Welcome to Washington -- Administration and Finance

Administration
Administration Phone Number - 309.444.3196
Water/Sewer Department Phone Number - 309.444.8292

The Administrative Services Department has oversight over all revenue collections and expenditure payments which comprise the City's $10,000,000 annual budget. This Department also serves as the central information center for the City, collects water and sewer utility payments, issues miscellaneous licenses and permits, processes work orders for public services, and administers the Glendale Cemetery.

Cash management	Financial reporting/management information systems
Purchasing and disbursements	Billing and collection
Payroll/human resources	Risk management and regulatory compliance
Municipal services support	Cemetery administration and sales

WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT
Water and Sewer Utility Billing
The City of Washington bills for water/sewer services in units of 1,000 gallons of water. Sewer charges are based on water consumption. The current charges are as follows:

	Water	Sewer	Minimum
Resident	$3.28/1,000 gallons	$6.01/1,000 gallons	$8.20/quarter
Qualified Senior Citizen/Disabled	$2.95/1,000 gallons	$5.41/1,000 gallons	$7.38/quarter
Circuit Breaker	$2.69/1,000 gallons	$4.54/1,000 gallons	$6.73/quarter
Non-resident	$3.94/1,000 gallons	$7.21/1,000 gallons	$9.85/quarter

An average bill is difficult to estimate because water consumption habits vary greatly from household to household. However, many families use about 6,000 gallons per quarter per member in the family. Using the resident rate, this would translate into quarterly usage of 18,000 gallons for a family of three which would result in a bill of $167.22.

Water and Sewer Billing and Collection
Water and sewer bills are issued quarterly and are due on the last day of the month in which they are issued. Bills that are delinquent at the end of the month are assessed a late payment penalty of the greater of 5% of the balance or $5. A shut-off notice is sent indicating that the service will be terminated in 10 days if the balance is not paid in full. A lien may also be placed on the property in accordance with City ordinance. City ordinance also indicates that the owner of a property is responsible for payment of outstanding accounts resulting from non-payment by a tenant.

If service is terminated due to non-payment, the outstanding account balance must be paid in full in addition to a $30 restoration fee before service is restored. Service may also be disconnected for a non-sufficient fund check received at shut-off or non-payment of deposits due. If you wish to discuss payment arrangements, please call the Water Department.

Bills may be paid after hours or on weekends at the drop slot located at the entrance to City Hall or the drop box located to the west of the building. Bills may also be paid at Washington State Bank, 1110 Peoria Street.

Outside Water Usage
The City of Washington does not give sewer credits for water used for landscaping purposes or swimming pools. However, an additional "water only" meter may be purchased at City Hall for $110. This meter will register outside water usage and there will not be a sewer charge assessed. A minimum bill amount will be applied for usage less than 2,500 gallons.

Water and Sewer Service Connection
If you are moving in or out of the City or within the City, please contact the Water Department to establish or terminate service. For all new accounts, a $50 water deposit is required. If you subsequently move but stay within the water district, the water deposit will be transferred. If you move outside of the district, your deposit will be applied to the final billing.

Meter Replacement Program
The City implemented a water meter replacement and conversion program in May 1996. This program has two purposes: to identify and replace the older meters in town that may not be reading accurately and to change current meters to a "touch read" system that will allow for automated meter readings. One target of the program are meters that do not have a remote reader outside of the home and thus require the homeowner to be home in order to obtain an inside read or for the homeowner to do a self-read of the meter. There is no charge to the homeowner for meters replaced or converted. The City does ask that the property owner run the wire to install the outside pad. For more information about the program or to be put on the list for replacement contact the Water Department.

GLENDALE CEMETERY
Effective May 19, 2003, City personnel must do all excavations for burials taking place at Glendale Cemetery. A concrete vault must be used for full burial. Such a vault is not required for burial in the infant section or for cremations.

The planting of trees, bushes and other woody plants is not allowed on private burial plots in order to avoid infringement on other grave sites. Planting in the other areas of the Cemetery (walkways, drives, etc.) is only allowed with the prior approval of the city.

Decorative items such as artificial plants, statuaries, shepherd hooks, fencing, etc. must be confined to the designated 2 ft. x 4 ft. headstone area. Foot markers must be flush with the ground and confined to the designated 2 ft. x 4 ft. stone area. Structures other than monuments are not allowed on the grave site, i.e. benches, etc. City personnel reserve the right to remove any live greenery decoration that has subsequently turned brown, as well as any artificial decoration that is detached or in disrepair.

The City of Washington cannot be held responsible for items lost, stolen, or damaged through acts of vandalism. Any maintenance needs related to monuments should be referred to a monument company.

Prices and Fees (effective November 7, 2005)
Grave Prices

Graves in the Memorial Gardens	$450.00
Graves in traditional "upright" area	$550.00
Graves in infant burial section	$100.00

- Additional burials on the same grave site will be charged a $100 multi-use fee in lieu of purchasing a separate grave site. This fee will be charged at the time of need.

- A maximum of three interments per grave site is allowed to consist of: one traditional and two cremation burials; or thee cremation burials.

- A down payment is required of one-half the total cost for grave sites that are purchased prior to the time of need. The remaining balance may be paid in 3 equal monthly installments. Failure to make required payments or to pay in full within 90 days will result in forfeiture of the unpaid grave sites.

Interment Fees

Regular Interment	$500.00 Mon. - Fri.	$600.00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays
Cremation Interment	$200.00 Mon. - Fri.	$250.00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays
Infant Interment	$250.00 Mon. - Fri.	$300.00 Sat., Sun. & Holidays

- If disinterment is requested, the fees will be double the interment fees as indicated above.

- There shall be a fee for trading sites or lots, which shall be as follows:

$50 for exchange of 1-4 grave sites

$75 for exchange of 5-8 grave sites

$100 for exchange of 9 grave sites or greater

(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF files. Download the free viewer here").

Robert A. Morris City Administrator bmorris@ci.washington.il.us	Carol K. Moss City Clerk cmoss@ci.washington.il.us	Joan E. Baxter, C.P.A. Controller jbaxter@ci.washington.il.us	Kenneth B. Newman, P.E. City Engineer knewman@ci.washington.il.us
.pdf