The average city and suburban sewer bill will go up by almost 400 percent by 2016 under a Springfield Metro Sanitary District rate increase that was passed quietly this week.Over the next nine years, the average bill for Springfield, Chatham, Sherman and Rochester residents would rise from $6.20 a month to $30.61, according to the district.

The average bill for Jerome, Grandview and other residents who are billed by Springfield, Chatham, Sherman and Rochester, but who do not live there, would rise from $12.40 a month to $61.12.

The rate hike, approved Monday by the district board, drew outrage from Ward 3 Ald. Frank Kunz, who said that while the proper legal notices had been filed, the lack of public scrutiny makes him think the district tried to piggyback its increase onto the city’s proposed 86 percent water rate increase to escape scrutiny.

Sewer charges are included on most people’s water bills.

The sanitary district’s actions also make it less likely Kunz will vote for the higher city water rate, he said. Aldermen are expected to take a final vote Tuesday.

“I can’t do this to people,” Kunz said Thursday. “It’s too much at once. Either they (the sanitary district) should have waited the five years (for the city water rate hike to fully take effect), or we can wait the eight years until they’re through with theirs. … These folks put it in the back of the paper in a classified ad.”

Gregg Humphrey, executive director of the Springfield Metro Sanitary District, said all cities and villages affected by the increase were sent letters dated March 13 explaining the district’s plans. The letter Humphrey wrote to Mayor Tim Davlin said it included a copy of the new rates.

A legal notice published in The State Journal-Register on March 14 announced a public hearing on the matter, Humphrey said. A legal notice also was in Thursday’s newspaper announcing the higher rates.

The sanitary district board voted 4-0 for the rate increase, which will provide $175 million to replace the Spring Creek treatment plant and modify the Sugar Creek facility.

Voting “yes” were Republicans Tony Libri and Richard Ciotti and Democrats Darryl Harris and James Flemming. Democrat Tim Timoney was not present for Monday’s vote, Humphrey said. Libri and Timoney chair the local Republican and Democratic parties, respectively.

Asked why the rate increase had not been better publicized, Flemming said, “We did all the public notice that we were told we had to do through legal counsel. They had two meetings. Nobody showed up. We did our fiduciary responsibility and moved forward.

“The thing about the city ... I’m talking about the citizens as a whole, we’ve let things deteriorate. If you don’t (have a rate increase), you won’t have a sanitary system.”

Kunz said he was incredulous that nobody informed aldermen the sewer increase was in the works.

Regardless, Humphrey said, “Sewage has to be treated. We have to meet limits that are set by the Environmental Protection Agency. We’re a necessary service.”

Christopher Peper, co-owner of the Hickox Apartments on South Fourth Street, said his tenants will feel the brunt of water and sewer increases in their rent payments.

“It adds up,” Peper said. “It seems like nobody’s communicating. I’m sure somebody had to go, ‘Hey, this might be an issue coming up.’

“It seems like they’re nailing everybody at once. I don’t understand why they don’t think ahead.”