Staples looking at utilities rate increase

By Mark Anderson

Managing Editor

The City of Staples is proposing a five percent utilities increase for 2026, which would increase the average bill of city residents about $10 per month.

At the Oct. 14, 2025 Staples City Council meeting, Public Works Director Scott Grabe said a five percent electric increase is in line with the city’s 2023 rate study. He said the rate to purchase power is going up and they also need to adjust for inflation.

Water and sewer rates are also expected to increase around five percent. Grabe said this is the first rate increase for those services since a small increase in 2021.

The $10 per month increase includes electric, water and sewer for the average home. The city’s electrical users include all homes south of Warner Road.

The council will vote on the rate increase resolutions at the next city council meeting on Oct. 28, 2025.

Street projects

Grabe told the council that the state has so many projects listed on the intended use plan, they’re asking cities to remove projects that aren’t needing to be done in 2026. He said the city is keeping their 4th St. project on the list but removing the project on the southwest portion of the city because they wouldn’t have the capacity to do both projects at once. Grabe said they will put that back on the list for 2027.

State funding for the projects was originally supposed to be announced in August, but still isn’t out.

Evaluation

The council submitted a summary of the closed meeting where they evaluated the performance of City Administrator Jerel Nelsen. The summary stated that Nelsen is fully successful in the 10 areas they rated.

“He meets minimum performance standards on a regular basis and is an important and valuable contributor who should continue to strive for performance excellence, specifically in the areas of problem solving, communication and leadership” the summary stated.

In other news, the council

• Approved road closure on 4th St. NE for Holiday Parade of Lights on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m.

• Approved bingo request from Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

• Approved request to transfer gambling permit to Ducks Unlimited Spring Migration Chapter. The same permit had been issued to Ottertail Ducks Unlimited.

• Learned that the Dower Lake storm shelter roof is going on, the project should be completed within a few weeks.

• Learned that the Staples Community Center locker room upgrade project is started.

• Reviewed the Staples Charter Commission annual meeting. There are two vacancies on the board.