Sewer billing rules changed to better match seasonal use
The Township Board has approved changes to how it calculates sewer bills. The new procedure eliminates the year-round minimum charge and adjusts billing for summer months (May-September) to be based on an average of winter water use. This is intended to prevent overcharging residents for water used for irrigation that doesn't enter the sewer system and to provide more accurate bills for seasonal residents.
The Township Board approved the changes to sewer use billing procedures on May 11, 2026, by a 6-0 vote as part of the consent agenda.
Minutes record: I move to approve the Agenda including the Consent Agenda and Accounts Payable. Motion by Jack Hagedorn Second by Kathey Batey Roll Call: Ayes: Reminga, Coleman, Batey, Hagedorn, McKellar, Morrow Nays: 0 Motion approved
Timeline
- Agenda posted from agenda · published May 7, 2026
- Agenda posted from agenda · published May 11, 2026
- Approved Final from minutes · published Jun 10, 2026
Key facts
- The Township Board approved the changes on May 11, 2026.
- The change was prompted by the recent transition from quarterly to monthly billing.
- The previous system included a year-round minimum sewer-use charge of 6,000 gallons per quarter.
- The summer billing period is defined as May through September.
- The winter billing period is defined as October through April, during which customers are billed for actual usage.
Who could be affected
- All township sewer customers may be affected, particularly seasonal residents and those who use water for outdoor irrigation in the summer.
What could change
- From May to September, your sewer bill will be based on your average monthly water use from the previous winter (October-April).
- From October to April, your sewer bill will be based on your actual monthly water use for that month.
- The year-round minimum charge is eliminated. If you have zero water use in a month, you will not be billed a minimum sewer fee.
- When calculating the "winter average" for summer billing, a minimum of 2,000 gallons will be used. However, during the winter months, if your actual use is less than 2,000 gallons, you will be billed for that smaller amount, not a 2,000-gallon minimum.
What to watch
- When will these new billing procedures take effect on resident sewer bills?
Questions to check
- The effective date of the new billing procedure is not specified in the provided documents.
Supporting records
These related records help explain the item, including the agenda listing, staff explanation, and draft text.
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Approve the changes to the sewer use billing procedures
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Requested Action Staff requests Board approval to: Remove the year-round minimum sewer-use amount. Establish a 2,000-gallon minimum for the winter-average calculation (October-April average monthly water use). Set the summer use period as May through September, billed using the October-April winter-average amount.
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Recommendation Staff recommends the following changes: Remove the year-round minimum sewer-use amount. Set the summer sewer-use period as May through September, billed using each customer's winter-average water use (to account for irrigation). Calculate the winter average using average monthly water use from October through April, with a minimum of 2,000 gallons. During the winter period (October-April), customers w…
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Purpose The purpose of this memo is to recommend an adjustment to the Sewer Use billing procedure following the transition from quarterly to monthly billing.
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Background The Township meters water service but does not meter sewer service, so sewer use is based on water use. Because summer water use is often higher due to irrigation (and not all of that water enters the sewer system), the Township has historically billed sewer charges using an average based on winter water consumption. The Township also applied a minimum sewer-use amount of 6,000 gallons per quarter. After…
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Rationale These changes better match sewer billing to actual customer use, particularly for seasonal residents who may have months with no water use. Using a winter-average amount for May through September aligns with peak irrigation season, when a larger share of water use does not enter the sewer system.
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MEMO TO: Cameron Van Wyngarden, Superintendent FROM: Adam Zawisza, Finance Director/Deputy Treasurer DATE: May 7, 2026 RE: Recommended Change to Sewer Use Billing Procedure.
Meeting history
Agenda and minutes records showing when this item appeared and what procedural step it reached over time.
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The item appeared on the Board of Trustees Meeting agenda: Approve the changes to the sewer use billing procedures Approve the changes to the sewer use billing procedures
Accuracy note
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