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Sleepy Hollow trustees defend $50 water infrastructure fee as residents press for answers
Summary
Trustees said the $50 monthly fee is aimed at indefinite water-main replacement after residents criticized the surprise notice. Officials outlined project costs, exemptions for well users and a proposed 50% discount for qualifying Kane County seniors; board approved a code change on service-line responsibility.
The Sleepy Hollow Village Board on May 18 defended a newly announced $50 monthly water infrastructure fee while answering extended public comment from residents who called the mailing and timing of the notice inadequate. Village President (speaker 2) acknowledged the upset, apologized for communications missteps and said staff and the finance committee had studied funding options and planned an FAQ and other outreach.
Trustees and staff said the fee is limited to water-main replacement and related work in the water and sewer enterprise fund; it applies only to households receiving municipal water (wells are excluded). "If you are on water, you will get the $50 infrastructure fee on there," the president said, adding the village will correct anyone billed in error and publish guidance and assistance resources.
Officials provided project context: the Hillcrest water-main project is estimated near $966,000 (rounded to about $1,000,000) and Winmore is currently estimated at about $600,000. Village staff said approximately 1,050 households receive municipal water and would be charged the fee; at that scale, they estimate the Hillcrest loan could be replenished in about two years at $50 per household per month. Trustee comments cited inflation and the long backlog of necessary replacements as drivers for the decision.
Residents pressed for clarity on duration and equity. One attendee asked: "How long will this surcharge be in place?" Trustees responded the fee is intended to continue until funding needs and additional grant resources allow reassessment, and they acknowledged the possibility of future rate adjustments if additional funding is secured.
To address affordability, trustees approved a recommendation that residents who qualify for the Kane County senior-citizen property-assessment freeze be eligible for a 50% reduction on the fee once program status is verified. Finance committee members outlined a one-page application and a July 1 filing target for the current cycle; verification would be performed via assessor PIN lookup.
In separate action, the board adopted an ordinance amending Title 6, Chapter 3 of the municipal code to clarify responsibility for water service-line repair and maintenance. The ordinance gives the village authority to notify homeowners of a leak and, after a notice period tied to severity, to shut off service at the street-side box to stop wasteful flows. Director-level staff framed the change as protecting the enterprise fund and allowing the village to require repairs that otherwise would be paid by municipal reserves.
Next steps: staff said they will publish the FAQ and additional materials on the village website and via the newsletter; trustees asked to revisit fee details if grant or state funding becomes available. The village also said it will continue pursuing external grants and will evaluate whether the fee should be reduced or adjusted if additional funding is secured.
