Town eyes more rate increases

Another round of water and sewer rate increases, albeit smaller ones than last year, appear to be on the horizon for customers who pay the Town of Greybull for those services.

At Monday night’s meeting, the town council approved on first reading Ordinance 911, detailing the sewer rate increase, and Ordinance 912, the water rate increase.

Rates would increase by another 4 percent on March 9, 2026, if the two ordinances are approved on second and third readings at the next two regular council meetings.

For in-town customers on active 3/4-inch taps, the monthly minimum would increase by slightly more than $1, going to $36.81 from $35.39.  For in-town inactive with the same sized tap, it would go from $27.02 to $28.10.

For out-of-towners, the monthly minimums for an active 3/4 inch tap would move to $49.30 from $47.40, and for inactive, to $38.41 from $36.94.

Those on 1-inch taps would also pay a few extra dollars per month -- $73.64 for in-town active (compared to the current $70.81), $64.94 for in-town inactive ($62.44), $95.35 for out-of-town active ($91.68) and $84.46 for out-of-town inactive ($81.21).

The new monthly minimums for sewer service would be $33.80 for 3/4 inch customers (compared to the current $32.50), $61.15 for 1-inch ($58.79), and $106.70 for 1 1/2 inch ($102.60). Snowbird/inactive in-town minimums would be $27.90, $55.01, and $100.43, respectively, compared to the current $26.83, $52.89 and $96.57.

As it did last year when it approved increases of approximately 30%, the town is following the recommendations of a rate study commissioned in 2024. At the time, Carl Brown of Getting Great Rates recommended annual increases over several years, citing the need to adjust for inflation and maintain appropriate reserves.

The increases also come at a time when the town is proceeding with the replacement of its 17-mile, nearly 70-year-old transmission line that carries water from Shell and its 1-million-gallon water storage tank on the east side of town that was built in the 1970s.

For the full breakdown of the proposed ordinances, visit the town’s website, townofgreybull.com

Other business

In other Jan. 12 business:

• The council authorized the Silver Spur to utilize its liquor license for the annual art gala fundraiser, set for Feb. 7, 2026 at the Basin City Arts Center.

• Administrator/Finance Director Dawn Norton reported that the two public works trucks the town advertised on the public surplus site had sold, with each of them going for approximately $1,800.

• Norton also announced that the town crew was proceeding with the repairs of the damaged fencing at the East Bridge Landing Park. The town sought bids for new fencing, but when those bids came in higher than expected, opted to do the repair itself.  The materials and labor will be covered by the driver’s insurance company.

• The council sold two lots in the Frontier subdivision, with Lot 31 going to William Thomas, who bid $32,220, and Lot 12 going to Jennifer and Rob Aanerud, who bid $33,120.