Oak Grove City Council Work Session meeting, November 24, 2025
Council Work SessionMonday, November 24, 2025
What happened
Council reviewed a utility rate study, discussed the 2026 budget (including proposed commissioner pay increases and timing for fee schedule changes), noted a FEMA grant in the CIP, and adjourned.
What was on the agenda
4 items as recorded in the minutes, each with a short summary of what was at issue.
- Discussion only
1UTILITY RATE STUDY
Abdo Financial Solutions (Kari Thorsten) presented a utility rate study, prompting Council questions about how projected increases were calculated (including whether a 3% increase was inflation-driven), the condition and potential high-cost risks of the Lake George sewer and water systems (especially the drain field), and the level and use of enterprise fund balances and interfund loans. Staff and Council discussed the history of interfund loans (including impacts from The Ponds system being handed to the City in 2011 with deferred maintenance), whether each enterprise should fully fund itself, and how sale of land at The Ponds might help offset a projected 20% increase in 2027. Council indicated comfort with the projected cash flow for The Ponds sewer, The Ponds water, and Street Lights funds, and the Mayor requested updated fund projections reflecting proposed changes, including considering Lake George Water Fund projections without a $200,000 loan.
- Utility Rate Study
- Enterprise Funds
- Lake George sewer/water
- The Ponds sewer/water
- Interfund loans
- Discussion only
2DISCUSS 2026 BUDGET
Council discussed the 2026 budget and next steps, noting the preliminary levy had been adopted at a 4.95% increase and that final levy and budget adoption would occur at the next council meeting. Mayor Rolf proposed increasing Planning Commission and Parks Commission compensation from $75/month to $100/month for commissioners and $125/month for the chair, with discussion of support and intended abstention due to a family relationship and one stated opposition. Staff also discussed the enterprise funds memo and the timing for fee schedule decisions, with the Mayor suggesting the Council take up the item in January and staff indicating proposals and fee schedule amendments could be brought forward then.
- 2026 budget
- 2026 levy
- Commission compensation
- Fee schedule timing
- Discussion only
3CIP
Administrator Wickham noted he provided a copy of the CIP and would review it during the final budget meeting, and highlighted that an adjustment included a $300,000 FEMA grant received by the City.
- CIP
- FEMA grant
- No action
4ADJOURNMENT
- Adjournment
Alternatives considered
Options the council weighed, and what happened to them. The record of the road not taken.
Lake George Water Fund and interfund loan approach
mentioned onlyCity could borrow money from a different entity and would possibly qualify for some State loan programs (instead of using interfund loans).
Raised by Wickham
Utility rates allocation between water and sewer charges (Lake George)
mentioned onlyCharge more for water instead of sewer.
Raised by Tradewell
Timing of utility fee schedule amendments for 2026 usage
deferredNot amend any utility system fees until meeting in January (versus making amendments sooner).
Why: Council discussed scheduling and the Mayor suggested discussing the item in January; staff indicated proposals would come to the next council meeting and fee schedule amendments would be made in January.
Raised by Wickham
Sources
Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.
Agenda
Not in this archive
What was on the agenda.
Packet
Not in this archive
The supporting materials the board reviewed.
The summary on this page is AI-extracted and may need correction. The PDFs and the meeting recording are the official record. What do the trust labels mean?