Rock Island Today

City of Aledo Water, Sewer & Storm Drain and Gas Committee met Feb. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

A joint Water, Sewer & Storm Drain and Gas Committee meeting of the City of Aledo met in Open Session in the Council Chambers of the City Hall building on February 26, 2024. Chairman ALD. CARMEN RUH called the joint Committee meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following committee members answered present:

Aldermen BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, JAY DOHERTY, CARMEN RUH, and ANDREW WEEKS. Mayor CHRIS HAGLOCH.

Also present NOEL BUSH, Alderman, MARK FRIESE, Alderman, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, City Administrator, KAYDE GERBER, Utility Billing Clerk, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.

The media was represented by Jim Taylor, WRMJ.

The following was discussed:

Approval of Committee Minutes: Motion was made by ALD. DIXON and seconded by ALD. COOPER to approve the Water, Sewer & Storm Drain Committee meeting minutes of 11/09/21 as presented. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement.

Old Business: No Report.

New Business:

Discussion on an Amendment in Part Title 8, Chapter 6, Section 8 of the City Code for the City of Aledo regarding Water & Sewer Reconnection and Other Administrative Fees:

ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported in speaking with Kayde Gerber, Utility Billing Clerk, City Staff have noticed the large amount of money and time the city spends on sending out notices, lien letters and other correspondence concerning this issue. The City is not recouping our cost for that work or expense. ADMINISTRATOR contacted Kate Carter at Miller, Hall and Triggs and asked what other municipalities are doing to handle these issues.

A review of those are as follows:

• Percentage Fee:

o Aledo currently charges a 1% late fee charge.

o What we can do: Can set own percentage – 10% common.

o Recommendation: 10% of the bill charged on the 6th.

• Administrative Fee for costs:

o Aledo currently has no charge.

o What we can do: Fee must be reasonable / limited to costs.

o Recommendation: $25.00

• Reconnect Fee:

o $15.00 weekdays / $100 weekends.

o What we can do: $25.00 - $50.00 weekdays / $100.00 - $125.00 / weekends.

o Recommendation: $50.00 weekdays / $125.00 weekends.

• Multiple Reconnections in same year:

o Aledo currently has no additional fee.

o What we can do: Raise the fees after the first time.

o Recommendation: 1.5 times for each successive reconnection in a year.

• Reconnection Time Frame:

o Aledo currently turns services back on immediately after payment.

o What we can do: No municipal guidelines.

o Recommendation: Within 24 hours after payment unless a weekend.

KAYDE GERBER reported she spends several days preparing the utility liens notices. Each letter is sent certified mail at a current cost of $8.53.

ALD. Doherty inquired what the 1% late fee’s are that the City received in 1-year. The alderman suggested the Committee consider a 5% increase if that would cover the shortfall. City Staff to provide those figures to the Committee.

The Committee discussed the option for customer’s to also utilize budget billing. It was noted during discussion that the customer must remain at a current balance to remain onto budget billing.

Before a recommendation is made by the Committee, additional figures to be provided back to the Committee.

Discussion and Review in Part Title 8, Chapter 6, Section 8 – (9) of the City Code for the City of Aledo regarding Water and Sewer Rates Miscellaneous Provisions of a Park District organized under Illinois Law or Religious Corporation or Organization:

ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported typical monthly minimum charges for religious corporations or organizations is in the amount of $32.62 per month. The ADMINISTRATOR wanted to discuss the current policy for charges to churches in Aledo and also provide the details as informational to those new Council members that have recently taken the oath.

A table of Aledo churches were provided to the Committee for review that included the typical monthly combined minimum charge at minimum rate; the monthly charge if paid at regular rate; and, the currently yearly charges vs. regular rate charge. Those churches include: Aledo First Baptist Church, College Avenue Presbyterian Church, New Life Assembly of God Church, Messiah Lutheran Church, Grace Evangelical Free Church, Community Bible Fellowship Church & Activity Center building, Kingdom Hall, United Methodist Church, and the Churches of Mercer County Food Pantry.

The Committee inquired what other municipalities do related to charges for Religious Corporations or Organizations. City Staff noted they were unaware of that data at this time.

ALD. Ruh polled each elected official present during the meeting.

o Ald. Dixon – “not really sure on the idea of changing but open to recouping a portion of the cost.”

o Ald. Bush – “open to recouping a portion of the costs but also suggested reaching out to the churches to see what their feelings would be on the change.”

o Ald. Friese – “not in favor of a huge raise but the City is also not hurt by the current charging policy.”

o Ald. Weeks – “a minimal charge if anything but not opposed to leaving the policy as is.”

o Ald. Cooper – “leave it alone but those facilities that are attached to a church need to be charged separately.”

o Ald. Doherty – “reluctant to change the current charges for the churches. The buildings attached to a church need to be charged separately. A discounted (minimum) rate for a needed service to the Community and a fifteen thousand per year investment to the Community is well needed.”

A consensus from the joint Committee to have separate billing for Kingdom Hall and Community Bible Fellowship Hall facilities and to have their own meters that are beyond the Church building and to leave the current policy for charging churches alone.

A motion was made by ALD. Weeks and seconded by ALD. Dixon to move the item by consensus to the City Council for final approval. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement.

Discussion regarding the Proposal for Sanitary Sewer Main Cleaning and Inspection on SE 2nd Avenue from SE 3rd Street to SE 15th Street – Status Update:

ADMINISTRATOR Chausse reported from SE 10th Street to SE 15th Street the sanitary sewer main appears to be in good shape. North of SE 10th Street to highway 17 (SE 3rd Avenue) does appear to have issues. There is a minimum line of 6 inches but now require 8-inch to 10-inch. There is also a void that will need to be addressed along SE 2nd Avenue. This is only preliminary assessments by the Engineer but will provide a final review to the City Council at a later date. This item to be provided back to the Property Committee.

MAYOR Hagloch reported once final numbers are received back from the sewer camera inspection of the main, the City will need to discuss how best to break up the project.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN DOHERTY and seconded by ALDERMAN WEEKS that the meeting be adjourned. Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:37 P.M.

https://www.aledoil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02262024-397