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Flossmoor Village Board supports passing Chicago, Harvey water rate increases to residents

Flossmoor residents may see their water bills go up by 7 cents per 1,000 gallons starting this month.

The Village Board voiced its support to “pass through” both a Harvey rate increase and a Chicago component increase onto residents’ water bills. Chicago’s rate is expected to increase June 1 and Harvey’s on July 1. Pending formal approval April 19, water rates would increase from $11.41 per 1,000 gallons to $11.48.

Trustee James Mitros noted he thinks the board has done this almost every year. Mayor Paul Braun called it a “very reasonable” measure.

“I don’t think that poses any great burden on us and our residents,” he said.

The change would show on the water portion of the bill, with no change to the sewer rate, according to a report from Finance Director Scott Bordui. The sewer rate is $3.77 per 1,000 gallons for a total new rate of $15.25 per 1,000 gallons.

An ordinance is to be drafted for formal approval at the village board’s next meeting, slated for April 19. The effective date of the measure would be April 1, 2021, which is the start of a new billing quarter for Flossmoor.

Bordui noted in his report that Homewood has advised Flossmoor that “Harvey has continued to not properly implement the terms of the [2012] contract extension and subsequent rate adjustments” and since January 2021 has been billing “slightly more” than is contracted. The village has been negotiating with Homewood to switch suppliers to get water from Hammond through Chicago Heights. The Flossmoor Village Board also did not pass through 2020 rate increases from Chicago and Harvey to its residents.

Bordui presented the board with three other options but recommended the pass through, in part because it would cover operating costs on a cash basis in Fiscal Year 22. The board was also presented the options of leaving the rate where it is, passing an accrual basis rate increase of $1.29 per 1,000 gallons that would account for depreciation and future capital replacements, or increasing the rate by $2 to cover all water and sewer fund capital projects in Fiscal Year 2022 and alleviate the need to pay for projects out of the general fund.

Other Business

  • The Village Board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of two Zoll X Series Manual Monitor/Defibrillators with accessories at a cost of $63,344.20. The request from the village’s fire department noted its existing monitors were due to be replaced this year. Changing federal regulations also necessitated a change. The devices are carried on Flossmoor’s ambulances as part of its Advanced Life Support EMS capabilities.
  • Braun read a resolution honoring Chief Gregory C. Berk for his service to the Flossmoor Fire Department. Berk joined in 1967 as a volunteer and became the Village’s first chief, serving in that role from 1978-2003. Following his retirement from that role, he continued to serve for more than a decade outside of the village before returning in April 2020 to take on the role of interim fire chief in his hometown.
  • Police Officer Cepriana Montelone was introduced and took a ceremonial oath of office after starting with the Flossmoor Police Department in a probationary role on Aug. 24 of last year. She is now in the finishing stages of the department’s field training program, according to village documents. Montelone previously worked as a reserve officer in Hebron, Indiana, and is a former member of the Indiana Army National Guard.
  • The Village Board voted unanimously to approve several appointments Mayor Paul Braun made: Alex Williams to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Edward Korath to the Police Pension Board and Jodie Lawrence to the Public Art Commission.
  • The Village Board voted unanimously to approve two resolutions requesting temporary state highway closure for the Hidden Gem Half Marathon, scheduled for Sept. 11. The route is expected to be similar to that of the 2019 run, with the path designed to minimize the amount of time that Governors Highway and Kedzie Avenue must be closed, according to a report from Assistant Village Manager Allison Matson.

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