New Lenox residents to see increase in water rates

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Updated: February 27, 2012 9:46AM

NEW LENOX — Starting with the April water bill, New Lenox residents can expect a slight increase. This is thanks to a Chicago price hike.

The new price is $6.62 per 1,000 gallons, up from $5.79, Village Administrator Kurt Carroll said at the board meeting Monday.

“When looking at other cities along the line, this is still very reasonable,” Mayor Tim Baldermann said.

The village’s water comes from Lake Michigan through Chicago, Oak Lawn and Tinley Park. This year’s increase is 25 percent. The following three years will have additional increases 15 percent each.

“I’m glad we were able to hold off the (higher) rates as long as we were,” said Trustee Annette Bowden.

The village has been in ongoing negotiations with Oak Lawn concerning repairs and routine maintenance to the water line infrastructure.

Expected costs will be $110 million to $120 million, shared by all the towns along the line, including Orland, Oak Lawn, Mokena, Tinley Park and New Lenox. A resolution is expected in the next six months, Baldermann said.

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel raised prices to the suburbs that use lake water in order to pay for that city’s upgrades, and to help close its $635.7 million deficit.

Also, the village is conducting a water rate study. Currently, residents are paying $39.72 for a minimum 6,000 gallon usage. That was enacted 10 years ago in order to pay off the bonds at that time. Now, the study will help determine if those fees are still necessary, the mayor said.

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