At tonight’s Vermilion City Council meeting, held at 6:00 p.m. inside the Vermilion Municipal Court Complex on Decatur Street, Council unanimously passed Ordinance 2025-34, amending the prior Ordinance 2023-46 and establishing new wastewater (sewer) rates. The ordinance, passed as an emergency measure, effectively reverses a 48% sewer rate increase that had been implemented earlier this year.
A motion to suspend the rules was made and seconded, followed by a roll call vote. All members voted in favor. A second motion to adopt the ordinance by emergency also carried without opposition.
During discussion, Councilman-at-Large Gary Howell voiced concern over what he viewed as inconsistent financial priorities. He questioned how Council could approve hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment purchases with minimal debate, while showing hesitation to offer meaningful relief to struggling residents.
“We’re talking about the people of this town that make up this community—that eat here, live here, breathe here,” Howell said. “They’re struggling, and we’re all struggling.”
Finance Director Amy Hendricks responded that while truck purchases are one-time, fixed costs, wastewater infrastructure involves ongoing, uncertain expenses. She urged caution, noting that without a finalized sewer improvement plan, it’s difficult to know what long-term revenue will be required to meet EPA mandates.
Mayor Jim Forthofer supported the rate rollback as a good-faith step but warned residents not to expect permanent relief. He reminded Council that the system hadn’t been seriously addressed since the 1960s and said the recent influx of general fund revenue was a rare opportunity to tackle neglected infrastructure.
“Everything we are doing tonight and every night serves the people in one way or another… Whether it’s salting their roads or fixing their broken water mains—or in this case—fixing a wastewater plant so they can flush their toilet.”
Council President John Gabriel expressed support for the ordinance but cautioned that without a concrete long-term plan, the vote should be seen as a temporary fix.
“Even if this passes tonight, folks have to know that it’s probably very temporary.”
Ward 2 Councilman Greg Drew pointed to the $76 million estimate originally used to justify the rate increases and said that figure no longer reflects the city’s direction.
“It doesn’t feel right to continue to charge our residents a rate to accumulate $76 million until we find a real number.”
Mayor Forthofer agreed, noting that the current cost estimate may now be closer to $50 million—but the city has only collected $2 million so far.
“Whether it’s a brief pause or a longer one, this boat is going to have holes in it if we don’t keep at it.”
Ward 3 Councilman Drew Werley said he fully supports the rollback, even if temporary, because the initial rates were created under pressure to fund an overly ambitious estimate.
“These rates were created with the thought that we need $76 million, and I think it’s obvious that’s not the route we’re going to go.”
The discussion paused briefly after Councilman Howell required a moment due to a minor choking incident. Council recessed for two minutes and resumed the meeting shortly afterward.
Following final discussion, Ordinance 2025-34 was adopted unanimously.
While the passage of Ordinance 2025-34 offers meaningful short-term relief for Vermilion residents, council members and administrators alike acknowledged that challenges remain. The future of sewer rates still hinges on the final scope of the city’s wastewater improvement plan—a moving target that continues to evolve. For now, the rollback of the 48% increase represents a gesture of good faith and responsiveness to public concern, but as several officials cautioned, the waters ahead may still be murky.
