The La Grange Village Board unanimously approved a 5% increase in the village’s water rates that became effective May 1, and another increase of 4% is on the agenda May 12 that, if approved, would take effect June 1.
Officials said the second rate hike is necessary because the village of McCook, which supplies La Grange with water, will be raising its rates by 4% on June 1.
“It really is for more than just the water,” Trustee Beth Augustine said in introducing the measure last Monday, explaining the increases are necessary for maintenance costs of the system and future capital improvement projects for work such as flood relief. “That includes lead line replacement and efforts that we’re working on for water mitigation.”
Augustine said the rate increases also would support administrative functions and a “sufficient operating reserve.”
The village sets its water rates on what is called a “pass through” system, where they mirror the rate increases set by McCook.
Officials said the proximity of the rate hikes was caused by a delay in the May 1 increase, which was supposed to go into effect in October at the outset of fiscal year 2024-2025 that was caused by a personnel transition.
Village staff estimated both increases should generate approximately $383,740.
Trustee Glenn Thompson voted with his colleagues to approve the May 1 increase, but had reservations.
“I’m a little bit shocked we’re not going for the full 10%, based on the fact that we face major needs for flood relief money and we have the lead line replacement,” he said. “Eventually in the next couple of years we’re going to be forced to go out to bond issue. We’ve just seen (School District) 102 pass a major bond issue, we’ve seen the Park District pass a major bond issue. My fear is that bond issues get harder to pass as time goes on. … Water fees are the one thing that we control as a board and don’t have to go to the citizens.”
Some residents also had questions.
“I’m basically here to say, pause and consider more feedback,” Al Foreman told the board before the vote. “I would ask the village to be a little more transparent in publishing the rates. No matter what rate you decide on today or tomorrow, I was unable to, or maybe I just couldn’t find, the rates published on the village web site.”
Resident John Pluto, a frequent speaker at board meetings, advised the board to be more diligent about finding out the actual number of lead service lines there were in town.
“I’ve done a lead test at my house and I show positive for lead there,” he said. “It might be in the admissible guidelines of the federal government, but I’m sure there are (dirty) places in the town. … I know they did tests in 1992 and there were dirty spots then.”
The next Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. May 12 at the La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Road.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
