The audience at the August 20 meeting of the Williamson County Board was listening attentively and some had suggestions as to what to do about the overflow of water to the community of Whiteash’s sewer system, which is greater than the water coming in to the 109 homes in the former village.
WHITEASH—A Williamson County village that voted to dissolve in November of 2014 is now facing difficulties within their utility services, and the county is now faced with acting on behalf of that former village.
A special meeting was therefore called on August 20 by the Williamson County Board for a resolution to increase the sewer rates for the households left in the community of Whiteash in the wake of the dissolution vote. The county took on the difficult task of acting on behalf of the village in November 2014 after the electorate in the village voted to dissolve.
The dissolution hasn’t occurred yet, however; there’s a little snag holding it up: the fact that the village can’t dissolve until all the debts are resolved.
Fifteen residents attended the Aug. 20 meeting to hear what options were being presented to them. At present, there are 109 households in Whiteash.
The problem is a 6 to 1 ratio on the amount of water coming in (from sources unknown) to the amount going out to Johnston City’s treatment plant. In other words, there’s not enough money coming in from water bills to pay for sewage treatment, first and foremost…but there’s also more water/sewer going OUT of Whiteash’s households than there is coming IN.
Residents pay their water and sewer to Pittsburg, where their portion is taken out and the remainder sent to the county, where an account has been set up for Whiteash.
Former Whiteash Village President Rick LaBotte stated that in the late 90s, a survey was done and it was determined that they didn’t have enough money for the new sewer system but he wanted it, and the board went along with him to approve it. He also admitted there had never been any maintenance on it whatsoever. Wiggs in Benton was the company that put it in and they are no longer in business.
Current sewer rates are $22.50 for the first 1,000 gallons and $5.80 for each thousand thereafter. The new rate will be $67.50 for the first thousand and $9 for each additional thousand. For example if the user is only 3,000 gallons above, they can expect the bill to double. However if the user is 6,000 gallons over, they can expect to pay $112.50.
The new system was installed in 2001; the bond debt, which still belongs to Whiteash, is $1,250 monthly and won’t be paid off until 2039.
Commissioner Ron Ellis says Whiteash is the only town in Illinois to dissolve in over 100 years but there are more doing it now (Ellis said his statistics came from the Illinois Secretary of State, but somehow, the SOS overlooked the dissolution of the village of Birds in Lawrence County in 2009, this after the referendum was put to a vote on the 2009 Consolidated Election ballot).
Ellis said the goal is to be self-sustaining and that at present there is between $2,300 to $2,600 monthly that is going out than is coming in.
The county is still trying to figure out where all this water is coming from. Readings are being taken daily to see if rainfall plays a significant difference.
Rusty Baker from Baker Plumbing, hired by the county to take a look, says there are 12 manholes that cannot be located. Some are “under driveways and homes and who knows where else,” he said. Of those located, “two leaked, one at Route 37 and Stotlar Road, a few on lower lying areas, and two stopped up from rain and some had no water flow at all. That’s only an extra 30,000 gallons so far.
“The water is coming from somewhere,” Baker said.
One resident asked if it was possible the water could be seeping in from the old mines. One of the commissioners said that thought had crossed his mind also.
One way the county is trying to recoup some money will be to sell some of the property acquired in a possible online auction. There is a large pole barn, the village hall building, and four lots. The city squad car will be offered to a city municipality by sealed bids.
Resident Kenny Delahunt has only lived there a year and his home is situated between two old room-and-pillar mines. He asked if it was possible to put in a septic system. The answer was no, since sewer was already in place. He too has inherited the city debt. He also offered to start a group of guys that would trade off and go out when it rains to check for extra water.
Letters will be sent to residents asking them to make sure their downspouts and gutters aren’t running into the sewer system.
One resident asked what would happen if the bond loan was defaulted. That question was turned over to Assistant State’s Attorney Wendy Cunningham. Cunningham said at this time she does not know what would happen but she has two attorneys she will be consulting over the matter.
She later told Disclosure that such a prospect might not be a bad thing; but they would have to wait and see.
