Riverwoods board directs staff to draft water-bill forgiveness policy after resident’s $3,500 charge

Mayor Ford presided over a discussion Thursday night after resident Steve Cohen told the Village of Riverwoods Board of Trustees that an underground leak produced a $3,500 water bill for his home at 556 Thorn Gate Lane, up from a prior bill of about $950.

The board voted to direct staff to draft a formal policy for utility-bill forgiveness and related procedures and, in the interim, to work with Mr. Cohen on a payment plan and to charge any overage at the village’s wholesale water cost. Director Vasquez said the village will pause late fees on the account while the board develops the policy.

Why it matters: Trustees said they were trying to balance compassion for residents with the need to preserve water-fund revenue and avoid creating open-ended precedent. Several trustees said the village should not fully absorb wholesale water costs that it pays to Northbrook, but that reasonable accommodation was appropriate in some cases.

What trustees, staff and…