What's Up Victor

05/28/2026

05/09/2026

Come through this Tuesday!

Refreshing new artwork from Sue Tyler Sue Tyler is on display now through June at the City of Victor Gallery. Email or DM to collect her work, and join us on May 12 for a public reception.

04/08/2026

Refreshing new artwork from Sue Tyler Sue Tyler is on display now through June at the City of Victor Gallery. Email or DM to collect her work, and join us on May 12 for a public reception.

03/12/2026

Wastewater Finances: What It Means for Sewer Bills

In the previous issue of Wastewater Matters, we explained the planning-level capital costs associated with constructing a locally controlled wastewater treatment facility. A natural follow-up question residents are asking is:

What does this investment mean for monthly sewer bills?
This article explains how sewer rates are calculated, what the current rates cover, and what preliminary modeling suggests future rates could look like as the City moves forward with a new wastewater facility.

Current Sewer Rate Baseline
Victor’s sewer utility operates as an enterprise fund, meaning the system is funded by user fees rather than general tax revenue.
For FY2026, the proposed sewer fund budget is approximately $2.19 million, compared with $2.2 million in FY2025.

Victor currently has approximately 1,765 equivalent residential units (ERUs) connected to the sewer system. Based on the current budget and user base, the monthly sewer rate is $98.47 per month per ERU.

This rate supports the existing system, including sewer collection infrastructure, staffing, and treatment costs currently paid to the City of Driggs.

How Sewer Rates Are Calculated
Sewer rates are designed to cover the full cost of operating and maintaining the wastewater system. In general, sewer utility budgets include three major categories:
• Debt service, which repays borrowed funds used to construct infrastructure
• Operating costs, such as power, testing, equipment maintenance, and plant operations
• System maintenance and replacement, which ensures pipes, lift stations, and other infrastructure continue to function reliably over time

Sewer utility funds are restricted by law. Revenue collected through sewer bills can only be used to operate and maintain the sewer system. Sewer fees do not fund roads, parks, or other city services.

What Changes With a New Wastewater Facility
Under a locally controlled wastewater treatment facility, several costs within the sewer system would shift. The City would continue maintaining its existing sewer collection system and staffing structure. However, the current payment made to the City of Driggs for treatment services would be replaced by operating and financing costs associated with Victor’s own facility.

Preliminary modeling includes several major components:
• Existing sewer collection system costs
• Existing City staffing costs
• Plant operating expenses estimated at approximately $300,000 per year
• Debt service associated with constructing the facility
The plant operations estimate reflects operating expenses only. Salaries and capital financing are accounted for separately within the model.

Preliminary Rate Scenarios
Based on current planning-level estimates, preliminary modeling suggests the following potential rate range.

If the project cost were approximately $35 million, the modeled monthly sewer rate would be about $138.96 per month.

If the project cost were approximately $30 million, the modeled monthly sewer rate would be about $126.45 per month.

For context, the current rate is $98.47 per month.

These modeled scenarios represent an increase of roughly $28 to $40 per month, depending on final construction cost and financing terms.

The Role of Growth in the Rate Model
The rate model does not assume or rely on any future growth. Sewer rates must be projected using only the existing customer base to ensure they are sustainable without new development.
As additional homes and businesses connect to the system, the cost of infrastructure is distributed across a larger number of users, which helps moderate individual monthly rates.

How Grant Funding Could Reduce Rates
Grant funding can also play a significant role in reducing the cost borne by local ratepayers.

Based on the current model, every $1 million in grant funding could reduce monthly sewer rates by approximately $2.50 per household. $5 million in grant funding could reduce monthly rates by roughly $12.50 per month.

The City is actively pursuing grant and low-interest financing opportunities to reduce the overall cost of the project where possible.

What Happens Next
These figures are preliminary modeling scenarios, not final rates. Several factors will influence the final cost of the project and the resulting sewer rates, including:
• Final construction bids
• Interest rates at the time financing is secured
• Grant funding availability
• Final engineering design
Before any final financing decision is made, the City will present a detailed public rate model and discuss the financial implications in an open Council meeting.

Looking Ahead
Wastewater infrastructure is a long-term investment in community reliability, environmental protection, and public health. By moving forward with a locally controlled wastewater facility, Victor will take responsibility for operating and maintaining the infrastructure that protects local water quality and serves the community. As engineering and financing details become clearer, the City will continue sharing information with residents about the financial aspects of the project.

03/09/2026

Many of you saw the news that the City of Victor has filed a lawsuit related to our long-standing wastewater agreement with the City of Driggs. Because wastewater service affects every household and business in Victor, I want to take a moment to explain why the City took this step.

Victor and Driggs share a close and long-standing relationship. Our communities are deeply connected through families, businesses, and daily life in the valley. Because of that relationship, legal action between the two cities is not something the City considered lightly.

Victor has historically relied on Driggs’ wastewater treatment facility to process the water that leaves our homes and businesses. This arrangement allowed both communities to share infrastructure and avoid duplicating expensive systems. Driggs is our neighbor, and for many years the cities worked together in that spirit.

Over time, however, several issues emerged that raised serious concerns for Victor residents and ratepayers. These included ongoing compliance problems at the Driggs treatment facility, federal enforcement actions requiring significant upgrades, and financial questions related to how costs under the intercity agreement were calculated and allocated.

Victor spent years attempting to resolve these concerns through cooperation rather than confrontation. City staff and elected officials participated in negotiations, mediation, and independent financial review in an effort to clarify costs and find a path forward that was fair to both communities without resorting to litigation.

Unfortunately, those efforts did not lead to a resolution.

Victor also proposed several options that would have allowed the two cities to continue working together through a shared wastewater facility under updated terms. These included proposals for a joint partnership agreement, a fair customer agreement, and other shared-use arrangements that could have allowed the communities to continue operating a common system. Those proposals were not accepted by Driggs.

Victor has made the commitment to build our own wastewater treatment facility. That decision allows our community to plan for a reliable, locally managed system going forward. However, choosing to build our own plant does not resolve the financial and contractual issues connected to the existing agreement with Driggs. Questions about past costs, billing practices, and shared infrastructure responsibilities still need to be addressed.

For that reason, the City concluded that legal action was the only remaining way to resolve these matters in a clear, transparent, and structured way.

Filing a lawsuit is never the first choice between neighboring communities. It is a last resort when other efforts have been exhausted. Our goal is to establish clarity and fairness so that Victor residents are not left carrying costs or obligations that are not consistent with the agreement between the cities.

While the legal process moves forward, Victor will continue focusing on the same responsibilities we have always had: protecting our aquifer, maintaining reliable infrastructure, and planning carefully for the city’s future wastewater needs.

Residents who would like to learn more can visit the City’s wastewater information page: https://victoridaho.gov/wwtf

To receive updates about the wastewater project and related decisions, you can subscribe to the Wastewater Matters community newsletter here: https://victoridaho.gov/newsletter-signup.

If you have questions or would like to share your thoughts, you are also welcome to contact the Mayor’s office directly at [email protected]

—

Mayor Will Frohlich

City of Victor

03/05/2026

Wastewater Matters #3: What the New Wastewater System Will Cost the City
________________________________________
Welcome to the third issue of Wastewater Matters, a series explaining the City of Victor’s wastewater infrastructure project. Each article focuses on one question residents have raised about the project.

Wastewater Investment: What It Costs the City and What It Means for Residents

Wastewater infrastructure is one of the least visible parts of city services, but it is among the most essential. As Victor moves forward with development of a locally controlled wastewater treatment facility, residents understandably want clear information about the financial side of the project.

This article focuses on one question: What will this cost the City?
A second article will explain what the project means for monthly sewer bills and rate structures.

Why This Conversation Is Happening Now
Over the past year, Victor explored whether a renewed regional wastewater partnership could be achieved. After extensive negotiation and mediation, no such agreement is currently available. With state and federal compliance obligations in place, the City is moving forward with development of a locally controlled wastewater treatment facility.

Wastewater infrastructure must be upgraded under any scenario. Regulatory timelines require a clear path forward, and engineering analysis has identified capital needs across the system over the next 5–50 years.

Infrastructure ages. Regulations evolve. Communities must invest in systems that protect water quality, public health, and long-term environmental stewardship.

Moving forward with a locally controlled facility also means local accountability. Victor will own and operate the infrastructure that serves its residents and will be responsible for planning, financing, and maintaining that system over time.

It is also important to understand that capital construction is only part of the total cost of operating a wastewater system. Facilities and pipes represent the upfront investment, but long-term operations, maintenance, staffing, and equipment replacement are equally important parts of providing reliable sewer service.

What “Project Cost” Actually Includes
When residents hear a number associated with a wastewater project, it typically refers to a planning-level capital estimate.

Municipal capital estimates generally include:
• Site acquisition (if applicable)
• Civil construction such as earthwork, tanks, and structures
• Mechanical and electrical systems
• Engineering design and permitting
• Construction management
• Contingency, typically 15–30% at the planning stage
Planning-level estimates include contingency because final construction bids have not yet been received. This is standard municipal practice and helps ensure early estimates are responsibly budgeted.

These early estimates also do not account for future inflation, which will be incorporated as projects move through design, bidding, and financing phases.

Wastewater Infrastructure Includes Two Major Parts
Wastewater systems consist of two major components:
1. The treatment facility
2. The sewer collection system
The sewer collection system includes the underground pipes and lift stations that move wastewater from homes and businesses to the treatment facility.

Over time, maintaining and upgrading the collection system may involve improvements such as:
• Lift station upgrades
• Pipe replacements or upgrades
• Lift station backup systems
• Other system reliability improvements
These types of investments are common for municipal sewer systems and are part of maintaining reliable infrastructure for decades to come.

Current Planning-Level Cost for a Victor Facility
The planning-level estimate for constructing a Victor-owned wastewater treatment facility has been referenced in the mid–$30 million range, including contingency.

This estimate reflects capital construction costs only. It does not include long-term operations and maintenance expenses and does not assume potential grant funding that may reduce the City’s financing needs.

Under this approach, the City would own and operate the facility, giving Victor long-term control over system operations, capital improvements, and regulatory compliance. Ownership also means the City is responsible for managing the infrastructure that protects local water quality and serves the community.

Understanding the Different Numbers You May Have Seen
Residents may have seen several different figures referenced publicly during discussions about wastewater infrastructure. These numbers refer to different parts of the system and different time horizons.
For example:
• A mid–$30 million estimate reflects planning-level construction costs for a Victor-owned treatment facility.
• A long-range Capital Improvement Plan estimate of roughly $30 million over 50 years reflects phased improvements to the sewer collection system under long-term growth assumptions.
• Other figures discussed publicly may refer to individual infrastructure components such as trunkline or pipe upgrades.
These figures describe different elements of the wastewater system, which is why they may appear different depending on the scope being discussed.

What Could Change the Final Cost
Planning-level estimates are an important starting point, but several factors influence the final cost of a project.
These include:
• Competitive construction bids
• Interest rates when financing is secured
• Potential grant or low-interest loan funding
• Final regulatory permit requirements
• Market conditions for labor and materials
As engineering design progresses, estimates become more precise. Final costs are determined after construction bids are received and financing terms are established.

Looking Ahead
Wastewater infrastructure investments are long-term decisions that affect environmental protection, community growth, and fiscal stewardship. By moving forward with a locally controlled treatment facility, Victor is taking responsibility for building and managing the infrastructure that serves its residents.

In the next issue of Wastewater Matters, we will focus on the second key question residents are asking: What does this investment mean for monthly sewer bills and household rates?
That article will explain how sewer rates are calculated and how infrastructure investments are financed over time.

Questions about the project? Visit https://victoridaho.gov/wwtf
This information is provided by the City of Victor as part of the Wastewater Matters Treatment Facility public information series.
###

03/04/2026

What Is “Class A” Reclaimed Water?
Class A reclaimed water is the highest quality of treated wastewater Idaho allows to be reused for irrigation of parks, school grounds, athletic fields, golf courses, landscaped areas, certain commercial or industrial applications, and—under separate permitting—for groundwater recharge.
To achieve Class A, wastewater goes through advanced treatment and disinfection so that it meets strict state standards for clarity and for germs like bacteria, with daily monitoring to make sure those protections are maintained.
How Is It Different from a Lagoon?
Today, many small towns, including Driggs, use lagoon ponds, which mainly rely on time, settling, sunlight, and natural biological processes to clean wastewater.
A mechanical Class A system adds multiple layers of protection, including advanced biological treatment, filtration, disinfection, and continuous monitoring and controls, which makes the cleaned water more consistent and reliable in all seasons and during busy times.
What Can Class A Water Be Used For?
Class A water is non‑potable, meaning it is clean enough for high‑value uses like irrigating areas where people live, work, and play. With the right state permits and site conditions, Class A reclaimed water can be used for:
● Irrigating parks, school fields, golf courses, and landscaping
● Controlled land application on approved sites
● Groundwater recharge using specially designed rapid‑infiltration basins
● Other non‑drinking uses that Idaho DEQ reviews and approves case‑by‑case
Why This Matters for Victor Residents
Victor is a growing, semi‑arid community that relies heavily on local groundwater and wants to keep streams and aquifers healthy for the long term. Building a Class A facility helps Victor:
● Provide more reliable treatment than lagoons during cold snaps, storms, and peak‑tourist seasons
● Reduce the risk of future violations, fines, or rushed, expensive upgrades as water‑quality rules tighten
● Keep more water in the valley by creating the option to reuse water locally or recharge the aquifer instead of sending it all downstream
For residents, that translates to a more resilient system that supports homes, businesses, and community amenities while positioning Victor to adapt to Idaho’s prior-appropriation water system. As the state expands groundwater monitoring and curtailment enforcement, communities with junior water rights — like much of the Upper Snake River Plain — face increasing pressure during shortages. By treating water to higher standards and enabling permitted reuse or aquifer recharge, Victor may be able to pursue water-credit mechanisms that help offset future curtailments and preserve greater local flexibility.
Local Control of Our Water
With surface discharge, treated wastewater is released to a creek or river and quickly leaves local control. Class A treatment, paired with reuse or recharge, gives Victor tools to keep more of that water working for local parks, fields, and groundwater, under rules that are designed specifically to protect public health and the environment.
Regulatory Oversight and Safety
Any Class A reuse or recharge project must follow Idaho’s Recycled Water Rules and obtain a DEQ reuse permit that spells out required treatment, monitoring, reporting, and groundwater protections.
This is a regulated and inspected system, similar to how Victor’s drinking-water utility is already overseen. Each year, the City publishes a Water Quality Report detailing testing results and compliance with state and federal standards. These reports are publicly available on the Public Works page of the City website and are intended to give residents clear information about the safety and reliability of their water. Reuse and recharge systems operate under comparable monitoring, reporting, and regulatory requirements.
How Groundwater Recharge Works
If Victor pursues groundwater recharge, treated Class A water would be sent to shallow basins where it slowly soaks through the soil before reaching the aquifer.]
As the water moves through the soil, it gets additional natural “polishing” and filtration, and the city must monitor and report on this process to show that groundwater quality is being protected.
Summary
A lagoon cleans wastewater using basic natural processes and is more vulnerable to weather and growth pressures. A mechanical Class A system cleans wastewater to a much higher, more reliable standard using modern equipment and continuous monitoring, which opens the door to safe reuse in town and the potential to recharge our local aquifer under tightly regulated conditions.

02/03/2026

Matt Russell’s work is still up for viewing and sale at the City of Victor Gallery. Contact for information or visit his website matthewrussellphoto.com

01/27/2026

Join us for the public reception of Solitude, a photography exhibit by Matthew Russell happening NOW at Victor City Hall- 138 N Main Street, Victor, from 4pm-6pm.

Come experience striking black-and-white imagery that explores stillness, reflection, and the beauty of being alone.

01/20/2026

Film and digital photography from Matthew Russell, with a reception next week (January 27, 4-6pm)

The City of Victor Gallery invites the community of Teton Valley to enjoy “Solitude,” the photography series by nationally acclaimed artist Matthew Russell. A public reception will be held on