,256,864 to be generated by the 2026 rates is $278,763 (7.0%) more than the $3,978,101 budgeted to be generated from the 2025 rates. 

Also Monday, the council unanimously approved a conditional use permit for NB2A Investments, LLC to allow for the operation of a cannabis retail store at 607 10th St.

The action follows a unanimous recommendation for approval last week by the Worthington Planning Commission. In addition to conditions pertaining to lighting and signage, the business must have security cameras that adequately cover exterior areas of the business. One camera must be located on the southeast side of the building. Security cameras must maintain compliance with applicable rules and statutes of the state.

An additional condition states that lighting shall be provided on the southside of the building along the alley.  

In a business item Monday that was a late addition to the meeting's agenda, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance resulting in a proposed 8.25% stormwater utility rate increase for the 2026 budget.

City Engineer Hyunmyeong Goo explained that stormwater utility rates in 2025 increased by 19.25%. As stormwater management requirements for the community continue to grow, he said, the city also faces rising construction costs and the need to address capacity upgrades and deteriorating pipes and structures. 

To meet 2025 revenue needs, the base annual residential rate per acre will need to be $443.03, compared to the current rate of $409.27 per acre. For a standard residential lot of 0.24 acres, the proposed 2025 monthly charge would be $9.76 — an increase of $0.74 from the current rate of $9.02.

One item of business that ended up being removed from Monday's agenda was discussion and potential action on submissions from construction firms for a remodeling and addition project at the Worthington Ice Arena.