Bloomington board agrees to utilities ordinance changes and seeks PSC approval for $1,000 water connection fee

The Village of Bloomington Board voted unanimously Aug. 4 to seek Public Service Commission approval to charge a $1,000 water system connection fee as it pursues several revisions to the village’s utilities ordinances.

The decision followed a review with Logan Hoffman of Delta 3 and village staff of proposed ordinance edits. Board members agreed to combine sections 1102 and 1106, clarify that ownership of water service transfers at the curb stop (Keith Leitzinger concurred), and set an increased penalty for illegal sewage use at $10 per day (about $3,650 per year) rather than the prior monthly schedule.

The board also agreed to clarify that residents generally own sewer laterals up to the public right-of-way unless the sewer main lies outside that right-of-way, to retain user charges by classification rather than switching to residential equivalent units, and to continue allowing garbage disposals and standard drain use. Members directed staff to publish all water and sewer rates on the village website, including fire-protection direct charges and quarterly public fire charges, so residents can review the new third-quarter charges.

Village President Robert McLimans noted the PSC had previously disallowed an unapproved $500 connection charge and refunded one resident; after discussing options the board chose to seek PSC approval for a $1,000 fee. The motion to apply to the PSC was made by Alan Mergen and seconded by Dennis Moris and carried unanimously.

Next steps: staff will prepare the formal PSC application and bring final ordinance language back to the board for publication and formal adoption as required by applicable procedures.