The Marshall Municipal Utilities Board of Public Works set Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) rates for wastewater during its meeting on Tuesday, December 30.

For 2025, the three-year average BOD rate has increased by two cents, from $0.27 in 2024 to $0.29 in 2025. MMU Controller Tony Bersano says this increase is primarily attributed to higher operating costs at the wastewater treatment plant. The board approved Bersano’s recommendation to set the rates for BOD at $0.29 per pound and TSS at $0.24 per pound effective January 1, 2026. This motion will need approval from the Marshall City Council before taking effect.

Bersano also presented a summary of the Water Department’s financial performance over the past five years. In the past five years, the department’s rate of return (ROR) has steadily declined from 6.21 percent in 2021, to -3.27 percent in 2024. The Department’s cost to produce 100 gallons of water has also increased by $0.1664 during that time. Bersano reported that the Board of Public Works will need to consider a water rate increase in the near future.

In other news, the board approved a task order from Burns and McDonnell Engineering to inspect one of MMU’s reservoirs at a cost of $35,000. The board will next meet on Thursday, January 15th.