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Coffe Time: Hudson Mayor Sherry Oler discusses recent water, sewer rate increases
(Lander, WY) – The KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM Today in the 10 interview series Coffee Time continued today with host Vince Tropea, who recently spoke with Hudson Mayor Sherry Oler, who stopped by to chat about the water and sewer utility rate increases that go into effect for the town starting today, July 1. The water and sewer rates will go up $5 each a month, $10 total, for Hudson residents.
Mayor Oler said the town has struggled for years with complaints about the taste and quality of its drinking water, despite the water meeting safety standards. After taking office, Mayor Oler requested a Level 1 water study through the Wyoming Water Development Commission, which was completed in 2025. The study identified why Hudson’s water treatment system is expensive to operate and recommended several potential long-term solutions, including exploring a new water source and the possibility of regionalizing water service. A Level 2 study is now underway to look at those options and provide residents with information before any long-term decisions are made.
At the same time, the town has faced serious wastewater infrastructure concerns, Mayor Oler explained, adding that Hudson narrowly avoided major failures at its sewer lift station in both 2023 and 2024, including one incident in which a pump nearly failed completely and forced the town to notify the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The town has since secured a free pre-engineering report, presented during a public meeting in April, which estimates that approximately $5.8 million in wastewater system improvements are needed.
With only about 277 utility customers, the cost of those projects presents a significant financial challenge, Mayor Oler said, adding that under Wyoming statute, municipal water and wastewater utilities must be self-supporting, meaning user rates must cover operating costs, maintenance, employee salaries, and future repairs in a reserve fund. Mayor Oler said demonstrating that Hudson is making progress toward financial sustainability is also critical to receiving state loans and grants, some of which are scored partly on a community’s willingness to invest in its own infrastructure.
To help meet those requirements, the Hudson Town Council approved the rate increase, and the council also approved annual increases at the same level over the next four years, a strategy Mayor Oler said is intended to gradually build the utility funds rather than implementing the much steeper increases recommended by two independent rate studies.
You can hear more about the next steps the town plans to take in the full Coffee Time interview with Mayor Oler below.
Be sure to tune in to Today in the 10 and Coffee Time interviews every morning from 7:00 to 9:00 AM on KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM, or stream it live right here.
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By The 10Cast Network(Lander, WY) – The KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM Today in the 10 interview series Coffee Time continued today with host Vince Tropea, who recently spoke with Hudson Mayor Sherry Oler, who stopped by to chat about the water and sewer utility rate increases that go into effect for the town starting today, July 1. The water and sewer rates will go up $5 each a month, $10 total, for Hudson residents.
Mayor Oler said the town has struggled for years with complaints about the taste and quality of its drinking water, despite the water meeting safety standards. After taking office, Mayor Oler requested a Level 1 water study through the Wyoming Water Development Commission, which was completed in 2025. The study identified why Hudson’s water treatment system is expensive to operate and recommended several potential long-term solutions, including exploring a new water source and the possibility of regionalizing water service. A Level 2 study is now underway to look at those options and provide residents with information before any long-term decisions are made.
At the same time, the town has faced serious wastewater infrastructure concerns, Mayor Oler explained, adding that Hudson narrowly avoided major failures at its sewer lift station in both 2023 and 2024, including one incident in which a pump nearly failed completely and forced the town to notify the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The town has since secured a free pre-engineering report, presented during a public meeting in April, which estimates that approximately $5.8 million in wastewater system improvements are needed.
With only about 277 utility customers, the cost of those projects presents a significant financial challenge, Mayor Oler said, adding that under Wyoming statute, municipal water and wastewater utilities must be self-supporting, meaning user rates must cover operating costs, maintenance, employee salaries, and future repairs in a reserve fund. Mayor Oler said demonstrating that Hudson is making progress toward financial sustainability is also critical to receiving state loans and grants, some of which are scored partly on a community’s willingness to invest in its own infrastructure.
To help meet those requirements, the Hudson Town Council approved the rate increase, and the council also approved annual increases at the same level over the next four years, a strategy Mayor Oler said is intended to gradually build the utility funds rather than implementing the much steeper increases recommended by two independent rate studies.
You can hear more about the next steps the town plans to take in the full Coffee Time interview with Mayor Oler below.
Be sure to tune in to Today in the 10 and Coffee Time interviews every morning from 7:00 to 9:00 AM on KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM, or stream it live right here.