Grayville Water and Sewer rates are going up. Commissioner Don Baldwin explains the reasoning.
“Last year, we were in the red $220,000. So City Council needs to increase the established water and sewage service rate to be in compliance with the requirements of the minimum rates established by the Illinois Department of Commerce for applicants for a CDGB Grant. It’s in the best interest of the City to establish new water and sewer rates to allow the city to pursue the subject CDGB Grant. This would raise the rate 5% for water and sewer across the board.”
For residential customers in city, the rate per 1,000 gallons will be $6.41 while the out of city rate per thousand gallons will be $9.70. For commercial and industrial customers, the in city rate will be $6.41 per thousand gallons and out of city rate will be $9.70. Bulk water rates will go to $1.70 per 100 gallons. The new sewer rate will go to $6.12 per thousand gallons and out of city rate goes to $9.03.
Mayor Travis Thompson tried to soften the blow saying that the two percent yearly increase won’t begin until 2025 however.
“One additional thing…our annual rate increase won’t happen in 2024. It’ll start in 2025. The ordinance states that each May, we raise it by 2%. So we’ll be raising it 5% and then it won’t raise again until May of 2025.”
Council passed the first reading of the ordinance. Residents will be allowed to voice any concerns before a second reading and official passage/institution of Ordinance 947 after a second reading.
Grayville Commissioners are also pursuing a Sewer Lagoon and Sewer System Upgrade Grant. The cost to apply for that grant is $153,500. The current lagoon is more than 20 years old and has a lot of needs. The city intends to pursue a $1.5 million dollar grant to make upgrades. A public hearing on that grant application will be held on Wednesday, December 27th at 6:45pm.
