This one it looks like you can thank Chicago for. In a move that went relatively under the radar - until uncovered by today's Sun - the DuPage Water Commission gave preliminary approval a few days ago to a series of water bill increases over the next three years that will raise customers' bills by 54 percent or back to the level they were at in 1992. Thoughts anyone?
The decision is a trickle down effect - no pun intended - thanks to the City of Chicago which recently raised the rates it charges DuPage and other counties. The scheduled increases come just a year after rates were cut in an effort to drain the Commission's cash reserves and a rebate was even given back to municipalities which Naperville passed directly on to residents in the form of an even lower water bill. This time it's different. According to Commission member and Naperville public utilities director Alan Poole, the increase will most likely be passed along to Naperville residents. At any rate, just think what they can do with the extra money in Chicago. Thoughts anyone?
If water is the oil of the 21st century, it follows that the price should reflect its increasing importance and scarcity. When the price doesn't relect that, people tend to waste it. We all need to be more careful in our consumption of water and any number of other items that cause degredation to our environment and ultimately, our nation.
Can you say $55 per month MINIMUMLY for water? There are residents of Bolingbrook, Lisle and other surrounding towns being subjected to these rates because they are serviced by a commercial supplier, namely Illinois American Water. Don’t complain too loudly Naperville, I would be thrilled to pay a small increase on top of your rates vice being robbed by this company.
And even better for these thieves, they don’t even have to bother maintaining the pipes because no one will admit to having the authority to demand they do so.
There is a section in the Village of Lisle where unbeknownst to the homeowner most of the fire hydrants located there were for either decoration or to merely service neighborhood dogs. You see, these hydrants either did not flow at all or had a water flow rate insufficient to in any meaningful way fight a fire. Illinois American didn’t never even bother to test their hydrants for about seven years. One of these non-functioning hydrants was even located in front of an elementary school! Can you imagine that?
The Lisle Village Board, having disavowed any responsibility for this mess, has literally told the residents of its’ oldest sub-division to go away and deal with it. No one knows exactly how this happened but apparently the Village has more important things to do, like spending $15 million on building a new street in their downtown, than provide remedy. If you’re a resident of Lisle don’t count on the Village government to care about your safety or insuring citizen equity. Everyone else living in Lisle somehow receives Village provided water at a much, much lower rate. Some local government isn’t it? It sure makes one proud!
So Naperville, take your minimal increase and be happy, happy that it is not Illinois American Water fleecing you and not even bothering to insure your safety or well being. When the Illinois American users get their increase, and they surely will, you can bet there will some additional handing charge also attached, like an added administration fee or something.
By the way, have children and just watch the bill increase geometrically. It’s probably cheaper to use bottled water, and probably safer too!
No Thanks to Schillerstorm and his patronizing politics! How come our elected county chairman is one of Daily's stooges?? Let's get rid of this jerk ASAP!