Bert Holloway Ward 3 Alderman

06/05/2026

05/31/2026

Water/Sewer Rate Study Follow-Up

On 05/21/26, the City Council held a public discussion on the results of Litchfield’s Water/Sewer Rate Study.

As I said then, no vote was taken at that meeting.

The purpose was to make sure the information was presented publicly, give residents time to review the packet, allow questions to be asked, and make sure Council had time to analyze the data before any decision was made.

This week on 06/04/26, the Council is expected to consider the next step.

I want to be very clear: no one likes talking about rate increases. I do not like it either. But we also have to be honest about the condition of our water and sewer systems, the rising cost of materials, labor, chemicals, operations, and the long-term infrastructure needs facing Litchfield.

The easy thing would be to keep kicking the can down the road.

But that is how communities end up with bigger failures, bigger emergency repairs, and bigger costs later.

The goal of this plan is to:

✅ Remove the extra $5 water bill charge
✅ Create a simpler and more understandable rate structure
✅ Keep rates fair and competitive with nearby communities
✅ Make sure costs are better tied to usage and system demand
✅ Build a long-term plan for reliable water and sewer service
✅ Show the public where the money is going
✅ Move Litchfield from reactive repairs to proactive planning

I also believe this decision must come with accountability.

If residents are being asked to invest more in our water and sewer systems, then city government has a responsibility to be more transparent, more disciplined, and more proactive with those dollars.

That means better project tracking, better communication, better long-term planning, and clearer updates showing what is being fixed, why it matters, and how it protects the future of our community.

This is not just about rates.

This is about reliable water.
This is about sewer infrastructure.
This is about public health.
This is about housing and business growth.
This is about not waiting until systems fail before we act.

We cannot fix decades of infrastructure challenges overnight, but we can start making responsible decisions today.

Meeting Date: 06/04/26 @ 6:30pm
Topic: Voting on Water Rates

I encourage residents to review the information, reach out with questions, and stay engaged.

Litchfield deserves a stronger, healthier, more reliable future.

Full Agenda for upcoming Meeting will be shared on this page Tuesday evening. If you want to review packet from our last 05/21/26 meeting, you can view it at link below:
https://www.cityoflitchfieldil.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05212026-484

05/26/2026

Litchfield Mayor Jacob Fleming and the City Council recognized volunteers within the community with an annual dinner, hosted at the Litchfield Country Club on Wednesday, May 13. “We’re here …

05/25/2026

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Today, we remember the fallen. There will be a Ceremony at the Litchfield Veterans Memorial Garden on the east lawn of the Carnegie Building at 10:30am.

Memorial Day is not just a long weekend. It is a sacred reminder that real people gave their lives so the rest of us could live freely. They had names. They had families. They had futures. They had people waiting for them to come home.

Never forget.

05/23/2026

Today we ruck in honor of those who have fallen! Dolan (my son) is wearing his grandpa Dolan's dog tags and of coarse I got mine on!

05/22/2026

05/22/2026