Winfield school to pay less in water fees
The water connection fee for Wheaton Christian Grammar School remains undetermined but if another school chooses to locate in Winfield, it will be absolutely clear how much they will pay for connecting.
The village board voted Thursday to amend its ordinance that establishes fees for connection to the village's waterworks service, reaching back to 2003 rates and setting it at $324 per population equivalent for schools.
If applied to Wheaton Christian, that would put the school's fee at $43,740. However, staff said further discussion with the school will be necessary to determine an appropriate total.
Last fall, the village sent a bill to Wheaton Christian for $760 per population equivalent, or $102,600, for connection after village staff scoured the code and determined that was the appropriate fee. But the school balked and asked for a waiver, telling the village that it had not budgeted for the “excessive” amount.
When the school was marching toward an opening in August 2009, school officials asked the village to “expedite the permitting process,” according to village Manager Curt Barrett, in order to open on time. The village agreed but with the understanding that a connection charge would be forthcoming and that came in the fall.
At the meeting Thursday, Trustee Jack Bajor said the new amount was appropriate because the existing ordinance was not complete.
“It's a justified calculation,” he said. “Looking at the ordinance, we don't have an institutional entry. Certainly, I consider churches and schools as institutions.”
The amendment creates a new category, “School — elementary and/or high school,” that sets the rate for connection.
Officials hope the change helps avoid future confusion if a school seeks to locate in Winfield.
In 2003, the development that included Wheaton Christian was approved. At that time, the fee for connection was $324 per population equivalent for industrial zones, which is what the school was zoned at the time.
However, in December of 2006, the fee was increased to present levels, which would have made the fee exceed $100,000.
On June 16, 2009, building permits were given the OK and village officials have said this should have been when the fees were collected.
The oversight was not discovered until summer 2010 and the village sent the bill soon thereafter. Although he voted for the amendment, Trustee Tony Reyes said the error should have been avoided and the village should continue to seek a suitable compromise with Wheaton Christian.
At the last board meeting, Reyes and Trustee Erik Spande said they wanted to find a lower amount to charge the school. Meanwhile, trustees Jay Olson and Tim Allen, who voted against the amendment Thursday, continue to prefer eliminating the fee altogether.