Kankakee Times

Village of Manteno Public Works Committee met September 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Roll Call

Present:

President Timothy O. Nugent

Trustee Diane Dole

Trustee Wendell Phillips

Trustee Joel Gesky

Trustee Todd Crockett

Trustee Samuel Martin

Absent:

Trustee Timothy Boyce

Also present:

Joe Cainkar: Village Attorney

Jim Hanley: Superintendent of Public Works

Alan Swinford: Chief of Police

Janice Schulteis: Resource/Personnel Manager

Ryan Marion: Building Official

Keith Mulholland: Aqua Illinois

Craig Blanchette: Aqua Illinois

Press Present:

The meeting was called to order by the President, and upon the roll call being called, President Timothy O. Nugent, led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

This meeting was held to discuss the proposed sale of the Village of Manteno’s wastewater company to Aqua Illinois Inc. and any options that will be available to assist customers to pay their bills after the sale. This has been discussed at many committee meetings and the Village advertised for bids in the papers. After discussion and opening of sealed bids by American Water and Aqua Illinois the Village decided to choose Aqua Illinois.

Aqua Illinois Director of Corporate Development, Jim Bellatio made a presentation to the Board. He dis- cussed the many years Aqua has been in the Kankakee region and how it deals with both water and wastewater. Aqua water was voted the best tasting water in Illinois. Aqua is proposing a 25 million dol- lar purchase price guaranteeing residents the same rate schedule as the Village has in their ordinances for the next five years. There is a buy back provision in years 5-15, the Village has the option to buy back the wastewater system. There is a systems viability act which allows for replacement cost plus deprecia- tion to allow for a better purchase price. This is a better deal compared to the past where you only got the original cost plus depreciation. This ends June 2018 so the Village would want to take advantage of that program. Hoping to finalize before May but somethings are time consuming with the ICC- Illinois Commerce Commission.

Melissa Calhoun from Aqua talked about customer service and bill paying. There are money saving tips on Aqua’s website. The call center in Kankakee is the national call center. This would eliminate the Vil- lage billing system which would be convenient for the Village employees. The Village intention is to use the interest from this deal so that the Manteno residents have no bills for garbage.

Trustee Crockett asked since we don’t pay property tax on the treatment plant will that change once it is sold. The Village would get property tax from the wastewater plant. The schools and fire department would also get money from the real estate tax. Mayor feels this is a good thing for the residents of Man- teno and monetarily for the Village.

Motion by Dole seconded by Martin to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 pm. Motion approved 5-0. Trustee Boyce was absent.

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