ALTAMONT —
Altamont City Council held a public hearing Monday to address citizen concerns about increased sewer rates.
Altamont Mayor Larry Taylor said the council is looking for ways to pay for the more than $6 million estimated cost of the required improvements to the wastewater treatment plant after sewage tests sent to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency revealed the system needed to be upgraded.
"We're pleading with everyone we know," he said. "We hope something works out. Right now, it looks like we're going to have to foot the bill for the whole thing and that's about it."
The improvements to the sewer system, the first since a previous improvement project in 1987, are intended to deal with increased amounts of organic waste in the sewage system, as well as provide upgrades to the city's treatment plants.
The biggest concern among residents was the estimated increase in sewer bills, which is estimated to cost citizens an additional 67 cents for every 100 gallons of water used.
Taylor said the additional costs could place a financial strain on many community members.
"We know there's a lot of people here on Social Security and this is going to be devastating," he said. "We don't have a choice. This is probably the hardest thing we've had to do since we had to do improvements the first time."
While some concerns were raised at the meeting about storm water and its affect on the updated facilities, Mike Curry, an engineer advising the city on the project, said the planned updates to the system would not solve the drainage problem.
"We're not able to find any source for that water," he said. "In order to reduce that (overflow), it would require a new system, and I would estimate that it would cost somewhere between $15 and $20 million."
Curry said he estimates the project could be completed by September 2014. After questions of whether the deadlines could be pushed back in order to delay or reduce the increased costs, Tracy Berberich, city attorney, said delays will not be an option.
"IEPA isn't offering delays that would make a difference," she said. "They're not making delays, they're demanding compliance."
The board held its meeting before the hearing and voted to amend the city's liquor control ordinance so it is more in line with the rest of Effingham County, requiring owners of establishments that sell liquor to live in the county.
Taylor said although the financial situation Altamont faces may seem high, the city is hardly alone.
"We're not the only ones in this boat, but it's our boat and we're worried about it," he said.
Jackson Adams can be reached at 217-347-7151, ext. 131, or jackson.adams@effinghamdailynews.com.
Local News
February 12, 2013
Altamont sewer rate hike has residents concerned
- Local News
-
-
Drug Court gives grads second chance at life
Greg Evans has been arrested more times than he can remember, spent time in jail, and been a drug user for 25 years of his life. At the Effingham Area Drug Court Graduation Friday, he hoped to put all that behind him. "The only hope we have is here t
-
Street closure
The city of Effingham has announced the closing of North Pembroke Street from Park Hills Drive to North Avenue will continue today, May 15, to allow the installation of a new sewer line.
-
Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation on Friday.
- Effingham County Engineers set facts straight on fracking A pair of petroleum engineers originally from Altamont told an Effingham County Board committee Thursday that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, was much less dangerous than opponents make it appear. Fracking has been a point of contention in many st
- Yoder pleads not guilty to stabbing death A murder suspect pleaded not guilty Thursday to killing his roommate. Charles Douglas Yoder, who turned 52 Wednesday, entered his plea through Public Defender Lupita Thompson during a brief hearing Thursday in Effingham County Circuit Court. Yoder ha
-
Veteran returns to past war zone to celebrate triumph
When Marshall Taggart, 83, of Hazel Dell first went to South Korea in 1952, he didn’t think he was going to make it out alive.
- Teutopolis officials discuss village growth TEUTOPOLIS -- Teutopolis village officials engaged in a lengthy discussion Wednesday about the future of their community. "You can talk about economic development, but until you get young families moving here, the community is not going to grow," sai
-
Community turns to Franciscan decades after death
TEUTOPOLIS -- While Brother Simon Van Ackeren was only in Teutopolis a short time before his death from tuberculosis at age 20, local Catholic youth born decades after his death ask him for intercession. Lisa Siemer, the director of Christian educati
- Board looking to review study contract The effort to study the efficiency of the Effingham County Emergency Telephone (911) System is moving forward, even with questions on how the contract for it will be reviewed. After Tuesday's 911 Board meeting, Chairman Nick Althoff said Intertech As
-
May 16 street closure
The city of Effingham will be closing Kentucky Street from Maple to Mulberry for construction on Thursday, May 16.
- More Local News Headlines
-
