Carol Stream board adopts water, sewer rate increase and approves zoning changes, contract extensions

The Village of Carol Stream Village Board on March 18 approved a consent agenda that included an ordinance raising water and sewer billing rates, multiple zoning actions recommended by the Plan Commission, and contract extensions for landscape and mowing services.

The board approved an ordinance amending section 13-3-13 of the municipal code to increase the water billing rate from $9.09 to $9.54 per 1,000 gallons metered and to raise the sewer billing rate from $4.90 to $5.15 per 1,000 gallons. The village described the combined $0.70 increase as a 5% adjustment "necessary for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the water distribution and sanitary sewer collection and treatment systems." Mayor Frank Severino later said the increase was driven in part by higher costs from Chicago, and told other mayors in a meeting that "don't ask for nothing because there is nothing," describing congressional representatives' message that limited federal funding is expected.

The board also approved Plan Commission recommendations that included: a special use permit and fence variations for outdoor storage for Prologis on behalf of Bulldog Cartage at 815 Kimberly Drive (recommended 6–0 by the Plan Commission); a zoning map amendment to rezone 505 East North Avenue from I (Industrial) to B-3 (General Business) for Connect Academy and a related zoning text amendment to allow a youth counseling and education center in the B-3 district; and the annual review and adoption of the village zoning map. Each Plan Commission item was reported as recommended for approval 6–0 and then adopted by the board as part of the omnibus vote.

Resolutions approved included: participation in the public works mutual aid network (Resolution No. 3405); a contract extension with Bridal Landscaping Group LLC for plant bed maintenance in the amount of $30,143.17 for the period 05/01/2025–04/30/2026 (Resolution No. 3406) and a noted correction to the ordinance citation (the transcript shows staff requested changing the referenced subsection from 5-8-14(n) to 5-8-14(o) and removing a reference to section 5-8-3(b)); a contract extension with Prime Landscaping Group LLC for mowing of rights-of-way in the amount of $62,129.32 for the same contract period (Resolution No. 3407) with the same code citation corrections; a resolution for maintenance under the Illinois Highway Code for 2025 pavement projects (Resolution No. 3408); adoption of the official zoning map (Resolution No. 3409 as listed in the meeting); and approval of vacant land contracts for Surry Drive Lot 75 and Lot 79 (Resolution No. 3410 as listed).

The board approved several community event permits and raffle-license waivers on the consent agenda, including a raffle license and fee waiver for My Child's Life Matters Inc. for the "Scribe for John" event at Ross Ferrero Town Center on Aug. 2, 2025, with an amplification permit waiver for the same event; raffle license/fee waivers for Lincoln Elementary PTA, Pleasant Hill Elementary PTA, Western Trails Elementary PTA, and the Carol Stream Rotary Club; and payment of regular and addendum warrants covering the period 03/04/2025 through 03/17/2025.

Votes at a glance (omnibus consent; roll call recorded unanimous approval unless noted): - Ordinance (amend sec. 13-3-13) — water rate to $9.54/1,000 gal; sewer rate to $5.15/1,000 gal — Ordinance No. 2025-03-07 — Approved (unanimous). - Ordinance approving special use/fence variations for Prologis/Bulldog Cartage, 815 Kimberly Dr. — Ordinance No. 2025-03-08 — Approved (unanimous). - Ordinance rezoning 505 E. North Ave. (Connect Academy) from I to B-3; zoning text amendment to allow youth counseling and education center in B-3 — Ordinance Nos. 2025-03-09, 2025-03-10, 2025-03-11 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution authorizing public works mutual aid network — Res. No. 3405 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution authorizing Bridal Landscaping Group LLC contract extension ($30,143.17; 05/01/2025–04/30/2026) — Res. No. 3406 — Approved with clerical citation correction noted (unanimous). - Resolution authorizing Prime Landscaping Group LLC contract extension ($62,129.32; 05/01/2025–04/30/2026) — Res. No. 3407 — Approved with clerical citation correction noted (unanimous). - Resolution for Illinois Highway Code maintenance projects (2025 flexible pavement and crackfill) — Res. No. 3408 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution adopting official zoning map — Res. No. 3409 (listed in meeting) — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution approving vacant land contracts for Surry Drive Lots 75 and 79 — Res. No. 3410 (listed in meeting) — Approved (unanimous). - Multiple raffle licenses, fee waivers, amplification permits and payment of bills — Approved (unanimous).

Context and next steps: Trustees approved the items by omnibus vote after the clerk read the consent agenda. Mayor Severino and other officials noted that rising external costs — especially water rates passed through from Chicago — and limited federal funding for local projects were factors discussed during the meeting and in a mayoral report. The board moved directly into a scheduled budget meeting after adjourning the village board session.

Ending: The consent agenda concluded with all listed items adopted by unanimous roll call; minutes and follow-up procedural corrections (code subsection citation changes) were recorded in the meeting record.