Council eases water bill crackdown

Mayor Daley's proposed crackdown on water bill scofflaws waswatered down by a City Council committee Monday amid aldermanicdemands that homeowners reeling from skyrocketing natural gas billsbe let off the hook.

Instead of imposing penalties as high as $500 a day against peoplewho owe the city more than $1,000 in water bills, the BuildingCommittee established a $10,000 benchmark that only business andcommercial property owners could reach.

Even then, the $500-a-day penalty would not be automatic. Instead,Water Commissioner Rick Rice would evaluate each scofflaw on a case-by-case basis, then suggest a fine to a city hearing officer, whowould make a final judgment. …