Waukee Councilman Says Residential Sewer Rates, not Developers' Building Fees, Should be Reduced

Waukee city officials last week put the brakes on a decrease on the fees developers pay to build in the city and will instead look at reducing sewer rates for residents.

The fee reduction of about 50 percent was considered because residential building permits cost about two times more than in other metro communities. The Waukee City Council recently approved the first reading of plan to reduce the fees, but is reconsidering after Councilman Mike Watts objected, the Des Moines Register reports.

Watts, who opposed the fee reduction, said the city is catering to developers at residents’ expense. Sewer rates are projected to increase 18 percent over the next three years.