The city of East Peoria is moving to implement a new $50 reconnection fee for water customers whose service is shut off for non-payment.
It's a fee many water utilities impose, but not East Peoria, at least until now. Mayor John Kahl said there's a group of "hundreds" of frequent flyers every billing cycle who only pay after their water is shut off. A reconnection fee seeks to recoup the costs for staff needing to regularly reactivate their service.
"I don't know any other municipality or water company that provides this service that gives as much notice as we do to people that are either behind bills, or just by design, just choose not to pay their bill," he said.
A delinquency charge of $25 would also be added to the existing 10% per month penalty for unpaid water bills if not paid in full by the date outlined in the first deliquency notice sent by the city.
City attorney Scott Brunton said there would still be flexibility for handling billing issues administratively. For instance, he said a reconnection fee wouldn't be triggered if a customer misses a single payment for a good reason, like someone who suffered a medical issue and was put up in a hospital or rehab to recuperate.
"When people come forth and explain, just as you kind of discuss the various reasons that might occur, that kind of grace is given by the city," he said. "But also the city probably goes extra lengths (compared to) most (cities) to provide notice before they do shut offs."
Kahl said the change also isn't targeted at "snow birds" who might shut their water off for a few months each winter, but rather those who are regularly eating up staff time and resources.
The East Peoria City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed the ordinance on its first reading. It comes back in two weeks for final approval.
