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Park Ridge City Council endorses new water, sewer rate structure
Updated: July 23, 2012 6:43AM
A new way of calculating water and sewer rates was tentatively approved by the Park Ridge City Council this week.
The revised fee structure, which will return to the council for a final vote July 16, sets a minimum, bimonthly base rate according to water-meter size for all residents, schools and businesses. Most residents, who have water meters less than 2-inches in size, will pay a base rate of $16.53. Those with a 2-inch meter will pay $26.45.
Other charges included in the new rates are a Chicago water charge ($2.51 per 1,000 gallons of water used), a Park Ridge water rate ($2.85 per 1,000 gallons), a bimonthly sewer charge of $2.98, and a sewer-usage rate ($1.27 per 1,000 gallons of water).
Calculations provided by the city indicate that a family using 12,000 gallons of water per month will see their bimonthly water bills increase by $21. Residents using only 4,000 gallons of water every two months will see an increase of $11, according to the city’s estimates.
For now residents who know their water-bill account number can find their water-meter size by going to the city’s website, www.parkridge,us, choosing “city meetings” under the “our government” tab and clicking on the link named “Water Meter List June 2012” next to the June 11 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Schools and other buildings with larger meters and high water usage could see varying increases, sample bills calculated by the city show. Decreases are also possible for some, like the 38-unit Bristol Court condominium complex.
Aldermen voted 6-1 in favor of the revised structure, which if formally approved next month will be reflected on Aug. 31 water bills. Initially the new rates were to have gone into effect in late-July.
Additional increases in water and sewer rates are expected in subsequent years.
Sixth Ward Alderman Marc Mazzuca voted against the water-and-sewer fee structure, saying smaller residential meters should not be treated the same as larger meters. He also questioned whether the rates will address the city’s long-term capital needs and disagreed with a plan to implement a $3.5-million automated meter-reading system that would also be paid for through water bills.
“I think this is not the best choice for us,” Mazzuca said.
