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Resident says Sleepy Hollow raised water rates without ordinance, cites Illinois law
Summary
Local resident Pete Vernon told the board he found no record of ordinance-based rate adjustments and cited 65 ILCS 5/11-139-7 and -8 requiring rate changes by ordinance; the board asked him to submit his documentation for follow-up.
At the public-comment portion of the meeting, resident Pete Vernon urged the board to review the village's water-rate history and said that, in his view, rates had been raised without proper ordinance action. Vernon recited historical rate figures and argued the municipal code requires rates to be established or revised by ordinance.
"In my opinion... Nonfees water and sewer rates have been increased without ordinance," Vernon said, and he cited the Illinois Municipal Code provision he said governs rate adjustments, 65 ILCS 5/11-139-7 and -8. He said he has researched billing and rate changes and asked the board to examine records and correct any procedural failures.
President Courtney Bowe responded that Vernon should forward his documentation to the administration so staff and trustees can review it and schedule a follow-up meeting; no formal corrective action or vote occurred during the meeting. Deborah Vernon, who identified herself as a longtime resident with governmental accounting experience, said she supports prioritizing the water-main replacement.
The board did not resolve the statutory allegation at the meeting; members asked the commenter to provide detailed records so they can verify the claim and respond in a later meeting.
