Sherwood moves on utilities: manhole repairs, quarterly billing and impact fees

Sherwood’s Utility Commission took multiple steps in 2004 to stabilize utility operations and to begin addressing water-quality and capacity needs. The commission approved a manhole-reconstruction contract after excavations revealed laterals tied into manholes that must be reworked. The board accepted those improvements and approved change orders for minor relocation and repair work as needed.

Billing and fees: The commission recommended and the board approved a switch from monthly to quarterly utility billing beginning in mid-2004; the change uses a rotating meter-read schedule (one-third of meters read each month) to support the three-month cycle. Separately, the commission proposed a $4,000 impact fee per new unit to fund infrastructure expansion and recommended retaining the current $500 connection fee for new construction; the board asked the commission to present ordinance language, impact-fee calculations and annual review procedures.

Water quality pilots: The village continued bench-scale and pilot testing to reduce trihalomethanes (THMs) and hydrogen sulfide issues in Well 5 and Well 6. Engineer Gary Rosenbeck outlined options — including improved stripping towers and filtration pilots — and scheduled additional sampling and testing; commissioners asked for cost estimates and options to be compared with possible purchase of treated water from nearby systems.

Why it matters: Manhole repairs reduce sanitary-sewer infiltration and protect plant performance; billing changes affect customer cash flow and utility revenue timing while impact fees change how growth is funded. Water-quality work is a public-health and regulatory priority — the board must demonstrate permit compliance and feasible treatment plans.

Next steps: The engineer will report pilot outcomes and cost estimates. The commission will prepare ordinance language and connection-fee tables for Plan Commission review before the board considers final adoption.