Troy City Council Approves New Sewer Rates Effective May 1

By Stephanie Malench

smalench@timestribunenews.com

Due to the Martin Luther King holiday, the Troy City Council met on Tuesday, January 18.

Public Works Director Rob Hancock announced that the old water tower west on town on the frontage road near Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 159 was finally demolished the previous week. He also reported that the department needs a new Ford F-250 diesel ¾ ton pick-up truck to use for towing trailers and equipment as well as plowing snow in the subdivision cul-de-sacs. Due to shortages, the truck will not be available for six to nine months, but the order will be put in now and $49,500 appropriated during the next fiscal year (FY23) which begins May 1, 2022. The item will be voted on at a future meeting.

City Engineer Tom Cissell reported that the city did receive the ACT grant to extend the shared us path from the Park and Ride lot at Main St. and Highway 40 east on 40 to the city line between C.A. Henning Elementary School and Bethany Park subdivision.

An ordinance was passed increasing the sewer rates beginning May 1. Sewer rates will increase 8% over each of the next 5 years. In city sewer rates will go up from $10.73 for the first 2,000 in city to $11.59 and from $18.82 to $20.33 out of city for the first 2,000 gallons. City manager Jay Keeven said the sewer rate increases have only been 2% each year over the last 10 fiscal years, which does not keep up with the cost of providing the service and required improvements to the system.

Rates are being increased to fund the improvements required by the Illinois EPA to expand the current wastewater treatment plant and collection lines to meet the growing demand.

A professional services agreement resolution was approved between the city and TWM, Inc. for various engineering/consulting services on the wastewater treatment plant.

Two resolutions were then passed to move forward with replacing the water meters throughout the city.

The first resolution authorized the mayor to execute a master services agreement with Core & Main LP not to exceed $2,215,003.78. The new meters will make reading the meters more efficient and user friendly. The new meters will use cloud based readers instead of employees to read

The second resolution authorized the mayor to execute a software service agreement for five years with Sensus, that makes the software Core & Main uses to download their meter reads. The new system is read six times a day and allows customers to be notified of leaks right away. Readings will be stored for one year.

Also approved was a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a TIF redevelopment agreement with Egg Development L.L.C. for up to $68,000 or 15% of the total eligible redevelopment costs for 201 E. Market St. Plans include replacement of exterior windows and doors, renovating the upstairs apartments, and making the first floor “build to suit” for a commercial tenant.

The reimbursement will be made in two installments, with the first payment of $34,000 being made after the building permit is issued by the city and the remainder of the $34,000 or 15% of the actual costs, whichever is less upon completion of the work and approved for occupancy by the City.

Another resolution approved was in support of applying for an environmental grant for $15,000 through Madison County Building and Zoning to reroute the storm sewer from Creekside and Avalon to the detention pond.

The last two resolutions passed accepted the final plats for Hampton Glen Phases 5 and 6 located at opposite ends of the subdivision.

The next meeting will be February 7 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.