Sterling council discusses reinstating late fees, shutoffs for utilities

STERLING – The Sterling City Council continued discussions on reinstating late fees for utility bills and resuming shutoffs when it met Monday on Zoom.

At its last meeting, council and city staff discussed what to do in order to step back toward normality in its late fees and shutoffs for sewer bills.

The council directed city staff to reinstate a 10% fee on unpaid balances and resume shutoffs when Illinois American Water Co. does.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a moratorium was started on shutoffs and the city stopped charging late fees on outstanding balances. With no shutoffs, balances for some residents started to pile up. Sterling Finance Director Cindy Von Holten told the council that the average outstanding balance is $190.

Illinois American Water Co. is under a moratorium on shutoffs running through Oct. 1, but that might be extended.

City officials presented council with three options. One would reinstate a 1.5% fee on the total unpaid balance. A second would reintroduce a 10% penalty on the current unpaid bill. The third would resume shutoffs when Illinois American Water resumed their shutoffs.

Though there was talk of resuming things on Oct. 1, there was some concern that was too soon, and it might be better to give residents until Nov. 1.

The council also voted to apply for the Local Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Program. The Local CURES Program uses federal funds to reimburse local governments for costs incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city is eligible to receive $634,059 in funds, but Von Holten estimated that the city would end up using $200,000. That money would cover things like expenses incurred to provide PPE for city employees.

Council also voted unanimously to annex Group 10 of the Steelton subdivision and refer the annexation of Group 11 to the Planning Commission.