MARENGO – Residents and businesses will continue to pay the pricier wastewater rates that took effect in October so the city can afford $12 million in upgrades to its aging wastewater treatment plant.

City Council members had relief options available, such as relaxing fees for low-volume, small-business users, but decided to leave the rate structure alone, thinking that changes would threaten financing for work at the treatment plant.

Last year, the council nearly doubled wastewater rates for residents and businesses to secure and repay a $12 million loan from the state that will cover the bulk of the city's upgrades to its decades-old treatment plant.