City council to reconsider water rates

The DeKalb City Council is slated this week to discuss raising city water rates on a gradually increasing schedule over the next five years. Public Works Assistant Director Bryan Faivre is expected Monday night to present to council members four different methods of raising water rates throughout the city. “The cost of delivering this product is increasing at rates not previously experienced,” City Manager Mark Biernacki said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. “With the current rates, we can't cover costs and certainly won't be able to cover costs as we move forward.” Biernacki and DeKalb Public Works Director Rick Monas cited a survey done by staff in the southern Illinois city of Carbondale that looked at the water rates of 331 Illi