Update

Orland Park property owners will likely see an increase in water costs in 2013, and again during the next two subsequent years.

The full village board will be voting at the Jan. 21 meeting to raising water rates by about 50 to 60 cents per 1,000 gallons, after the finance committee discussed the rates Monday night and approved sending it to the full board for a vote. 

Rates for properties using 9,000 gallons per month or less will be $4.65, between 9,000 and 18,000 gallons costs $5.62 per 1,000 gallons and greater than 18,000 gallons costs $6.59.

Look at the attached document for prices for unincorporated properties, which are higher.

Village Manager Paul Grimes said even with the increase, water rates are still lower in Orland Park compared to neighboring towns.

View another attached document for a rate comparison.

The increase is mostly attributed to rising costs from Chicago, the supplier, and Oak Lawn, the distributor. Chicago will also be raising costs by about 15 percent in 2014 and 2015, which will then lead to higher costs locally.

The rates will be effective immediately for 2013. 

Original Post

The Orland Park Village Board will be talking a rise in water rates during the first meeting of 2013.

In Nov. 2011, Chicago announced that it would raise its water rates by about 15 percent for infrastructure improvements, though suburbs such as Orland Park that receive water from the city would also see the increase without the infrastructure improvements.

The village is still working on a new purchase agreement for water with Oak Lawn, along with Tinley Park, Mokena, New Lenox and Oak Forest, and in the meantime will be continuing under the last agreement. Oak Lawn hasn’t raised its operations and maintenance rate since 1998, so they will be asking for rate of about 22 cents more per 1,000 gallons, which will also be passed on to Orland Park residents.

Since neither of the two increases include money for Orland Park infrastructure, the village will be adding a 4.5 cent increase per 1,000 gallons.

Altogether the increases will cost Orland Park property owners about $64.26 more per year.

The village’s finance, technology and parks and recreation committees will also be meeting Monday night.

Look at the media packets for each of the committee meetings, as well as the village board meeting, for more information.

Orland Park Patch’s live blog through Cover It Live will provide minute-by-minute updates from the meeting on this page starting at 6 p.m. Look in the Cover It Live window above, and you’ll see an area where you can join in and offer your comments and questions. The same rules apply as on finished articles on the site.

Leading up to the meeting, let me know if there's anything you particularly want to know about in the comments.

Correction: The update originally stated that the village board voted in the water rate change at the Monday, Jan. 7 meeting. The finance committee approved on Jan. 7 to send the measure to the full board at the Jan. 21 meeting.

Sign up for Orland Park Patch breaking news alerts. 

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.

Looking for more government news?

• New Year, New Laws: Caylee's Law, Parents of Underage Drinkers Take Effect in 2013
• How Much Will Falling Off the Fiscal Cliff Cost You?
• UPDATED: Who is Running For Village, Fire, School and Library Boards in April 2013?