Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Sewer Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panther Wash owner says sewer charges are unfair, council agrees to review; routine measures pass unanimously
Summary
At the April 13 Pinckneyville City Council meeting, Panther Wash representative Beth Miller-Porter asked the council to address what she described as inequitable sewer charges and presented a nearly $60,000 meter bid; the council directed further review, including an executive-session discussion of potential litigation. The council also approved a slate of routine resolutions and ordinances by unanimous votes.
Beth Miller-Porter, representing Panther Wash, told the Pinckneyville City Council on April 13 that her carwash has been placed at an economic disadvantage because competing businesses have not paid sewer charges and because city ordinances appear inconsistent on meter and payment requirements. She said Panther Wash has paid sewer fees for years and sought either a reduced sewer rate or an alternative to a costly sewer meter.
"It is a clear-cut case of discrimination to a minority-owned business," Miller-Porter said, urging the council to make the charges fair. She presented a contractor bid of nearly $60,000 to install a sewer meter and said a meter, if installed, could potentially reduce her sewer charges by about 30 percent. Miller-Porter also raised the possibility of seeking back pay for prior charges she considers inequitable.
City Attorney Don Bigham told the council the city has discretion to set rates on a case-by-case basis and recommended the council discuss the matter further in executive session under the litigation exception. Commissioner Joshua Kuhnert said he would speak with the owner of Brand’s Carwash about hooking that business up to the sewer to address equity concerns; Commissioner Sammy D. Peradotta explained that rising chemical and processing costs have driven sewer treatment expenses higher.
The council did not take immediate action on Panther Wash’s request at the meeting but voted unanimously to adjourn to executive session later that evening to discuss, among other matters, pending or probable litigation. No formal rate change or refund was approved on April 13.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (March 23, 2026): Motion carried unanimously (Peradotta moved; Kuhnert seconded). - Treasurer’s Report (payroll period ending March 2026 — Total Gross Payroll $617,171.37): Approved unanimously (Peradotta moved; Hicks seconded). - Accounts payable: Approved unanimously (Peradotta moved; Kuhnert seconded). - R-2026-14: Certified Wastewater Operator Service Agreement with Albers Water Services, LLC — Approved unanimously (Kuhnert presented/moved). - R-2026-17: Swimming Pool Management Service Agreement with Jo C. Summers — Approved unanimously (Kuhnert presented/moved). - Notice of Bid: Utility Maintenance / Water & Sewer Treatment Plant Relief Operator — Approved unanimously (Kuhnert moved). - R-2026-12: Accept proposal from Beelman Ready Mix, Inc. and award contract — Approved unanimously (Peradotta presented/moved). - R-2026-13: Accept proposal from Illini Asphalt Corporation and award contract — Approved unanimously (Peradotta presented/moved). - Purchase: Line Lazer gun from Sherwin Williams ($5,999.99) for Street Department — Approved unanimously (Peradotta requested/moved). - R-2026-16: Authorize public hearing on FY2027 annual budget — Approved unanimously (Hicks presented/moved). - O-2026-02 and O-2026-03: Annual budget and estimate of revenues for FY2027 placed on file — Approved unanimously (Hicks presented/moved). - R-2026-11: Lease of office space to the University of Illinois Extension — Approved unanimously (Mayor Spencer presented). - O-2026-04: Facade Improvement Grant for The Woodside Agency, LLC (applicant Jason Woodside) — Approved unanimously (Mayor Spencer presented). - Re-appointment of Tibretta Reiman to Police Pension Board (term to expire May 9, 2028) — Approved unanimously (Mayor Spencer presented). - Proclamation: April 2026 recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month — Approved unanimously (Mayor Spencer presented). - R-2026-15: Place on file contract for cemetery mowing services with Donald Showalter — Placed on file unanimously (Peradotta presented/moved).
Why it matters
Panther Wash’s complaint raises a procedural and equity question about how sewer charges are applied to businesses that are not connected to the city sewer system and whether the city enforces its ordinances consistently. The council’s direction to consider the matter in executive session signals it will get legal review and possibly staff follow-up. Any change to rates, meter-installation policy, or refunds would affect city revenues and competing businesses and would likely require a formal council action at a subsequent meeting.
What comes next
Council members said they would pursue follow-up: Commissioner Kuhnert will speak with Brand’s Carwash representatives about sewer hookup, staff will explore the cost/benefit of meters and potential rate adjustments, and the council scheduled an executive-session review that included litigation discussions. No timeline for a formal decision was announced at the April 13 meeting.
