CL City Council Approves Slight Hike for Water, Sewer Fees

The Crystal Lake City Council last week approved a slight increase for monthly water and sewer service fees.

The hike was anticipated, as the council had already planned for the increase when adopting the 2012-2013 city budget, according to city documents. The council unanimously voted in favor of the fee change during its regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 17. Councilwoman Carolyn Schofield was not present at the meeting.

Monthly water service fees will increase from $3.80 to $4.03. Monthly sewer service fees will rise from $4.55 to $4.78.

The adjusted water rate per 1,000 gallons use will climb 15 cents, from $2.57 to $2.72. And the adjusted sewer rate per 1,000 gallons rises from $2.64 to $2.77.

When combining the water and sewer fees, the cost for a homeowner using 6,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $39.61 to $41.75, according to city information.

Senior citizens who are 65 may be eligible for a discount of 15 percent of their bill for the first 4,000 gallons bill per month. Those interested must register with the city's finance department, city documents state.

The city hired the consultant firm Ruekert-Mielke in 2009 to conduct a comprehensive study of water/ sewer rates. From that study, it was apparent that Crystal Lake had the lowest such fees among several surrounding communities.

With the new fee schedule, the city will offer residents the second to lowest rates among those towns.

City officials said the fee and rate increases were necessary in order to continue providing quality, reliable water and sewer utility service to the community.