With a New Year Comes a New Water Bill

Now that it's officially 2013, Heights residents will see two significant changes to their next water bill.

With a New Year Comes a New Water Bill

Now that it's officially 2013, Heights residents will see two significant changes to their next water bill.

At the end of last year, the Chicago Heights City Council voted in favor of ridding Heights residents' water bills of a confusing and—for some residents—maddening community service fee. As of Jan. 1, every bi-monthly water bill issued to Heights residents will be without the fee. On the flip side of that, Heights residents can expect to see a signicant increase on the part of the bill that actually pays for water usage, more than doubling what we paid in 2011. The increase coincides with Hammond, IN increasing the rates at which it sells water to the City of Chicago Heights. Basically your water bill is increasing and decreasing all at once, though the examples Mayor David Gonzalez presented at the Dec. 17 city council meeting show some …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Heights Eliminates Community Service Fee from Water Bill

The council approved the removal of the fee, hoping to offset water rate increases.

The City Council amended its Water Ordinances in response to the increase in water rates recently imposed by Hammond, at last night’s City Council meeting.  Prior to the Council vote, Mayor David A. Gonzalez gave a presentation to help explain the proposed amendments, telling those in attendance, “The City is trying to limit the impact that the increase in Hammond’s water rates will have on our residents and businesses.” The City’s original 30-year contract expired on November 12th of this year and while it awaits a final decision from the Indiana courts, the City has realized the increased bills.  Highlights of the amendments are as follows: Elimination of Community Service Fee: The unpopular Community Service Fee is no more, as the …

• Photos (1)

Expect a Larger Water Bill Soon, Chicago Heights

The cost could go up as soon as next month to make up for an increase in Hammond's water rates.

Chicago Heights will likely raise water rates next month to bring in funds in case the courts side with Hammond's proposed water rate increase. Mayor David Gonzalez said the increased rates would also pay for infrastructure work. The Heights has been in negotiations with Hammond since before the last 30-year water contract expired on Nov. 12. In the new contract, Hammond has proposed a rate increase from 57 cents per 1000 gallons to $2.20 per 1000 gallons. The Height is fighting the rate in federal and state courts.  The cities had a hearing in front of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission last Monday. Hammond moved to dismiss the Heights' complaint there, according to Corporation Counsel T.J. Somer. Hammond said the commission does …

•  12 Comments
• Photos (1)

Heights Mayor Takes Water Rate Dispute to Federal Court

Mayor Gonzalez told a federal court judge Heights residents and businesses cannot afford the significant water rate increase proposed by Hammond.

Mayor David Gonzalez spoke out against Hammond's planned water-rate increase as he appeared in federal court in South Bend, IN on Monday. Gonzalez testified that people already can't pay their bills and that businesses may leave the Heights if the water rate increases. One business has already said the increase, as proposed, would kill it. In the new contract, Hammond has proposed a rate increase from 57 cents per 1000 gallons to $2.20 per 1000 gallons. Since the City's 30-year contract with Hammond expires Monday, Nov. 12, the Heights is asking a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction that keeps Hammond from shutting off its water until the federal court or state regulators decide a new rate, according to Corporation Counsel T.J…

• Photos (1)

Editor's Notebook

Keep Your Heads Held High, Blazing Trojans

They put together a heck of a season. Give the Bloom 206 football team a virtual high five with a few kind words for their awesome effort.

Let's talk about the Bloom Township High School football team. The Blazing Trojans made a valiant return to the IHSA playoffs this week after a 22-year absence.  Unfortunately, they took a heartbreaking 10-13 loss to Simeon on Friday at Gately Stadium in Chicago. Despite giving up a touchdown to the Wolverines after an early fumble, the Trojans used a field goal by Eufemio Fonseca III and a touchdown of their own to gain a 10-6 lead going into the fourth quarter. In the end, the Trojans couldn't hold on to their advantage. "We always say we are a team, and today we lost as a team," Coach Tony Palombi told the Northwest Indiana Times. "Every aspect of the game made a mistake at one point or another. So the game wasn't the fault of the …

• Photos (1)

Heights Car Wash Owner: New Water Rates 'Would Put Us Out'

Chicago Heights to battle Hammond, IN, in court over skyrocketing water rates which could jeopardize one local business reliant on water.

Nine years ago, the Mankiewicz family breathed new life into a long-abandoned car wash. Empty for five years, the family took over the building and has operated it as Udo's Prairie State Car Wash ever since. Water is obviously a big part of running a car wash, and with the City of Chicago Heights at the end of its 30-year water contract with Hammond, IN, water will become much more expensive for this business.. The new contract, as it stands would bump the city's rate from 57 cents per 1,000 gallons to $2.20 per 1,000 gallons.  Max Mankiewicz's eyes widened when he learned about the new rates. "It would be killing us," said Mankiewicz, who helps with the day-to-day operations at Udo's. "It would put us out." Some might say businesses in …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (3)

Christopher Paicely

4:16 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

What is hurting businesses most in the Chicago Heights area? Taxes? I'm wondering if a massive water bill increase would create the one-two punch that kills a lot of businesses.   more ›

Editor's Notebook

From Gas Stations to Immigration: Minutes with the Mayor Roundup

Mayor David Gonzalez spent a lot of time in our top slot in August. He answered six questions from Heights residents and other Patch readers. What did you think of his responses?

Six videos. Six of your questions. Six of his answers.  Mayor David Gonzalez sat down with me near the beginning of August to answer a slew of questions. His responses were well-received in some instances and argument-provoking in others.  Take a look at our Minutes with the Mayor topics page for a second look at this series.  Here are the user-submitted questions we asked Gonzalez. We hope to sit down with the mayor again and ask more of the questions you sent us, but first we need to know how we can improve this series.  Were you happy with these questions? Are there other questions you wish we would ask? What were the strong and weak points of the series? Let us know in the comments.  Subscribe to the Chicago Heights newsletter for …

•  9 Comments
• Photos (1)

SharonC

4:35 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Winston you need to grow up. you know exactly what she meant. and you can keep sugar coating everything for the mayor like you have been doing, and praise him all you want...than both of you stand together, pat ea other on the back, and say proudly. wow look what we've done with our town...lol...now thats a joke right there...so while your playing your childish games and sugar coating everything…   more ›

Minutes with the Mayor: All Those Charges on Your Water Bill

In this edition, Mayor Gonzalez explains what that community service charge really is.

Patch gathered questions from readers, for Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez. Now, Patch will regularly air a series of video responses to the questions readers voted as most pressing. In this segment, Gonzalez is answering a question about the bi-monthly water bill Heights residents receive and the often confusing charges that appear on it. Sign up for our daily newsletter to stay updated on this series.  Like us on Facebook!

•  23 Comments
• Videos (1)

evanswall2

2:13 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012

Mr. Wiggins, you should be mayor! My question is how do you get more than 10 people to a ward or city meeting. They are not listening to our concerns, most of them are either good friends or relatives with the people we have problems with. I have lived here in chicago heights practically all my life and have seen it go down, pretty soon it will look like Gary,Indiana ( a desolate) place with no …   more ›

Trustees Discuss Third Red Light Camera in Olympia Fields

The Olympia Fields Village Board discussed Redflex, water flow and an 'MRI' for the roads.

Trustee Carolyn Gibson advised the Olympia Fields Village Board on Monday night that she recently learned that  "potential" exists to renew the village’s two current Redflex cameras and establish a third at the intersection of Western Avenue and Route 30, heading eastbound.  Trustee Robert C. Waite questioned whether the camera's positioning was based on probability of accidents or potential profits. "My point is, they've got a conflict of interest," Waite said of Redflex. "I would agree that it's a revenue-granting corner, but I don't think it's an incident-prone corner." Waite opined that red light cameras have been utilized for profits over safety in some other communities. "It's so nifty to have an outside company to give out scads of …

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Arthur W. Wiggins Jr.

4:45 pm on Thursday, March 31, 2011

I agree with every word.   more ›