Village Board to Take On Water Tapping Fees

Although some developers would like to see the village decrease its water tapping fees, two trustees on the water and sewer committee are wary of doing so because of other future costs

The village's sewer and water committee met Monday evening and discussed a possible ordinance that would change the calculation to collect water tapping fees for multiple-family homes, which would essentially create more savings for developers. The example presented is for an apartment building with 50 units, the tap-on fee would decrease about $200,000 if the new calculations were used.

Neither Annette Bowden nor David Smith, who both serve on the committee, thought the change is a viable option.

“If we’re going to do that, we’re dropping $200,000. Where are you going to cut?” Trustee David Smith said.

Smith said Oak Lawn, which provides water to New Lenox, is changing its water system and will likely charge costs downstream. Additionally, new environmental regulations require the removal of phosphates and nitrates from the water, and that will also lead to more costs.

"We’re seeing costs going up and now we’re looking at tap-on fees going down, and (Smith) and I are panicking," Trustee Annette Bowden said.

Trustee Ray Tuminello, who served on the water and sewer comittee before when this issue has come up, asked to see a breakdown of all fees and was concerned some developers would leave New Lenox if staying meant higher tap-on fees.

“There have been projects before that we lost," Tuminello said. "When they got the $800-900,000 bill they said they’re packing up and leaving. I just want to make sure we’re not putting ourselves at a competitive disadvantage. “

Smith cautioned that board members can't think in terms of the fees' effects on one development, because changing the fee calculations would change it for all future developments, which could potentially result in more lost revenue for the village.

Mayor Tim Baldermann asked that the issue be brought to the entire board for further discussion, possibly as early as next Monday's meeting.