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Village approves water, sewer rate increase
By Greta Myers
Rochester residents will see higher utility bills after water and sewer rate increases go into effect,
beginning next month. The decision was made by a 5-0 vote during a special meeting of the Rochester
village board on Monday.
The increase is necessary to keep up with water and sewage operating and maintenance costs and to
offset increases passed on by the Springfield Metro Sanitary District, village officials said. “We don’t take
this lightly either,” trustee Joe Hill told the audience at the meeting, “We have to pay these bills too.”
The new rates will increase the water rates by $1.10 per 1000 gallons of usage and sewer rates will be
$1.60 more per 1000 gallons a month. The typical utilities customer, who uses around 5,000 gallons each
month, will see an increase of roughly $10.40.
Rochester utility customers will get a small break from the increases with a $1 reduction for both phase
1 and phase 3 sewer cap fees on their bills. The cap fees were imposed to pay off a loan for improvements
made to the village’s sewer line. The increase in customers contributing to the fund has allowed for the
reduction, said village manager Dale Lanningham.
But customers should also expect small increases over the next few years to keep pace with rate
increases from the SMSD, whose rate hikes for major improvements will continue until 2016.
"It is important to have these increases so that funding for infrastructure work is available," said water
trustee Harry Hendrickson. Aging and root-damaged pipes are contributing to overflow charges from the
sanitary district, which have totaled $50,000 a year over the past two years. The replacement of the Village
View Sanitary Line, which contains 50- year-old clay pipe, will help reduce the overflow losses and
recouped money can be put into more infrastructure improvements, Hendrickson said.
“Our costs are exceeding the revenues. We don’t like increasing them (the fees) but it’s a pay as you go
system.” Hendrickson said.
By Greta Myers
Rochester residents will see higher utility bills after water and sewer rate increases go into effect,
beginning next month. The decision was made by a 5-0 vote during a special meeting of the Rochester
village board on Monday.
The increase is necessary to keep up with water and sewage operating and maintenance costs and to
offset increases passed on by the Springfield Metro Sanitary District, village officials said. “We don’t take
this lightly either,” trustee Joe Hill told the audience at the meeting, “We have to pay these bills too.”
The new rates will increase the water rates by $1.10 per 1000 gallons of usage and sewer rates will be
$1.60 more per 1000 gallons a month. The typical utilities customer, who uses around 5,000 gallons each
month, will see an increase of roughly $10.40.
Rochester utility customers will get a small break from the increases with a $1 reduction for both phase
1 and phase 3 sewer cap fees on their bills. The cap fees were imposed to pay off a loan for improvements
made to the village’s sewer line. The increase in customers contributing to the fund has allowed for the
reduction, said village manager Dale Lanningham.
But customers should also expect small increases over the next few years to keep pace with rate
increases from the SMSD, whose rate hikes for major improvements will continue until 2016.
"It is important to have these increases so that funding for infrastructure work is available," said water
trustee Harry Hendrickson. Aging and root-damaged pipes are contributing to overflow charges from the
sanitary district, which have totaled $50,000 a year over the past two years. The replacement of the Village
View Sanitary Line, which contains 50- year-old clay pipe, will help reduce the overflow losses and
recouped money can be put into more infrastructure improvements, Hendrickson said.
“Our costs are exceeding the revenues. We don’t like increasing them (the fees) but it’s a pay as you go
system.” Hendrickson said.
Issue Date: April 28, 2011