Hanover Park trims water, sewer rate hike
The resounding no to last month's proposed water and sewer rate increases softened into a reluctant OK in Hanover Park on Thursday night.
The village board voted 4-2 in favor of a revised, more conservative rate adjustment.
Effective May 1, water rates will increase 8 percent annually for four years, compared to 10.75 percent for three years in the January proposal. The village also reduced the minimum bill consumption amount, meaning homeowners not using any water will have to pay for 12,000 gallons, down from 14,000 gallons.
"Chicago did throw us quite a curve ball but it's unavoidable. We can't help it. We're stuck with it," said Trustee Robert Packham said.
After three years of no change, officials say Hanover Park had to raise rates due to the 49 percent water rate increase Chicago is implementing over the next three years. The city passes costs down to towns like Hanover Park that get their water from Lake Michigan.
Right now, residents pay a minimum of $50.54 every two months for their water and $3.61 per additional 1,000 gallons. In 2011, water bills will be at least $58.92 and $4.91 per additional 1,000 gallons.
The 4.5 percent sewer rate increase didn't change from the previous proposal.
As he did last time, Trustee Bill Manton voted no to the new rates. He brought up alternatives in January, including reverting to a well system.
"We can do better than this. Eight percent is still ridiculous," Manton said. "We can work around it."
Hanover Park is able to implement a more moderate rate hike due to recent action by the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency, which buys the water from Chicago and passes it onto member towns.
The agency, in order to help offset the impact of the Chicago water rate increase, essentially voted to implement a rate stabilization program by extending $30 million of debt it borrowed to construct the water pipeline over five more years.
Mayor Rod Craig credited Village Manager Marc Hummel for working with the agency and rewriting the ordinance.
Trustee Toni Carter, who cast the other dissenting vote, wants residents notified as soon as possible. The village last month shut off the water to 176 residences due to nonpayment.
"We need to give homeowners time to adjust their budget," she said.