Belvidere public works: wells repaired, rate increase would raise average bill to $52.62

Director of Public Works Brent Anderson told the Committee of the Whole that Belvidere remains among peer cities with lower combined water/sewer bills, but a proposed rate increase (second reading scheduled next Monday) would raise the average monthly bill to about $52.62.

Anderson said Well No. 5 is back online after repairs. He estimated the repair work on that well at roughly $100,000 to $120,000. Well No. 7 is in the process of pump assembly replacement, and crews discovered damaged wiring that required replacement; Anderson said adding new wire increased the project cost and he now expects the total repair to come in "a little bit above" $200,000. He said Well No. 11 work is progressing and the department hopes to have additional capacity online in the fall.

Addressing how large industrial users affect rates, Anderson said if Stellantis resumes production at prior levels it could increase utility revenues (he estimated roughly a 20% increase in revenues if Stellantis returns to previous operating levels), and a large distribution user such as Walmart coming online could add an additional revenue increase (Anderson estimated an incremental 10% if fully operational). Those revenue increases, he said, would reduce the pressure for future rate rises but not eliminate fixed-cost components for residential users.

Anderson noted a regional survey of water/sewer rates that places Belvidere in the lowest-cost cohort even with the proposed increase. He also reminded council members that connection fees and capital planning are part of the city's strategy to manage growth-driven costs. The council had no further action on the rate at the meeting beyond scheduling the second reading.

The council proceeded to other agenda items after the update.