Manlius sets water/sewer increases

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MANLIUS — Now that the village of Manlius has survived the battle of funding, their long awaited water and sewer project will begin, which means increases in residents' water bills, additional sewer rates, and an increase in all property taxes within the village limits.

In December of 2009, EPA approved a loan for the village of Manlius in the amount of $809,953. The loan, which is part EPA and part stimulus funds, will go toward the sewer project the village has been working to put into place since 2001.

The loan is based on a 20-year schedule with zero percent simple interest. The village will pay $30,375 per year in two installments each year.

What this means for residents of the village is that a debt service tax will be levied against each property owner’s tax bill in 2011, with the increase to show up on their 2012 tax bill.

Village board members are still in discussion with regards as to what the exact amount debt service tax will be; the board is hoping to have something to vote on soon.

In the meantime, residents of Manlius will notice an increase on their water and sewer bills as of January 2011 — $3.50 per 1,000 gallons of metered water consumption will be applied to all users to recover operation, maintenance and replacements costs due to the newly implemented sewer system.

They will also see a 96-cent capitol improvement charge added on for the waste water facility.

Collectively, that means a family who uses 2,000 gallons of water a month would see an extra $7.96 added to their bills.

Residents of the village also need to know a flat rate of $18.50 will be charged to each non-metered user of the system.

Trustee Jan Williams informed the board she has had a lot of residents concerned about the amount of loans which the state of Illinois has promised the village. Residents' concerns are generated from hearing the state of Illinois has not been paying their bills, and they are worried the monies promised to the village will not come through, she said.

Jack Kusek of McClure Engineering of LaSalle, the village engineer, told the board that while concerns are warranted, the residents of Manlius can be assured everything for the sewer project is running as scheduled and smoothly. Kusek went on to say the village has on record the EPA revolving loan agreement, EPA grant agreement as well as the signed agreement with regards to CDAP funds.

In other business, the board:

• Accepted the hiring of Guither Tree Service, Walnut, as the contractor for removing all trees that would be a hindrance to the upcoming construction of the sewer project.

• Will be implementing purchase orders for all village employees to use for everything purchased for the village. Mayor Gene Menard feels a paper trail is needed, so that when bills come due, the clerk can match orders to bills.

• Was informed by Michael Henneberry, the village attorney, he will be meeting with attorneys for Linda and Ron Hard and Ted Hannon, with regards to the dilapidated buildings located at 113 and 115 Maple St. Henneberry is hopeful something positive will come out of the meeting and will address the board with his findings at the next village board meeting.

*Accepted payment of bills in the amount of $17,262.

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