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Maywood board approves 50% adjustment to resident’s disputed water bill and discusses water-main response
Summary
Trustees approved a 50% adjustment to a resident's water bill after staff cited a leak and prior adjustments; the board also discussed resident complaints during public comment and reviewed the village response to a recent water-main break.
At the Feb. 5 meeting Mayor Edwenna Perkins reopened a billing dispute raised by resident Linda Reedy, who said she received duplicate meter readings and unusually high water charges. Finance Director Lanya Satchell told the Board the meter is the measuring device, staff identified a leak (a running toilet) as the likely cause of excessive use, and a 20 percent adjustment had already been applied; she recommended an additional 30 percent adjustment for a total 50 percent reduction. The Board approved the 50 percent adjustment and waived penalties (motion: Trustee Lightford; second: Trustee Brandon). The minutes note the 50 percent adjustment equated to $273.92 and that six penalties were involved.
During the public-comment period residents V. Brown, S. Aguirre, K. Sorenson and L. Robinson addressed the Board on various matters; Village Manager Willie Norfleet provided a response to public comments.
Trustees also discussed communications after a recent water-main break. Public Works Director John West described the Village’s notification protocol—contacting police dispatch for after-hours response, using robocalls through IT, and direct notices to nearby businesses—and said Public Works crews worked continuously from early Saturday morning into Sunday to repair the break; staff reported receiving over 30 resident calls about burst pipes. Trustees suggested additional outreach methods, including using the police vehicle PA system, the Village message board and the newsletter.
Why it matters: the billing adjustment resolves an individual resident complaint and the discussion about notification protocols follows a service disruption that affected multiple households; both items reflect municipal responsiveness to utilities concerns.
What’s next: the billing adjustment was applied; staff will continue to refine emergency notification procedures and report back to the Board as needed.
