Kewaneeans will have the chance to ask questions about the possible sale of their city’s water and sewer system to an outside corporation.
The corporation, Illinois American Water, submitted a bid to the city to purchase the wastewater treatment plant, the city’s two reverse-osmosis water treatment plants and the wells, water and sewer mains and equipment used to maintain the water and sewer systems. The company offered to pay about $34 million for all of this.
Kewaneeans have received a mailing from Illinois American Water announcing a public-information session Thursday, April 10 at City Hall.
“We are excited about the possibility of providing your service,” the mailing said.
The mailing said the event from 5-7 p.m. Thursday will give Kewaneeans the opportunity to “learn more about Illinois American Water and the (short- and long-term) benefits of a proposed sale of the city’s water and wastewater systems.”
Local employees of the company’s customer service, engineering and operations teams are to attend the session Thursday.
The mailing said there will be no formal presentations or speeches at the open house; “Customers will be able to visit with our employees from specific areas at designated tables.”
The open house came as a surprise to at least one city official. Councilman Mike Komnick said he had not been notified about the meeting.
In two social media posts over the weekend, Kewanee Mayor Gary Moore said he is “leaning against privatization but is still willing to look at all options.” In a later post, after doing some homework, the mayor wrote, “If the vote comes tomorrow or a year from now, I will vote against it.”
