At the September 4, 2025 City of Manchester Water and Sewer Commission Meeting, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Mayor and Alderman to order a feasibilty study for an Independent Water and Wastewater Utility.
Mayor Joey Hobbs, in his Mayor’s report, told Director of the Manchester Water and Sewer Department (MWSD), Jeff Perry, that he and his team had been doing a great job:
Director Perry, in his report, presented a proposal to the Commission. The proposal recommended beginning the process to transition MWSD into an independent utility. With the goal being to create a more efficient, financially stable, and responsive organization that can better serve our growing community’s water needs-both now and in the future.
The proposal highlighted the following points:
-An independent utility would have its own budget, revenues, and expenses. This makes it easier to show the public exactly how water fees are spent and ensures that money collected for water services is used only for water services.
-Water and wastewater operations are complex and highly regulated. A stand-alone utility would have leadership solely focused on these issues-without competing priorities from other city departments.
-Independent utilities often qualify for grants and low-interest loans not available to general city departments. They can also issue their own revenue bonds to fund infrastructure improvements.
-Creating an independent Water and Wastewater Utility is an investment in the future of our city. It ensures that our water systems can grow, adapt, and serve our residents efficiently-without being held back by broader city constraints.
Water and Sewer Commission member Gary Hunt explained to Mayor Hobbs that an independent utility would have an advantage of removing politics from making financial decisions about the water and sewer system:
Newly appointed to the Water and Sewer Commission, Alderman Thomas Crosslin stated that he was not opposed to a feasiblity study:
Alderman Julie Anderson, who attended the meeting, told Thunder Radio, “For the last year, I was the BOMA representative on the Manchester Water and Sewer commission. During that time under our new director, many positive changes have been made, but there is still much work to do. With regards to possible separation of MWSD from the city, I think it’s important that we examine all possible avenues of operation and keep an open mind during this process. Our goal should be to have the most efficient and professionally run department possible and deliver safe water and responsibly dispose of wastewater for the citizens and businesses in the city of Manchester.”
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