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Council rejects immediate $110,000 water/sewer rate study; refers the proposal back to work group
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Summary
A motion to authorize a roughly $110,000 contract with Stantec for a city water and sewer rate study failed on a voice vote; council instead voted to refer the study proposal back to the existing EMRP work group for scope refinement and potential cost reduction.
A proposed contract with Stantec to perform a comprehensive water and sewer rate study did not pass at the April 21 Warrenville City Council meeting.
Public Works Director Bill Kukler explained staff issued a request for qualifications to five firms, interviewed three, and negotiated with Stantec as the most qualified. Kukler said the study would evaluate the city's water and sewer rates, the enterprise maintenance replacement plan and fund balances, and present alternative rate-structure options to the council in November.
Residents and aldermen raised concerns about the price—several council members pointed out staff had budgeted an estimate of $60,000 while the negotiated contract totaled roughly $110,000. Oliver Nashar (speaker 12) and multiple aldermen questioned whether staff could separate water and sewer functions in-house or phase the work to reduce cost. Staff said the city had not had an outside review in recent decades and that outside consultants bring specialised experience that could not easily be replicated in-house.
Alderman Berry moved to direct staff to present a resolution approving a contract with Stantec; after a voice vote the chair announced "Nays have it," and the motion failed. Council then debated alternatives and ultimately passed a motion to refer the proposal back to the EMRP work group for further review and refinement of scope and cost, with staff and council representatives to return with an updated proposal.
