Welcome to the City of Waverly, Illinois City of Waverly .... A Good Place to Call Home!

Welcome to the City of Waverly!

Waverly, founded in 1836, is the second largest city in Morgan County, with nearly 1200 residents, and occupies one square mile of rich and fertile land 90 miles north of St. Louis, 210 miles south southwest of Chicago, and 30 miles southwest of Springfield.  Approximately 3000 customers are located in the local trading area.  Waverly contains over 400 homes, has over sixteen miles of all-weather street and roadways, supports its own elementary and high school, and owns and operates its own water and sewer systems.  Since Waverly's founding, Salter Park has been the heart of the city.  Located in the middle of the business district, this exceptionally well-maintained six-acre park contains a band stage, a pavilion, a War Memorial, basketball court, a large playground area which was constructed by community volunteers and is the site of the Waverly Old-Fashioned Picnic held each year in late summer.  Waverly is also the home of the Waverly Holiday Tournament (the best small school tournament in Illinois) for high school boys basketball every year since 1951.

We are very proud of our city, its people, our lifestyles, and activities.

** IMPORTANT NOTICES **

NOTICE: With the impending snow, please do not park on the streets Saturday and Sunday.  Also please do not park on the Square (overnight or during non-business hours).  This will enable the City Snow Plows to handle snow removal in an efficient manner, as well as protect your vehicles. 

Additionally, it is important to leave faucets running overnight (fast paced drip or slow stream (not full open), as well open cabinet doors, during the extreme cold temperatures to avoid pipes freezing.

PUBLIC NOTICE 

The City of Waverly will discuss the natural gas rate at our next regularly scheduled City Council meeting with plans to make an adjustment effective in the spring of 2026.  The rate adjustment will allow the City of Waverly to continue providing reliable and secure natural gas services through the current system and cover increasing operating costs on a monthly basis to Waverly residents in an economical and efficient manner while also offering a competitive rate lower than the investor-owned utilities in Illinois.

 If you have questions or concerns, please feel to attend the February, March and/or April City Council Meeting on the first Tuesday of each month.

 Proposed Plan:

• Place notice in Waverly Journal and on the City Website
• Possible Community comments at the February, March & April City Council Meetings
• Action taken at the May City Council Meeting
•  Implementation of rate increase effective July 1, 2026, based upon the June usage (meters read at the end of June). Increase will be on the bills mailed out July 10^th and due by the 23rd 

WATER AND SEWER UTILITY INCREASE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2025, WHICH AFFECTS SEPTEMBER USAGE FOR THE BILLS DUE 10/12 THROUGH 10/23 (meters will be read the last week of September, as well every month after.)

The City of Waverly implemented a water and sewer rate increase effective October 1, 2024, which was discussed at the July 2, 2024 City Council Meeting.  The last time the City Council increased water rates was November 1, 2015, and sewer rates was April 1, 2018.  The City does not take this action lightly and the action is based upon the following reasons: 1) the City’s water and sewer systems were installed in the late 1930’s and are nearing the end of their useful life without further investment, 2) during the COVID period the City Council took no action to increase rates, 3) the current water and sewer funds are operating at a deficit and should operate in the black with adequate reserve funds for emergencies and capital investments, 4) recent inflation is affecting key utility system inputs such as power, equipment and maintenance which increased between 20 – 60 percent or more in some cases in the past two (2) years, outpacing water rates across the nation, 5) changing regulations in water and sewer utilities are causing an increased need for financial investment to maintain compliance and ensure a high level of services for customers, 6) the 2024 average water bill for 4,000 gallons in central Illinois for similar sized communities is approximately $57.00, 7) the 2024 average sewer bill for 4,000 gallons in central Illinois for similar sized communities is approximately $40.00 and 8) after the proposed rate adjustments, the cost for one gallon of water will be approximately one (1) penny.

10/01/25 – In Town                                       

Water - $35.00 (minimum *)                         

After 1^st 1000 gallons – $13.00 **

Sewer – 3 percent increase                                                                 

10/01/25 – Out of Town                             

Water - $37.50 (minimum *)                         

After 1^st 1000 gallons - $14.00 **

*   The minimum usage is up to 1000 gallons

** After the 1^st 1000 gallons, the price is for each additional 1000 gallons

The City of Waverly prides itself for having a very high quality of water for use by its customers and wants to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact the City Office.  Thank you.

All City utility customers, please be reminded that utility bills must be pad in full every month.  Key dates are:  the 12^th through the 23^rd bills are due; after the 24^th, 10% late fee is added and if the past due amount is not paid by the 11^th of the following month, utilities will be shutoff.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

ATTENTION - Any city utility customer having an outside company digging on their property in close proximity to the City of Waverly Right of Way is required to check with City Hall or the City of Wavery Utility Superintendent to obtain the current requirements in accordance with Ordinance 24-01: Establishing the Standards for the Construction of Facilities on the Rights of Way.  Please the Government Section of this webpage, Code Compliance for specifics.

DO YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE AN UMET NEED? The Waverly Junior Women's Club might be able to help.  The Forms and our Community Kindness Box can be found at the New Leaf Coffee Shoppe and City Hall.  Complete a form and drop it in the box.  

Johnson & Johnson Mobile Veterinary Clinc - - Beginning March 14, 2024, and continuing the second Thursday of every month, Johnson & Johnson Mobile Veterinary Clinic will be located at Salter Park from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm.  You can make an appointment by either call/text to (217) 939-6803.  Services provide are: Routine Wellness Checks (physical examinations/vaccines/monthly, preventatives, etc.) Sick pet/urgent care (bloodwork, x-ray, hospitalization, etc.), surgeries (spay, neuter, etc.), dental cleanings and home visits.

RULES FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS

On October 7, 2014, the City of Waverly approved and implemented the rules listed below for the receipt of public comments pursuant to the Open Meetings Act.      

.         Thirty (30) minutes of public comment may be allowed, limiting each speaker to two (2) minutes.

.         Public comments at Special Meetings must be germane to the items on the agenda.

.         Prior to speaking, each person must be recognized by the presiding officer and must state his/her name and address for the record.

.         The presiding officer may impose reasonable limitations on citizen’s participation at meetings such as barring repetition, irrelevant, immaterial, inappropriate comments and reserves the right to halt or suspend the meeting to a later date, if the rules are not being followed. 

.         Whenever a group of persons wish to address the members on the same subject matter, the presiding officer may ask that a spokesperson be chosen from the group.  If additional matters are to be presented by other persons in the group, the presiding officer may limit the presentation to information not already presented by the group spokesperson. 

.         Interested parties, or their authorized representatives, may address the Council by written communication with regard to any matter concerning City business by addressing the Clerk, who shall distribute the written communication to Council members.

.         The Council is not obligated to respond to comments or answer a question.

.         This rule does not apply to City employees.

.         The Clerk shall post the provisions of the Policy on the City’s website and in the Council Chambers. 

Mayor, City of Waverly

Your 2025 (report year 2024) Annual Water Quality Report is now available.  To speak with someone about this report or to request a copy, please call us at (217) 435-4611 or (217) 435-4111.  Please go to the Residents Section, Water Quailty Report subsection to view the report.

After Hours & Gas Emergency Number is: (217) 473-9822.

NOTICE - if, at any time, you smell gas within your residence, please leave the premises and call the Gas Emergency Line at (217) 473-9822 immediately.

POLICE CONTACT: if you need to contact the Waverly Police Department at any time, please call (217) 245-6103, opt 3.

Waverly Lake Permits are required for boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, etc. and are available at City Hall and the Water Plant.  The cost is $25.00 and the permits are good for the period:  April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.  

Golf Cart Renewals are due by April 1, 2025.  If you plan on operating a golf cart or UTV on the city streets, you will need a current permit staring April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.  Please see Chief Berola.  Cost is $75.00.

WAVERLY ZONING REGULATIONS - Before you build, install a fence, construct/move in a shed or make other construction changes to your property, you are required by the City of Waverly to file an application for a Certificate of Compliance, which can be obtained at City Hall.  The application is then reviewed by the Zoning Board to ensure all guidelines are met.  Once approved, a building permit will be issued and then your project may begin.  The Zoning Board meets at 6:00 pm the third (3rd) Monday of every month at City Hall.