Maysville official warns sewer consent decree will drive multi-million-dollar upgrades, possible rate increases

Maysville City Manager Matt Walling told Mason County Fiscal Court on Feb. 13 that the city is under a state consent decree to separate its combined sewer overflow (CSO) system and faces a multiyear slate of wastewater and water projects. Walling described completed phases, loans already taken, and upcoming work that he said will likely require more borrowing and could trigger future utility rate increases.

“The city is under a state consent decree to separate our combined sewer overflow system,” Walling said, detailing past KIA (Kentucky Infrastructure Authority) loans and projects that included an east-end CSO separation and recent wastewater-treatment upgrades. He said the city has submitted a Phase 5 long‑term control plan to KIA for roughly $3.2 million for lift‑station and street-related upgrades and is awaiting funding decisions.

Walling outlined larger upcoming work: upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant he estimates at about $10 million to raise capacity (from roughly 6 million gallons per day toward a higher capacity to handle redirected stormwater), pump-station upgrades (which he described as another multi‑million dollar item), and smaller line work to add redundancy in the Mayslick area. He said the city previously adopted a CPI adjustment for rates that will take effect July 1 and could soften immediate impacts, but he warned residents could still face higher bills if additional projects require rate increases or matches to state/federal loans.

On funding, Walling said the city has used Cleaner Water Act money for some work and pursued KIA loans; because the decree now is state-level rather than federal, he said some federal infrastructure dollars are not available. He said the city is pursuing several grant and loan avenues, including USDA and economic development administration funding, and that he has spoken with legislators about possible state budget help for a regional treatment plant.

Citizens and commissioners asked about emergency interconnections and past outages in the Mayslick area; Walling said the city plans to lay roughly 300 feet of pipe to tie a six‑inch secondary line to the main to provide interim service during breaks, noting the alternate line would supply lower pressure but potable water in outages. He also described prior work to add redundancy and multiple pumps after a line failure that left some residents without water.

Walling emphasized the city will pursue grant money to limit rate impacts but said, “these projects have to occur” to meet the long‑term control plan. He invited questions and said staff will continue to brief county officials as projects and funding requests proceed.

Next steps: Walling said the city is waiting on KIA’s decision on Phase 5 funding and will update partners and the public as further loan or grant guidance becomes available.