Bloomington forwards updated utility ordinance to attorney after clerk flags sewer-rate errors

The Village of Bloomington board voted Oct. 6 to forward an updated utility ordinance, including water and sewer schedules, to the village attorney for final adjustments after the clerk identified rate discrepancies.

Clerk Michelle Atterbury told trustees the draft ordinance listed a quarterly fixed sewer cost of $36 and a volume charge of $3.60 per 1,000 gallons, while the village currently charges a $61.58 fixed quarterly fee and $6.73 per 1,000 gallons. Atterbury asked the board to verify the correct rates before the ordinance is finalized; President Robert McLimans agreed to contact Mr. Hoppman at Delta 3 to confirm amounts.

McLimans said he also learned from Johnson Block and the tariff approved by the Public Service Commission that the new tariff contains a "water lateral installation charge" that permits the utility to bill a customer for the actual cost of installing a service lateral when those costs are not recovered through subdivision contributions or other means.

Trustee Dennis Moris seconded the motion to forward the ordinance to Attorney Wood once the rates are verified; the motion carried unanimously. The board also agreed that McLimans and Clerk Atterbury would review rates with Mr. Hoppman together to ensure consistency before sending the ordinance for legal review.

What happens next: the board will confirm exact rate figures with Delta 3 and return the revised ordinance to Attorney Wood for legal adjustments prior to final consideration at a subsequent meeting.