The city attorney said Monday that the Willmar City Council will not take action April 15 when two public hearings on the sale of city-owned property to Cura are scheduled. The required ordinances are not ready.
The project would likely be completed in phases over a period of 12 to 15 years. There are two route options, and which one is chosen will depend on the route the city of Willmar recommends.
Willmar residents were asked by Willmar Municipal Utilities to reduce their consumption of electricity on Dec. 23, 2022, and responded by saving one megawatt of power in the hour after being asked.
It was reported earlier this summer that water rates for the city of Willmar were expected to increase 20% for each of the next three years and another 5% in the year 2026 due to having to finance the construction of the addition to the Northeast Water Treatment Plant. However, Willmar Municipal Utilities has found a way to finance the project in-house to significantly decrease the expected rate spikes.
While there will still be an increase in water rates through 2026, the spike won’t be nearly as bad as predicted due to the lower than expected bid to construct the new water treatment plant.