Wastewater Commission:

The Racine Wastewater Commission has jurisdiction over the operations of the Racine Wastewater Utility. The Commission is comprised of eleven members. The City of Racine has seven members on the Commission including the Mayor, two alderman and 4 citizen members. Racine commissioners are appointed by the mayor. The Village of Mt. Pleasant currently has 2 commissioners, the Village of Caledonia has one commissioner and the Village of Sturtevant has one commissioner. Each community listed also has alternate commissioners that can fill in for absences of regular commissioners.

The makeup and function of the commission is set forth in the intergovernmental sanitary sewer and revenue sharing agreement that was entered into in April 2002. That agreement identifies the Commission and Utility as the Sewer Service Provider (SSP) Party of the agreement. The agreement then also affords for local communities to be Sewer Service Recipients (SSR) Parties of the agreement. SSR Parties of the agreement include Racine, Mt. Pleasant, Caledonia, Sturtevant, Wind Point and Somers. The communities of Elmwood Park, North Bay, Yorkville and Raymond are not currently SSR Parties of the agreement. Chapter 98 of the Racine Municipal Code provide more specific details on the makeup and responsibilities of the Commission.

The hierarchy of the Racine Wastewater Commission is the Commission and their duties as assigned by the sewer agreement and then the General Manager. The Commission is tasked with preparing annual budgets, rates and audits and coordinating them with the City of Racine Common Council.

The sewer agreement provides provisions whereby the Commission and Utility shall make specific annual payments to the City of Racine as long as reserves provide sufficient funds to do so. Reasons for these payments are explained in the agreement for certain City sponsored functions such as the Racine Zoo, Wustum Museum and the Racine Public Library.

In exchange for support for incorporation from Towns to Villages for Mt Pleasant and Caledonia, the SSR Parties of the agreement agreed to participate in a revenue sharing formula for 30 years whereby as certain Parties of the agreement experience economic growth and development, that a portion of the proceeds from this increase in tax base will be shared with Parties of the agreement that may not be as fortunate to attract new business and development.

You may find meeting agenda’s and minutes on legistar.

Meeting Dates for 2023