The Rock Island City Council is considering rate increases for refuse, sewer, stormwater, and water services to address negative fund balances and fund ongoing infrastructure projects.
During the council meeting on Monday night, December 8th, Public Works Director Mike Bartels outlined a proposed 5.5% increase for the city’s sewer and water fees along with a 12% increase for refuse services spread over the next four years.
“These measured adjustments help us avoid larger rate spikes in the future and support responsible capital planning. We aim to keep our rates broadly consistent with other communities,” Bartels said, adding that the 12% refuse increase would be the first time since 2018.
Raising the current $11 monthly bill to $12.32 starting next year, if council approves the final reading.
Earlier in the meeting during public comment, a Rock Island resident, Nick Hammond, asked council to withhold raising the water rate because of residents struggling with higher bills.
“Many people in our community have been concerned about how inconsistent the water bills have been lately. Some are seeing big jumps from month to month without clear explanations. This unpredictability is causing a lot of stress, especially for families already trying to manage tight budgets,” Hammon said. He asked if staff would provide a side by side to other city rates.
During his statement to council, Public Works Director Bartels said they do monitor other cities, but it is not an apples to apples comparison.
“Each system has different infrastructure conditions, regulatory requirements, debt levels, reserves, building structures and population growth. Our obligation is to maintain [the] Rock Island system based on our own needs and long term sustainability,” Bartels said.
Bartels reminded the council they approved a $1.5 million contract with CDM Smith to design and engineer new water storage tanks. The Environmental Protection Agency is mandating the city replace the concrete water storage tanks built in 1938. The project will cost the city $35 million.
“So it's going on about 88 years old and is a mandate by the EPA to replace that. Part of this rate structure that's in front of you tonight, we'll receive low-interest loans through the EPA to pay for those projects through SRF funding. Part of receiving that low-interest loan and that funding is showing the EPA that we can pay that money back. You have to have a rate structure in front of you to demonstrate that to the EPA,” Bartels said.
He added that the city’s $14 million Mill Street digester replacement project is awaiting EPA low-interest loan approval to include state revolving funds. Both projects handle the city’s wastewater inflow.
During discussion, First Ward Councilman Glen Evans Sr questioned the rate increase, saying residents in his ward were already struggling with their bills. Sixth Ward Councilman Mark Poulos says areas across the whole city are having water issues, and the prolonged upgrades would only increase the total cost to residents.
Rock Island City Manager Todd Thompson added that the water, sewer, and refuse funds are raised by fees.
“[W]e try to keep it as low as we can, but the city, we're faced with the same pressures that people are faced with. Rising cost, going up for personnel, costs going up for goods and services and electricity. And, you know, so you got to factor that into it, too, that when you look at the increased cost, just for some of those things, that's a good portion of the increases we're recommending,” Thompson said.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Jenni Swanson added the city listened to residents years ago about not selling the infrastructure to American Water.
“[Y]ou can go look at what their rate increases are, and I can tell you they're larger than 5.5% every year. So that was one of the things that we promised the city of Rock Island, the residents of Rock Island, that we would take care of keeping the water in-house,” Swanson said. “We would try to maintain, keeping the increases low. But there were going to be increases because we have an aging infrastructure, and we don't want to get to the point where we have a city with contaminated water. And then what are we going to do?”
Third Ward Councilwoman Linda Barnes followed Councilwoman Swanson, sharing her perspective on the rate increase.
“[A]s a resident, I've seen my bills go up. And I'm looking as a retiree at how can I, what can I do? Do I discount, continue my recycling? Do I remove the insurance? So I am really looking at those options because based on my experience in finance, these increases are necessary in order to pay for those expenses,” Barnes said.
The city’s stormwater rate is also increasing. Councilwoman Barnes asked staff what the amount would be for stormwater since the ordinance was not written with a percentage increase.
“So it says $0.40 per month and that's what the average resident would see. So that's for a medium sized parcel, which most residents live in, their lot size would be that size,” Bartels said. “A medium sized parcel, but it does vary. It varies between $0.30 for a small and up to the biggest size $0.50 cents per month. So the average is $0.40 cents, but it's between $0.30 cents and $0.50 cents per month.”
The council voted unanimously in approving the first reading of the rate increases, excluding Fifth Ward Councilman Dylan Parker who was not present at the meeting. Second Ward Councilman Randy Hurt was sick and phoned in for the meeting.
Council members also approved the second reading of the social service ordinance amendments. Councilwoman Barnes attempted to remove the 1,000 foot distance restriction but failed with a vote of 4-2-1 with Councilman Evans Sr joining Barnes in removing the restriction.
Councilman Evans voted no on all ordinance amendments along with Councilwoman Barnes voting no on requiring providers to ensure all professional social work, counseling, and psychotherapy services can be provided only by those licensed in Illinois, citing current state laws already in place. Councilman Parker, who brought the amendment to the council at an earlier meeting stated the amendment allows the city to enforce the measure if providers are out of compliance.
Council also heard the first reading of the 2026 fiscal year budget. Councilman Evans Sr and Councilwoman Barnes voted no citing concerns with how some of the money is being allocated. The budget along with the utility rate increases will return to council on Monday, December 15th.
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