CLINTON —
Clinton residents face sewer and solid rate hikes that would cost the average residential customer an extra $10 a month as the city of Clinton works its way toward financial solvency for both services.
The proposal to increase sewer rates by 9.5 percent, the solid waste flat fee for all residents to $10.95 per month and the solid waste service fee to $7.45 per month came before Clinton City Council members during their final budget session on Monday.
The information presented to council members also projected rates rising by another 9.5 percent in July 2014 and July 2015 as well as some smaller increases in the following years in order to bring the sewer fund to a financially solvent level by 2019.
The sewer rate increase for this year would add $6.24 to an average residential customer’s bill, making the average bill $71.68 per month.
“I’d have to say the comment’s going to come ‘we can’t afford to flush the toilet anymore,’” Mayor Mark Vulich said.
However, according to Interim City Administrator and Finance Director Jessica Kinser, the city has initiated a number of steps that will hopefully improve the city’s poor collection rate of $6.30 for every $8.18 billed and counteract the need for future rate increases.
These steps include utilizing the income offset program that allows the city to reclaim unpaid bills. So far the city has been able to collect $18,000 to $20,000 of unpaid bills through the income offset program, Kinser said. Monthly billing has also been implemented to decrease delinquent bills.
“I believe we have put things in place where we will see some results,” Kinser said. “Ultimately with those results, we’ll be sitting here in a year looking at what increase we need, if any.”
For right now, Kinser said the city should plan to discuss the 9.5 increase in April in order for it to take effect on June 1.
“Right now we’re still in that phase where we’ve taken action on some things, but the results from those actions are a little bit slow to see,” Kinser said.
Council members also discussed an increase to both the flat fee for solid waste that affects all residents and the flat fee that affects those who utilize the city’s solid waste service. The fee suggestions come as a result of solid waste study performed by public sector advisor Springsted.
“This is not new. Ultimately, we can’t go back,” Kinser said. “The trend that should have been noted was that it was on the decline. That we were getting into negative annual income each year. And that’s pretty much where we got to how we are today. But knowing that’s where we are, now is where we have to figure out how to correct.”
The rate increases are needed to create positive income and pay off previous expenditures. Between operations and equipment the solid waste fund is more than $2 million in the red. Fee increases are expected to bring the operations fund to a positive balance by 2019.
With the monthly $1.70 increase for the all resident flat fee for recycling, yard waste, large item pickup and the per capita fee for the Clinton County Solid Waste Agency and the monthly $2.20 increase for the solid waste service, the total charge for a solid waste customer would be $220.80 annually. These increases are also projected to hit customer’s bills by June 1, although Kinser said the actual date would be up to council discretion.
“This is not going to get to be any better of a financial situation between now and July 1 if there’s not a rate increase done,” Kinser said.
At-large Councilwoman Jennifer Graf asked if outsourcing solid waste services would be a viable option for the city.
“If that’s the direction of the council that this is a service that we cannot provide at rates that are sustainable to the community, then I would say that is definitely something to look at,” Kinser said.
However, that discussion had to wait until council members meet with representative of Springsted, when the full solid waste study is presented at the next council meeting. The council did not vote on any of the rate increases.
Clinton
February 19, 2013
Clinton sewer, solid waste bill increases proposed
Council hears proposal to raise sewer rates by 9.5 percent
- Clinton
-
-
City forced to cut $1.1M from budget
CLINTON -- The city of Clinton is scrambling to cut more than $1.1 million from next year's budget because of a settlement that was reached between the Clinton Board of Review and Archer Daniels Midland. As part of a settlement that ADM and the Cli
-
Railport: Clinton, CRDC work on future process
CLINTON — With the first rail-served tenants moving in, officials with the city of Clinton, McClure Engineering and the Clinton Regional Development Corp. met Tuesday to discuss the future of the Lincolnway Railport.
- Krumpets will be moving to Fulton FULTON, Ill. — A Clinton restaurant will be moving into the old Corner Treasures & Treats building at 1016 Fourth St. in Fulton. Charles Dykstra, of the Fulton Retail Development Group, made the announcement during the Fulton City Council meeting thi
- Proposal to write off sewer debt moves forward CLINTON — The city finance director will have the ongoing authority to write off sewer bills from finalled accounts as long as the balance is under $10, members of the Internal Operations Committee decided Tuesday. City Finance Director and interim C
- Event to benefit cultural center CLINTON -- The third annual 5K run/walk to benefit the St. Irenaeus Cultural Center will be held Memorial Day. The "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" starts at 8 a.m. Monday outside of St. Irenaeus at 2811 N. Second St. Runners and walkers can register
-
Fitness club is expanding
CLINTON — Less than two years after opening, the Iron Horse Fitness Club is more than tripling their space by moving to the former Rodeo Saloon and Feedhouse. Owners Ashley and Brad Gendreau, 31, of Thomson, Ill., will move by August from the locatio
- Clinton avoids heavy storm CLINTON -- Jim Blaess, official weather observer for the National Weather Service, said Clinton County was lucky during Sunday's storms. "We dodged a bullet," said Blaess, adding that the county did not see any tornados. The county did not receive a
-
Clinton law enforcement honored
CLINTON — Members of the Clinton Police Department and Clinton County Sheriff's Office commemorated National Police Week with an awards ceremony and a memorial ceremony to honor those who protect the community.
-
2 finalists named for city administrator
CLINTON — Two finalists have been selected in the search for Clinton's next city administrator: Clinton Finance Director and interim City Administrator Jessica Kinser and Joliet, Ill., Assistant City Manager Benjamin Benson.
-
Students honored at ceremony
CLINTON -- Seventy-four students from Clinton High School's class of 2013 were honored Thursday during the 27th annual senior honors convocation. The class of 2013 has taken more Advanced Placement tests and has earned some of the highest scores on
- More Clinton Headlines
-
