DANVILLE — Public Works Director Doug Ahrens said residents shouldn’t worry about their sewer bills seeing large increases when the Danville Sanitary District takes over the billing from Aqua Illinois next year.

He said city officials want the new system to as closely replicate actual costs, and there shouldn’t be significant differences to current costs.

Adds Shelly Cumbow, assistant director for administrative services with the Danville Sanitary District, she thinks the new billing system will be a win-win for all involved.

Local payment options will expand for city solid waste and sewer billing, as they exist for sanitary district payments; and Cumbow hopes there will be less confusion about the billings as there has been between the two entities.

“There will be one (monthly) bill for all three charges — our charges and city garbage and sewer charges,” she said. “We are hoping for a very smooth transition.”

Aldermen on Tuesday will consider approving a billing services contract with the sanitary district for the sanitary sewer and solid waste charges. Under the five-year contract starting Jan. 1, the city will pay the district $200,000 a year. Ahrens said the contract cost could increase with significant postage increases.

The sanitary district is responsible for collection of bills for the first 90 days. Unpaid bills would transfer to the city’s legal department for collection.

Residential customers will see a flat rate for sewer bills, as they now see for garbage.

It would’ve been cost-prohibitive if the city continued to use formula-based billing for all 11,000 residential accounts because of Aqua’s proposed $1 per read meter-reading fee.

Commercial customers still will see usage-based sewer bills.

Aldermen will discuss specific charges next week.

City officials have said the residential sanitary sewer flat rate could be $12 to 13 a month, or ranging from $9 to $17. The city is looking at a 12-month history for each account to establish an average base rate.

The city terminated its garbage and sewer billing contract with Aqua Illinois, that started in 2006, after problems began when the water company switched to new billing software and bill payments weren’t received locally anymore.

Bills were late and incorrect. The city also had trouble with Aqua not providing financial reports and funding in a timely manner.

The current annual cost for the billing system, assuming 100 percent sewer collection, is $287,000.

The agreement also allowed for Aqua Illinois to disconnect water service because of customers’ delinquent garbage and sewer bills. Proposed costs for the city to take over the billing were: $100,000 in startup and $250,000 in annual costs.

Cumbow said city officials approached the sanitary district as a new billing option. She said the district will use its current staff for the additional billing. Sanitary district billing will change from quarterly to monthly due to the city billing.

Everything is being formalized prior to the first bills to go out early next year.

“We’re hoping this will alleviate billing questions,” Cumbow said.

Billing options include First Midwest and First National banks, mail, Internet, direct checking withdrawal and at the sanitary district office on Grape Creek Road.

In other reports, Ahrens will inform aldermen of a 1959 lease agreement termination with Green Meadows Girl Scout Council of Illinois for Harrison Park West.

Ahrens said use diminished for the little cabins and land.

“The city accepts responsibility and oversight of the parcel,” he said.

Also Tuesday, the public works committee will consider:

--Approving a $535,000 contract with Cross Construction of Urbana to replace the West Williams, Lake Shore and Thornhill pump stations.

--Purchasing cabinetry for the new public works facility for $28,945 from Creative Cabinets and Countertops, Inc. of Danville.

--Vacating an alley near Main and Porter streets requested by Tee Pak Credit Union.

--Selling a 1992 city bus on eBay.

COMING UP

The city council’s Public Works Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building, 17 W. Main St. The fire department revenue source subcommittee meeting that was to take place on Tuesday will instead be at 4:45 p.m. Aug. 19 at city hall.