Antioch residents to pay higher water/sewer bill

Antioch residents will soon see a 50 percent increase on their water and sewer bills.

The increase, which was approved Tuesday, is needed to cover a shortfall in debt payments on the new water and sewer treatment plant, officials said. The increase is scheduled to begin Aug. 1.

“There is not enough money coming in to pay off the debt from building the new water and sewer treatment plant — $19 million debt service that needs to be paid off and the only way to do that is to maintain it. We have to be able to keep the plant operational,” Mayor Larry Hanson said.

The decline of residential development in the village was cited as one factor, officials said.

The treatment plant opened in May 2010 at a cost of about $15 million.

An average water user living west of Deep Lake Road will see an increase of about $186 annually. Residents east of Deep Lake Road will see the cost rise $156 annually.

Village Administrator Jim Keim said typical residential sewer and water use is about 8,000 gallons per bimonthly billing cycle. The cost would rise from about $60 to about $90.

The ordinance also includes an automatic 3 percent annual increase, which would be permanent unless the board decides to vote to change it, officials said.

Trustee Scott Pierce was the only board member to oppose the increase.

“I don’t think the residents right now can handle any more increases,” Pierce said, and added Antioch has 500 delinquent accounts involving residents who are not paying their water and sewer bills.