Council reviews multi‑year water projects, adopts new rates based on Spicer study

Alexander Spicer, the village engineer, reviewed roughly five years of water‑system, sidewalk and street projects and the grants that funded them, then council members voted to adopt new water rates developed by Spicer Engineering.
Spicer said the village has completed more than 3 miles of new water main, more than 200 new water services and roughly 17,000 feet of sidewalk in the last five years, funded in part by category B and TMF grants. “That’s over 3 miles of new water main, over 200 water services, new water services to go along with the 800 service materials that were verified,” Spicer said. He described a continuing effort to replace identified lead service lines and to verify service lines by hydro‑excavation.
The consultant described a recently completed phase that replaced about two miles of water main and 180 water services, and said the village is preparing a phase 2 fall bid for about 3,000 feet of additional main. Spicer told the council that remaining contingency funds will be used to replace four lead lines discovered during the TMF grant work and that, with further work, “the village will be completely at least straight up full lead free.”
Spicer also summarized a Safe Routes to School project that will add roughly 12,000 feet (about 2.5 miles) of new sidewalk on Walnut, Maple and Spruce with ADA ramps and driveway replacements; he said that the combined projects total several million dollars with substantial grant matches.
During the discussion council members asked for clarification on maps and boundary lines; Spicer confirmed the dotted line shown on the map represented the village boundary. Council members and staff discussed using grant funds for rate studies; one participant noted two rate studies cost about $30,000 each and recommended continuing to rely on grant dollars to fund studies so decisions on rates are data driven.
Later in the meeting the council took a formal vote to accept new water rates prepared by Spicer Engineering. The motion, recorded in the minutes as “Motion by Grauer supported by Gower accepting new water rates as set up by Spicer Engineering and published rates on paper to be effective in the third quarter,” passed on a roll call in which Christine Newman, Michael Nesbitt, Edgar Titoff, Cathy Harris and Jennifer Rosser Nesbitt voted yes; Paul Jenderski and Darcy McSwain were recorded absent.
Why it matters: The projects and rate changes affect water service, public health (lead line removal), sidewalks and local utility bills; the council relied on consultant analysis and grant funding to shape near‑term capital work and revenue adjustments.
Funding and next steps: Spicer said some phase‑2 work awaits Rural Development approval and that the village will pursue additional grants. Councilors asked staff to present updated cost and rate information in January when more detailed decisions will be made.