VILLAGE OF GURNEE

RESIDENT NOTICE

Utility Billing Changes Effective October 1^st

Effective October 1^st, the Village will be restructuring both the utility billing rates and frequencies.  This insert is meant to inform you of the upcoming changes in advance of any transition.

What are the changes?

There will be two major changes to the current utility billing system: (1) the water and sewer rates and base fees and (2) how often residents are billed.  Beginning October 1st, the current billing system will be changed so that all residents are charged a base fee relative to the size of their water meters, which will cover operations and maintenance.  This change will replace the previous practice of charging a minimum bill of 5,000 gallons.  The chart below illustrates the bi-monthly base fees for each meter size:

Any charge above and beyond the base fee is solely based on usage.  The new water rate will be $3.74 per 1000 gallons while the new sewer rate will be $1.23 per 1000 gallons.  The changes in these rates reflect the need to reconfigure the respective rates to better match the costs to operate and maintain the water and sewer systems.

Both base fees and rates will automatically adjust each October 1^st on a set schedule.  Should the Village’s water supplier, the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA), increase its rate, Gurnee’s water rate will also automatically adjust.  The chart below illustrates the approved Village water and sewer rates beginning October 1st:

In addition to the financial changes, the Village will also switch from a quarterly billing cycle to a bi-monthly billing cycle.  This means that instead of being billed four times a year, residents will now be billed six times a year.  Residents west of the tollway will be billed on odd-numbered months, while residents to the east of the tollway will be billed on even-numbered months.  The primary customer benefit of such a move will be faster detection of service problems for residents.

With all of these changes, the average family of four in the Village (using roughly 12,000 gallons of water per month) can expect to pay $71 per bill.  This is an increase of $10 per billing cycle.  Under these changes, residents will still pay the lowest bi-monthly bill of any community purchasing CLCJAWA water.  On October 1, 2016, residents will pay slightly less than the current average rate of all CLCJAWA communities.  See the chart below for more information on other CLCJAWA community rates.

Why are these changes important?

The funding for water and sewer systems is accounted for in “enterprise funds,” or special funds meant for the operation of business-like activities of a government.  Essentially, this means that the operations and maintenance necessary for the water and sewer systems can only be paid by the revenue they generate, much like a business.  These changes will ensure that there are adequate resources in the Water & Sewer Fund to support operations, maintenance and capital expenses without relying solely on consumption. 

What comprises Gurnee’s Water & Sewer Systems?

The Village began installing the current water and sanitary sewer systems in 1960.  Since that time, both systems have expanded greatly due to the dramatic growth the Village experienced between 1960 and present day.  Currently, the water system has 182 miles of water main, 4 elevated towers, 1 underground storage tank, 1 pumping station, 2 booster stations, 2,252 valves and 2,319 fire hydrants.  This system can hold up to 6,200,000 gallons of water.  The sanitary sewer system has 140 miles of sanitary sewer main and 2.8 miles of force main with 8 lift stations. 

The Village does not treat potable water or wastewater.  Water is purchased by the Village from the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (CLCJAWA), an intergovernmental agency that treats Lake Michigan water, which is then transmitted through the Village’s water system to residents.  For residents living east of the tollway, wastewater is transmitted to and treated by the North Shore Sanitary District (NSSD).  For residents living west of the tollway, wastewater is transmitted from the Village to the Lake County Public Works transmission system and then to NSSD.

Will I Still Be Able to Pay My Bill The Way I Previously Have?

Yes - the Village will continue allowing residents to pay any of the following ways: 

• At Village Hall - Residents may pay by cash or check at Village Hall during the regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Outside of those hours, residents may also deposit their payment in a drop box located near the main    entrance.
• By Mail - Residents receive a return mail envelope when they receive their bill.  Simply place the remittance stub and check in the envelope and mail the bill back.
• By Telephone - By calling toll-free (866) 220-4868 you may pay your water bill using your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover credit card or by debiting your checking account.  You must have your account number to pay by phone.
• Online - By visiting this website, https://gate.link2gov.com/gurneewater/, you may pay your water bill using your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover credit card or by debiting your checking account.  You must have your account number to pay online.
• By Automatic Debit - By enrolling in the Village’s Water Bill Automatic Bank Debit program, the amount of your water bill will be deducted automatically from your checking or savings account. Participants in this payment service will continue to receive a water statement on a bi-monthly basis. The statement will be sent to let you know in advance the amount to be deducted from your account. On the bill due date, the water bill payment will be deducted automatically from the checking or savings account you have authorized the Village to use. There is no fee for automatic bank debiting.  Enrollment forms are available on the Village’s website and at Village Hall.

Please consider enrolling in automatic debit for both convenience and efficiency.

Where can I Get More Information?

The full water rate study can be found on the Village’s website.  You can also find an article in the August edition of Keeping Posted.  For any further questions, contact Village Hall at (847) 599-7500.