News File Photo of an Alpena Township water tower.

ALPENA – Recently, residents of Alpena Township received a notice in the mail informing them of a rate increase for both water and sewer services. The rate increase was voted on and approved by all members of the board during March’s board meeting and took effect on April 1.

In the notice the township gives the following explanation for the rate increase:

“To maintain our infrastructure and ensure the continued delivery of safe, reliable services, the Board has approved a 10% water rate increase. This adjustment is necessary to offset rising operational costs.”

While presenting the motion regarding the rate increases during March’s board meeting, Township Clerk Michele Pavelich addressed the situation.

“We need to raise the water rate 10%, and the sewer rate 3%, despite the increases that’s still not enough to break even, in those departments” Palevich said.

Palevich elaborated on the need for the increases and how it relates to the older infrastructure and the need for improvements.

“Water and sewer rates increases are primarily due to rising operational costs and the repairs & replacement of an aging infrastructure, parts of which are from the 1970’s,” Palevich said. “The township needs to ensure long term reliability of the system to prevent major disruption to the consumers.”

Alpena Township Supervisor Abbi Kaszubowski explained how the rate increase percentage was determined.

“Those numbers are not just made up and grabbed out of the air, those are the numbers that came from the rate specialist that we meant with last year,” Kaszubowski said. “This is her projection for how we get ourselves in the best position possible for the township.”

The rate increase is part of a yearly plan suggested by the rate specialist. Kaszubowski elaborated further on the plan.

“Our rate specialist last year gave us a five-year plan to get the rates where they need to be to make the system whole,” Kaszubowski said. “According to projections from the rate specialist we will not break even in the water department until next year.”

This is the second year the township has imposed a 10% water and 3% sewer rate increase. Kaszubowski said.

“We met with a rate specialist who basically does a forensic assessment of our water and sewer system and where we need to have funds available for certain projects,” Kaszubowski said. “She evaluated everything and said you guys are currently here, you need to be here, and this is the rate increase you need to get there.”

Kaszubowski explained the need to elevate rates so the township can generate funds to make necessary upgrades.

“For several years money was not being set aside for repairs and improvements for the water system,” Kaszubowski explained. “Prior to me taking office, I believe there was a two-year time frame where there were no inflationary increases.”

“We either do something about it, or we continue to kick the can down the street, I prefer to fix it,” Kaszubowski added. “Also, tax dollars cannot be used for water/sewer, they are completely separate funds and can’t be used for each other.”

The last time water and sewer rates were increased prior to Kaszubowski taking office was in 2022, when Nathan Skibbe was the township supervisor. Then, water rates were $10.57 per 1,000 gallons and the sewer rate was $11.06 per 1,000 gallons.

The letter sent out to Alpena township residents states that the new rates will be $13.55 per 1,000 gallons for water and $12.43 per 1,000 gallons for sewer.

Additionally, the $6 quarterly service billing charge and the $6 sewer charge remain included in the minimum totals.

The board also approved a motion to return to a quarterly billing cycle during last month’s meeting. The letter provided an explanation as to why that decision was made.

“On March 23, 2026, the township board voted to transition our utility billing from a monthly cycle back to a quarterly billing cycle. While the township moved to monthly billing on April 1, 2025, we have listened to community feedback and determined that reverting to a quarterly system is the most efficient path forward for our operations and our residents.”