By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL — Residents in Normal will pay more for water and sewer services beginning May first. Monday night, the town council narrowly approved a water rate increase on a four-to-three vote, and unanimously endorsed a smaller sewer rate hike.
Forcing their constituents to dig a little deeper into their pockets is “not easy, nor is it fun, but it’s the responsible course of action,” said council member R.C. McBride, who voted for the 82-cent per month increase in water rates and a 24-cent per month boost in sewer rates.
Town staffers estimated the average household will pay an extra $12.72 per-year to maintain adequate reserves in the town’s water and sewer funds. Council members Kevin McCarthy, Kathleen Lorenz, and Scott Preston voted against the water rate increase, suggesting the water fund is not currently in dire financial shape and believing homeowners need relief from rising costs.
Council members approved millions of dollars in water and sewer main work with no controversy. The town government will spend $1.9 million for water and sewer systems on the Greenbriar Drive extension and the Hershey Road project. Workers will also install a water main on Shelbourne Drive, between Torrey Pines and Henry Street, and replace a water main on the west portion of University Court.
And, the council paid tribute to colleague Cheryl Gaines, who’s departing after 24-years on the council. Gaines chose not to run for a seventh-term, choosing instead to make what turned out to be an unsuccessful try to become Normal Township Supervisor.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
