Water commission fight splitting DuPage municipalities

Municipal leaders - often thought of as united in their opposition to a county takeover of the DuPage Water Commission - are not on the same page when it comes to ponying up for the cost of the fight.

Some of the 25 municipalities who get their water from the commission have agreed to pay, some have balked, while others still are debating.

The $100,000 price tag for lobbyists and public relations firms is being divvied up among the municipalities. Water usage in each town determines how much leaders there are being asked to contribute. Naperville leads the pack with a $12,852 bill. The smallest amount requested was $2,097, asked of Oakbrook Terrace.

Naperville's city council approved the expenditure Tuesday by a vote of 6-1. Only Councilman Kenn Miller voted against the funding.

"I'm in favor of resolving water commission issues and not allowing the city and other municipalities to lose their rights," he said. "But I'm not in favor of spending more money on this particular lobby."

The legislation was introduced in the wake of reports of the commission's accidental spending of most of its $69 million in reserves due to poor oversight of the group's finances and negligent accounting. The twin bills in each chamber call for the county to take over control of the commission's operations.

Lombard and Downers Grove have opted against paying the invoices that amount to more than $4,600 and $5,500, respectively. Hinsdale leaders have voted to support the fight, but haven't committed funding yet, officials there said.

Darien City Administrator Bryon Vana said the city council is supportive of the fight against the bills, but delayed a vote on funding until early next month. A council committee voted 2-1 to recommend paying the $3,376 request.

"There was nothing in the legislation our council felt would help or improve the commission," Vana said.

The commission is responsible for delivering Lake Michigan water to more than two dozen municipalities and agencies in the county.

Addison officials led the charge against the proposed legislation, and the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference has assisted in the efforts to build a coalition. Lobbyists were hired almost as soon as the legislation was proposed.

"Things were moving very quickly in Springfield and there was a need to address the actions being taken," said Mark Baloga, executive director of the conference.

Last week, state senators approved the bill sponsored by Elmhurst Republican state Sen. Dan Cronin, the GOP nominee for DuPage County Board chairman. He wants more accountability for financial missteps in the future and says that dissolving the commission will save money. His bill calls for elimination of a quarter-cent sales tax that feeds about $30 million annually into the commission's coffers.

"I find it troubling in this climate when towns are cutting back and facing deficits that they are spending taxpayer money that would fight a bill that would save taxpayer money," Cronin said.

Opponents of the takeover complain that the majority of the current 13-member water commission board already is controlled by county appointments and the mistakes happened with the county in control.

Baloga also asserts that the legislation language is flawed and if passed in its current form could cause more damage than good. Recently, it was learned that the retired water commission employee who uncovered the financial anomalies would lose his health insurance benefits if the commission were dissolved.

"I don't think the ramifications have been thought through to any detailed degree," Baloga said. "There will be a lot of regret if the legislation is passed in its current form."

Cronin said he would amend the bill to ensure no commission retiree would be adversely affected by the dissolution of the commission.