Trustees Still Debating Compensation for Boulder Hill Water Issues

The Montgomery Village Board is considering offering some form of compensation to residents of Boulder Hill who have been dealing with rusty water problems since November. But the details have yet to be ironed out.

At Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, trustees raised the subject of compensation for the first time since rusty water began flowing into Boulder Hill homes three months ago. The issue, according to Public Works Director Mike Pubentz, appears tied to the Nov. 19 failure of one of the village’s wells, Well 14, on the west side.

The village began pumping water from other sources, Pubentz said, and that change in direction appears to have shaken loose rust deposits from inside the cast-iron pipes below Boulder Hill. Residents there have been reporting rust-colored, strange-smelling water coming out of their sinks, showers and toilets since then.

The village spent an additional $7,600 to expedite repairs to Well 14, and it went back online on Jan. 20. But while some residents reported that their water has cleared up, others say the rust has returned in the past few weeks. Pubentz confirmed that he has fielded calls for returning rust issues in recent weeks.

Many residents said they spent extra money buying gallons of bottled water to drink and cook with, and rust-removing chemicals to use on showers and toilets. Steve Claussen, who lives on Codorus Road, said he has just spent $800 on a water filtration system for his home.

Trustees asked Pubentz to nail down the area impacted by the rust issues. Pubentz said a total of 52 households called his office while Well 14 was offline. But in December, village staff sent out letters to 881 homes that may have been affected, Pubentz said.

Last month, Pubentz estimated the affected area to stretch from Boulder Hill Pass to the north and east, and Circle Drive West to the south and west. Pubentz said the actual number of affected homes likely numbers around 200, but he said he would deliver a more exact estimation to the board for a future meeting.

Finance Director Jeff Zoephel suggested approving a flat amount he can then credit on the water bills of affected households

But Trustee Matt Brolley brought up the question of equality. His own neighborhood, he said, has been dealing with rusty water issues for years, and he said those residents “would be the first to call Village Hall if we decide to give compensation.”

He said the village has already spent money fixing the Well 14 problem, and questioned whether a monetary credit would be enough to truly compensate for the problems residents have been facing.

But Trustee Bill Keck said there is a difference between the rust problems likely caused by the failure of Well 14, and the persistent rust issues Boulder Hill residents—particularly those at the end of water lines that have not been looped—have been facing for years.

The village has been putting money into replacing water mains in Boulder Hill. But Engineer Pete Wallers said replacing all the mains that need repair would cost $50 million. Keck said the village, at one time, was replacing those mains to the tune of $250,000 a year, a far cry from what would be needed.

“It’s frustrating for me as an official to sit here and listen to the problems, but there is only so much money, and only so many projects every year,” Keck said.

Trustees agreed to continue the discussion once Pubentz returns with a more exact map, and staff puts together a few options for compensation. Village Attorney Steve Andersson cautioned the board not to refer to this process as a reimbursement for damages.

“Call it a good will gesture,” he said.

But Bill Dobran, who lives on Circle Drive West in Boulder Hill, said he is less than satisfied with the urgency of the board’s deliberations on Tuesday. He said he has lived in Boulder Hill for 35 years, and has never had a water problem before November.

He said his water cleared up for almost a week, but now is back to its rusty color and smell. He buys gallons of bottled water to drink and cook with, he said, and has spent money on rust-removing chemicals for his shower and toilet. Dobran said it was like a slap in the face to receive a water bill on top of that.  

Boulder Hill is an unincorporated area of Kendall County, and not part of the village of Montgomery. The village supplies water to Boulder Hill, at a higher rate than for residents within village limits—Montgomery residents currently pay $4.75 per 1,000 gallons used, while Boulder Hill residents pay $6.05 per 1,000 gallons.

And on Monday, trustees will decide whether to enact a proposed 15-cent increase in water rates—something Dobran believes should be off the table.

“That shouldn’t be talked about now,” he said.

Village staff conducted a poll of eight neighboring communities (Cortland, Elburn, North Aurora, Oswego, Plainfield, Plano, Sugar Grove and Yorkville) and found that none of them have given out mass compensation for water quality issues. 

Trustees will continue the compensation discussion at a future meeting. The board is scheduled to vote on the water rate increase on Monday at 7 p.m.