Chicago seeking payment of suburban water bills

The city of Chicago is seeking $15 million from four suburbs it supplies with water.

The Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/pZcj7O ) reports Water Management Commissioner Tom Powers met Thursday with Dolton officials to iron out a payment plan. Similar talks are under way with the other suburban scofflaws — Harvey, Robbins and Maywood.

Dolton owes $1.7 million, Harvey owes $6.2 million, Robbins owes $6.1 million and Maywood owes $1.6 million.

City officials say if the conversations fail to produce terms agreeable to both sides, the cases will be referred to the Department of Revenue for legal action.

Robbins village administrator Napoleon Haney says the town’s unpaid bill dates back three or four years. He said Thursday the village doesn’t have the money to pay the bill, adding making payroll is difficult.