Three of the candidates for City Council Wednesday expressed reservations — or outright opposition — to selling Kewanee’s water and sewer systems to an outside corporation.

The Kewanee League of Women Voters held a forum for candidates in the April 1 election. Incumbent Steve Faber and challengers Adam Cernovich and Obrey Blumenshine attended. Incumbent Tyrone Baker and candidate William Scott Withrow did not.

The candidates were asked by moderator Carla Hillman how they felt about the Illinois American Water’s bid to pay $34 million to take over the two water treatment plants, the wastewater treatment plant and maintenance of the city’s water and sewer lines.

Faber said he hasn’t seen all the details of Illinois American’s proposal. But he said he felt the City Council should be able to control the rates the company charges citizens for water and sewer service.

“I don’t want to see us get rid of it if we don’t have some control over the pricing,” Faber said.

Blumenshine said Illinois American is part of the nation’s largest privately-owned utility company. He said the City Council probably wouldn’t have any control over water bills if Illinois American took over.

He favors “people over profits,” he said, and concluded by saying that selling the water and sewer systems would be a “last-ditch effort by a dying community” — which Kewanee is not.

Cernovich also said he opposes the sale. While it is “indisputable,” he said, that the council must address infrastructure needs, he opposes selling the water and sewer operations.

The candidates were asked why they’re running for the council. Faber, who has been a councilman for eight years, said he has lived here for 62 years and wants to serve his community.

Cernovich retired from the Coast Guard after serving for 25 years. He said he hopes to “find solutions that benefit all of us” if elected.

Blumenshine said he and his family moved here in 2023. “We saw the potential of what our life could be like if we lived here,” he said.

Having held a number of jobs, Blumenshine said, he has “learned the value of hard work and good processes.” He wants to serve on the council because of the “tremendous public service opportunity it presents.”

Asked about the challenges facing the council, Cernovich said infrastructure, economics, housing and streets, sewer and water have to be “at the top of our list to deal with.”

Blumenshine said the city’s declining population and tax base are a challenge, and the council must scrutinize spending and infrastucture.

Faber said operating the city is made more difficult by the city’s tax base. Part of the problem facing the new council will be the fact that previous councils, rather than solving the major problems facing the city, “kicked the can down the road.” Faber also said he’d like to see more businesses start up in Kewanee.

The League of Women Voters also provided a forum for the four candidates for two seats on the Black Hawk College Board of Trustees Wednesday. A report on that discussion will be posted by The Kewanee Voice on Friday.

The League also planned on forums for candidates in two other races where there will be contested races — Kewanee Township supervisor and Wethersfield School Board. However, no candidates in either of those races attended Wednesday’s forum.