The City of Stanley is holding a public meeting to get resident feedback on proposed new water rates, set to effectively double if approved.
The meeting, set for Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 2:00 p.m., will take place in cyberspace, with “no physical location” involved. Residents can join the meeting via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
Those without adequate internet connection may listen by dialing +1 312 626 6799 and entering meeting ID 809 513 2930.
The meeting, which will be livestreamed and recorded on YouTube, can be observed by the public at https://www.youtube.com/@PSCWI-Hearings, with comments allowed by web, mail, or in person at the hearing.
The City of Stanley shared more details in a notice posted to Facebook and its website, ci.stanley.wi.gov:
The Stanley Municipal Waterworks (Utility) has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) to increase water rates. The total increase in water revenues requested is $2,029,107 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 103.12 percent over the water utility’s present revenues, which would be implemented in two steps. The proposed Step I increase of $878,224 would take effect following the issuance of the Final Decision. The proposed Step II increase of $2,029,107 is compared to the current rates and is an additional increase of $1,150,883 over Step I rates. “The Utility would implement the remaining Step II increase of $1,150,883 when it notifies the Commission in writing that the improvements at the central water treatment plant and Well No. 3 are complete and have been placed in service. The increase is necessary due to a 71.53 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 75.43 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 2017.
“If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer with a ⅝-inch or ¾-inch meter who uses 8,000 gallons of water per quarter will increase from $135.25 to $291.00, or 115.16 percent, including the public fire protection (PFP) charge after Step II is implemented. Under the Step I rates proposed, an average residential customer’s bill would increase 58.11 percent, including the PFP charge.
“A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at
2:00 p.m. This hearing has no physical location. Parties and Commission staff appear by Zoom. Parties and Commission staff may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no adequate internet connection exists. Members of the public participate by Zoom or may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no adequate internet connection exists.
Join Zoom over the internet at: https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
The Commission intends to livestream and record this hearing on YouTube. A member of the public may observe without participation any hearing session by:
1. Attending any physical location as noticed,
2. Watching on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@PSCWI-Hearings,
3. If no adequate internet connection exists, listening by telephone.
• Dial: +1 312 626 6799
• Enter Meeting ID: 809 513 2930
A person may testify in this proceeding without becoming a party and without attorney representation. A person may submit this testimony in only one of the following ways:
· Web Comment. File a comment on the internet. Go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click the dropdown menu labeled “Commission Action”. Select the item labeled “File a Public Comment”. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 5670-WR-104. Web comments shall be received no later than Thursday, January 22, 2026.
· Live Comment. Make a live comment at the hearing. The ALJ may receive live comments from any member of the public in attendance after the close of any party and Commission staff testimony. The ALJ will receive such comments by stating the name of each member of the public connected to the hearing one at a time and asking if they would like to comment.
· Mail Comment. Send a comment by U.S. Mail. All comments submitted by U.S. Mail shall be received no later than Thursday, January 22, 2026 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 5670-WR-104 Comments, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.”
To access the documents, schedule, and other information about this docket, go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, select the dropdown menu labeled ‘eServices”. Select the item labeled “Docket Search (CMS)”. On the next page enter 5670-WR-104 in the spaces labeled “Case #” and select “Search”.
If you have any questions, please contact the Utility at (715) 644-5758.
The City’s choice of online meeting format did not go unnoticed. Community members expressed displeasure with the meeting format on the city’s Facebook page.
• “We got this brand new community center down at the park. Why don’t you gave the meeting down there so people can attend. We have a lot of elderly in this town. I don’t even know what zoom is.”
• “Sure can’t wait to pay over twice as much for our colored water. Brown is getting old though. I was hoping for red or green over the holiday season to be a bit more festive. Step it up Stanley!”
• “If anyone can attend this meeting via zoom or phone call, I urge everyone to try to attend this, it needs to be rejected! Every single comment I have read on this post has given some very good reasons to not allow this proposal to increase the water bill. Bring those comments and thoughts to the meeting! It’s our only chance to get this rejected.”
Contacted by the newspaper as to whether the city would consider a physical on site hearing along with Zoom, City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Nicole Pilgrim shared the following response:
“Good morning,
“As the hearings for WI water rate cases are set up by the Public Service Commission, I had to reach out to them about your request. Their response was that "the Commission's Notice of hearing (NOH) states No Physical Location. Therefore, any participants should connect via zoom."
“As shown in the NOH, there is an option to call in if no internet connection is available. It will also be livestreamed on YouTube as shown in the NOH as well. There are numerous ways to make comments. These comments will be accepted until Thursday, January 22. See snips of the NOH below,” she said in reference to web, live, and mail comments.
“Also, please note that the City had requested that Ace no longer have their own rate. We requested that they have the same rate as any other industry in the City. We were told no.”
