Robbins mayor alerts residents to high water bills; water committee to meet July 28 to consider rate changes

Mayor Darren E. Bryant told trustees July 22 that the village received reports of unusually high water bills and sent text alerts to affected residents. "There were two problems: they were late and wrong," the mayor said, according to the meeting minutes.

Trustees scheduled a water committee meeting for July 28 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss a potential rate increase and examine billing issues. Trustee Michael Collier, who reported for the water committee, apologized on behalf of the water supervisor for the billing problems.

The board considered a resolution to approve Dr. Cornell Darden as a lobbyist but deferred the matter to the water committee after Mayor Bryant recommended further discussion; Trustee Ernest Maxey moved to defer and Trustee Thomas Harper seconded. Bernard Ward, a resident during public comment, said he supported having a lobbyist for water and asked whether the lobbyist "will he be specifically for water?" The minutes record the deferral but do not provide the scope, budget, or contract terms for any proposed lobbyist.

Mayor Bryant also reported potential external funds for camera surveillance — he referenced $212,000 associated with State Rep. Bob Rita and $250,000 from Congressman Jonathan Jackson to support camera installations — and noted other infrastructure matters, including that the village hall contractor has received $253,000 but needs $439,000 more to continue work. The minutes state that permits for the Robbins Eagles football field have been pending since February after five rounds of revisions from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), each contributing to delay.

Next steps: the water committee will meet July 28 at 5 p.m.; residents and interested parties should consult committee materials or the clerk's office for meeting packets and data on billing causes and any proposed rate changes.