Minimal Changes in 2026 BPW Fees, Rates

The 2026 Auburn Board of Public Works (BPW) rates and fees packet was ratified Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Except for the revised water rates, there was a single change. BPW will no longer offer backflow testing to customers.
A separate article covers 2026 water rates.
Additional Action Items
Also approved by the board were:
--an information technology proposal from Bizco Technologies. There is a $2,440.50 monthly recurring fee and one-time installation $2,320. The provider has offices in Lincoln and Omaha and a staff member in Nebraska City who will be able to travel to Auburn monthly. The other bid, from Prime Secured, was $5,888.91 monthly and single-time installation.
--renewing the crime insurance policy from Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., at $1,613, no change.
--declaring four items as surplus equipment and authorizing advertising for sealed bid sales. They are: a 2007 Chevrolet ¾ ton van with mileage of 105,096; a 2001 Chevrolet ½ ton pickup with mileage of 160,049; a 2013 Cub Cadet zero turn lawn mower with 1,397.3 hours of usage and a North Star pressure washer with a maximum temperature of 250 degrees F.
--recognizing four employees reaching service milestones with gifts totalling $270.
--allowing employees to use Monday, July 6 as their 2026 floating holiday. It would give them a four-day weekend. Because Independence Day occurs on Saturday, the holiday is being observed Friday, July 3.
All action items, including the water rates, were accepted unanimously 4-0. Rich Wilson was not present at the meeting.
Longs Creek Update
Ray Luhring, general manager, reported ultraviolet equipment engineering information has been forwarded to state officials for their approval. No issues were anticipated. Bids will be sought. The general manager noted Alan Slater, water and wastewater manager and Kevin Kuhlmann, electric manager, have been “extremely involved (in the process) and have done a really good job.”
Revising Drought Contingency
BPW’s drought contingency will be reviewed and reworked. Luhring requested direction from the board to be forwarded to the utility’s management team. The modification will be based on parameters presented by the board.
Chair Chuck Knipe said the alteration will allow the board to “look back on what we did right or wrong and how we can (change) it.” He continued he had a lot of confidence in Slater. Knipe suggested presenting information on conserving more water when in Stage 2, Water Warning.
David Grant favored reviewing the contingency annually and thought it was the right time to reexamine it.
Discussion also indicated a need to study it differently from 2001, when it was initially adopted. That included looking further at conservation possibilities than in previous years.
Miscellaneous
After a closed session to discuss management wages, after reconvening to regular session, management increases were approved. Kuhlmann and Slater were given 6 percent increases, to $110,543 and $94,095, respectively. Tamara Westhart, accounting and finance manager, will have a 7.6 percent increase to $88,000.