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player ready...Oswego Village President Troy Parlier said that water rates will definitely be going up in Oswego to bring in Lake Michigan drinking water, but that the village is looking at ways to lighten the impact of the rate increase on residents.
Parlier talked about Oswego’s future water supply, as well as Wolf’s Crossing Road improvements and more during his recent State of the Village address.
He said the village made a big decision on selecting Lake Michigan water through a connection with the DuPage Water Commission as the source of the village’s future water supply.
“We made a huge decision to source our water from Lake Michigan. We have an aquifer that is being depleted faster than it can be replenished,” Parlier said of the need for a new water source.
The decision was made by Oswego, Yorkville and Montgomery in December to go with Lake Michigan water after years of studies and analysis.
“We believe that we made the best choice for Oswego and our neighbors Yorkville and Montgomery will join us,” he said. “It’s going to be a great solution for the region.”
The municipalities are now focused on legislation to get them representation on the DuPage Water Commission. Oswego’s state lawmakers are spearheading the effort in Springfield.
The next step is for the communities to get their allotment of water from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and finalize an intergovernmental agreement between the three towns, Parlier said.
The cost for going to Lake Michigan water will be significant, he said.
“We do have a large price tag for this. We expect the Oswego portion will cost $75 million. Without a doubt, our water rates will go up,” he said.
Parlier has proposed the village follow some basic principles that would have future residents share the costs associated with switching to Lake Michigan as a water source.
“It’s important that future residents of Oswego share the cost burden with current residents. All too often in our past the entire burden (of projects) has been shouldered by current residents. It cannot be the current residents shouldering this forever,” Parlier said during his address.
Parlier has suggested the village establish a real estate transfer fee that would be added to real estate closings on new residential construction.
“This basically becomes a closing cost added to new home purchases in Oswego,” he said.
The revenues generated from a real estate transfer fee would be directed to the village’s water fund, he said.
The real estate transfer fee would have to be approved by voters in a referendum, he said.
“This is something only home rule communities can do. It’s something we would have to take up with the voters but I expect this will be a very popular referendum because we are making sure future residents shoulder some of this cost as well,” he said.
“This water solution is going to last for hundreds of years. It’s the only fair thing to do,” Parlier said.
Parlier also has suggested the village take measures to protect seniors and residents on fixed incomes from the impact of a water rate hike by implementing a tiered water rate structure.
“We are going to investigate tiered rates. Right now we have one water rate for all,” Parlier said.
Parlier gave his third State of the Village address at the Kendall 11 Theater in Oswego. He opened his address by saying how quickly the time has passed.
“I clearly remember talking about projects on the horizon – things yet to come. Looking back it’s safe to say we have accomplished a great deal and there is much more on the horizon,” Parlier said.
The village is currently acquiring property for Wolf’s Crossing Road improvements, he said.
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“It’s not just going to be a bland road. We are going to have nice landscaping, a walking path on one side and sidewalk on the other side. It will be a nice parkway going through Oswego. A significant improvement from the current two-lane farm road we currently have,” Parlier said.
He said the village anticipates going to bid for part of the Wolf’s Crossing Road improvements at the end of the year with construction beginning as early as spring 2023.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.