Bill credits are coming for Fredonia residents who got dinged with water and sewer rate hikes this summer.

The village apparently erred in approving the hikes within its 2025-26 budget, without holding separate public hearings on them. Mayor Michael Ferguson read a statement about the situation at Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

“It has come to the village’s attention that adjustments to the water and sewer rates made in the village budget that recently passed were not subject to a separate public hearing that reflected the local law amending the rates in code,” Ferguson began. “Please note that the village will be holding a separate public hearing regarding those adjustments shortly.”

The mayor then announced, “Any resident who received an adjustment reflecting their updated water bill or sewer rate will receive a credit on their upcoming bill.” Ferguson directed anyone with questions to contact his office, or that of Village Treasurer Erlyssa LeBeau.

The village allegedly raised its water rate to $7.60 per 1,000 gallons used from $7 per 1,000 gallons used as of June 1, when the 2025-26 budget took effect. The sewer rate supposedly went to $8 per 1,000, from $7.00.

Trustee Paul Wandel said “water billing and some associated issues” came up in a meeting he had July 25 on water issues with Ferguson, LeBeau, Trustee Jon Espersen, and chief water plant operator Luis Fred. They also talked about “the water taste and odor issues that have been the source of complaints over the last two weeks,” Wandel added.

Wandel went on to say he also met July 31 with Fred, to begin his review of the village water plant. The trustee announced the review at the previous board meeting.

“The goal of this effort is to find areas for improvement, such that all functional processes are optimized, especially in the domain of operator control,” Wandel said. He said Fred would meet with him again for the review effort in about 10 days.