Clinton Sewer & Water trustees urge council not to dissolve district; request meetings

Leaders of the Clinton Sewer and Water District told the Mount Vernon City Council on July 13 that the district is an independent entity and urged the council to pause any effort to dissolve it and meet with district trustees.

John Holland, who identified himself as a former president of Clinton Water and Sewer, told council the system is ‘‘solid’’ after recent investments and questioned why the city would seek to take control while the district’s contract runs through 2041. Holland said the district "got $7,900,000 into this project" and that the district has been paying close to $500,000 annually; he warned that closing private wells and folding customers into a city system could create financial hardship.

Don Durbin, who identified himself as president of the Clinton Sewer and Water District, said the district is appointed by township trustees and emphasized the board’s autonomy. Durbin said no one from the city had met with the full district board before the council passed a resolution considering dissolution, called for a utilities‑committee meeting with the mayor and asked that the city not hold off‑camera meetings with only single officials about the district.

Council counsel replied that some city staff had contact with individual trustees (counsel named Terry King), but Durbin said that single contacts were not adequate and reiterated his request for a meeting with all trustees and the utilities committee. The district leaders said they will not accept unilateral dissolution without discussion and asked for better outreach before any further legislative steps.

What’s next: district leaders requested a formal meeting with the utilities committee and the mayor; the council did not take formal action to dissolve the district during the July 13 meeting.

Quotes used in this article come from recorded public comments at the July 13 council meeting.