Village of Cherry Valley Committee of the Whole met June 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Village President David Schroeder called the Special Committee of the Whole Meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Roll call was taken by Deputy Village Clerk Heather Riley:
Nancy Belt Present
Sally Hollembeak Present
Jeff Fustin Present
Brandi Pearse Present
Mike Neville Present
David Schroeder Present
Carl Wedig Present
Also present: Chief Roy Bethge, Village Administrator Jim E. Claeyssen, Public Works Supervisor Steve Strasser and Deputy Village Clerk Heather Riley.
ADOPT THE AGENDA:
Trustee Hollembeak moved to adopt the agenda. Trustee Neville seconded. All “AYE;” None opposed. Motion carried by voice vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Participants who would like to speak under public comment will be given an opportunity to do so after the presentation.
PUBLIC WORKS – Chairman Trustee Mike Neville.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. A Special presentation regarding the village’s Municipal Water System, which includes the following:
• Recent repairs and improvements to the Village’s Water mains and wells.
• Associated water rate changes related to the village’s water system customers which starts July 1, 2022.
Village President Schroeder welcomed everyone to join him in the lobby where Village Administrator Jim Claeyssen will give an explanation of the (4) large boards displaying information regarding some of the village’s larger water main breaks in the last (5) years which had to be repaired by licensed contractors, in addition to water main breaks which our Public Works Department was able to repair. Also the village has made equipment updates needed to the village’s well houses and reviewed new projected water rate fees to our water customers to continue to support the water systems operations. The residents were given an opportunity to review the boards and then reconvene back into the Board Room for a question-and-answer segment.
Bill Lawson – Is the rate going to continue to rise each year or is this just a one-time rate increase? The Village Board passed an ordinance in May 2022 which sets a change in the village’s water consumption fee (per 100 cubic feet consumed) starting in July 2022 and increases yearly through April 30, 2027. The Village Board has stated however that they will review this ordinance on a yearly basis.
If Rockford is pulling from the same aquafer as the Village of Cherry Valley, why didn’t they go on a water ban? The City of Rockford has over (39) wells and pulls from various wells at various times and at various depths. Rockford did have water supply issues and at one time had (4) of their largest well houses down for various pumping issues.
Is Hurricane Harbor paying their portion of the water that they consume? Yes, they are; their major “fill” occurs before the actual Summer Pumping Season begins.
Dean Nora – Is there a water pressure monitoring system? Yes, we monitor our water pressures throughout various locations in the system.
Sue Esser – Why haven’t water rate increases been addressed sooner? The village has tried to hold down water rates for some time now but with the increase in water main and well house issues occurring so much in the last (5) years, the village needs to increase its water rate fees to address these issues and sustain a positive balance fund in our Water Account.
Why weren’t the water mains and water system maintenance not a concern or addressed sooner? The village has been addressing these concerns and issues as quickly as we can but we must realize many of these issues are unexpected.
Does the Village of Cherry Valley anticipate a water ban again this year? We do not anticipate a water ban but we can’t promise there won’t be one; it depends on the duration of hot weather we have and what amount of rainfall that actually occurs. All (4) village wells are fully operational and ready for the summer season.
ADJOURNMENT: Trustee Hollembeak moved that the meeting be adjourned at 6:40 PM. Trustee Belt seconded. All “AYE;” None opposed. Motion carried by voice vote.
http://www.cherryvalley.org/images/committee-of-the-whole/2022/COW%20MINUTES%2006-27-2022%20-%20Special%20Meeting.pdf
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