Village board raises water, electric rates
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
There were several major items discussed at Tuesday's Chatham Village Board meeting,
most notably the fact that local residents will soon feel the effects of raised electric and water
rates.
Monthly electric rates were increased by five percent, while water rates were upped by 5.5
percent. The increases take effect June 1, 2008.
Village officials explained that the electric increase was based on increased costs, including
employee salaries, the rising price of copper and fuel costs. The last electric rate increase was
estimated at two to three years ago.
Water rates were increased by three percent just last year, but village officials stated the latest
increase is due to general operations, and not related to the new Village water plant being
planned near Buckhart.
The latest increase is attributed to factors such as increased costs passed down from CWLP,
along with rising fuel costs and salaries.
Both ordinances were passed by a 5-0 vote, with trustee Tom Kavanagh absent.
•There was also news about the new water plant. Village officials have been informed by the
Illinois EPA that there must be at least one more month of cold weather for a certain issue, in
addition to other issues that have arisen in previous months. The result is an estimated six
month delay in the project.
The plant was originally estimated to be operational by about September 2010, and now that
timetable has been pushed into early 2011, trustee Chuck Herr confirmed.
•The board passed an ordinance regarding police officer salaries for the next four years,
though only the first year (2009) is legally binding, attorney John Myers indicated. Salaries will
increase by 4.25 percent for 2009. The salaries must be set annually by law, Myers added.
•If funding comes along from IDOT for an extension of the bike trail from Plummer to
Glenwood High School, the Village will assume ownership of the stretch, according to another
ordinance passed Tuesday. The Village of Chatham already owns the part of the trail that is
within village limits.
•Representatives from Comcast will be invited to the next village board meeting, as village
officials want to discuss several issues. One concerns local developer Chris Holloway, who
told the board that his north-end apartment complex has had trouble securing cable hook-ups.
Holloway told the board that he was told by Comcast it would cost him $115,000 up front to
wire the apartment complex for cable. Holloway said he checked with other local developers,
none of which were charged a fee by Comcast (formerly Insight).
The board tabled a measure to approve a new agreement with Comcast.
•Ron Levine and John Seiz were appointed to four-year terms on the Zoning Board of
Appeals; and there was an addition to the liquor license for the Sangamon Prairie Reception
Center to allow for wine to be sold by the bottle.
•The Illinois Dept. of Agriculture will be placing purple sticky traps across the state in certain
areas, including Chatham, to look for emerald ash borer, an evasive pest that is deadly to ash
trees. The traps are purple in color, sticky to the touch and will hang in trees.
The traps will be deployed during the months of April and May and will remain through Labor
Day. Village officials and the IDA are asking the public to leave the traps alone.
•Village committee meetings will be held Tuesday, May 6, beginning at 6 p.m. The next village
board meeting is set for Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
There were several major items discussed at Tuesday's Chatham Village Board meeting,
most notably the fact that local residents will soon feel the effects of raised electric and water
rates.
Monthly electric rates were increased by five percent, while water rates were upped by 5.5
percent. The increases take effect June 1, 2008.
Village officials explained that the electric increase was based on increased costs, including
employee salaries, the rising price of copper and fuel costs. The last electric rate increase was
estimated at two to three years ago.
Water rates were increased by three percent just last year, but village officials stated the latest
increase is due to general operations, and not related to the new Village water plant being
planned near Buckhart.
The latest increase is attributed to factors such as increased costs passed down from CWLP,
along with rising fuel costs and salaries.
Both ordinances were passed by a 5-0 vote, with trustee Tom Kavanagh absent.
•There was also news about the new water plant. Village officials have been informed by the
Illinois EPA that there must be at least one more month of cold weather for a certain issue, in
addition to other issues that have arisen in previous months. The result is an estimated six
month delay in the project.
The plant was originally estimated to be operational by about September 2010, and now that
timetable has been pushed into early 2011, trustee Chuck Herr confirmed.
•The board passed an ordinance regarding police officer salaries for the next four years,
though only the first year (2009) is legally binding, attorney John Myers indicated. Salaries will
increase by 4.25 percent for 2009. The salaries must be set annually by law, Myers added.
•If funding comes along from IDOT for an extension of the bike trail from Plummer to
Glenwood High School, the Village will assume ownership of the stretch, according to another
ordinance passed Tuesday. The Village of Chatham already owns the part of the trail that is
within village limits.
•Representatives from Comcast will be invited to the next village board meeting, as village
officials want to discuss several issues. One concerns local developer Chris Holloway, who
told the board that his north-end apartment complex has had trouble securing cable hook-ups.
Holloway told the board that he was told by Comcast it would cost him $115,000 up front to
wire the apartment complex for cable. Holloway said he checked with other local developers,
none of which were charged a fee by Comcast (formerly Insight).
The board tabled a measure to approve a new agreement with Comcast.
•Ron Levine and John Seiz were appointed to four-year terms on the Zoning Board of
Appeals; and there was an addition to the liquor license for the Sangamon Prairie Reception
Center to allow for wine to be sold by the bottle.
•The Illinois Dept. of Agriculture will be placing purple sticky traps across the state in certain
areas, including Chatham, to look for emerald ash borer, an evasive pest that is deadly to ash
trees. The traps are purple in color, sticky to the touch and will hang in trees.
The traps will be deployed during the months of April and May and will remain through Labor
Day. Village officials and the IDA are asking the public to leave the traps alone.
•Village committee meetings will be held Tuesday, May 6, beginning at 6 p.m. The next village
board meeting is set for Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: April 24, 2008