What sort of price tag can you put on clean drinking water, coming through a reliable delivery system?

Is $5 extra each month reasonable? It seems like a small price to pay but the residents of Coal Grove may not agree. They will have a few weeks to make sure their elected officials know exactly how they feel.

The Coal Grove Village Council has given first reading to an ordinance that would add an additional $5 per month to each village water bill.

The purpose is to repay a loan that would be used to repair a portion of the village’s water distribution system. It is a system that has been plagued with recent problems and has prompted numerous boil water advisories.

These repairs are much needed because boil water advisories often go disregarded by the public and could potentially create health problems. Plus, valuable village resources are used everytime there is a break.

The problem is that Coal Grove taxpayers have repeatedly said they don’t want to pay more for services.

This won’t require a vote of the people but that doesn’t mean elected officials should just ignore the wishes of their constituents.

Village residents need to make their voice heard. The council will have two more readings on the proposed fee before it would be passed. The next meetings are set for 7 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 19 at the Village Hall.

The council may decide to implement something even if voters say no — which is its prerogative since these individuals were elected to do what they think is in the best interest of the entire village. But then it will fall to citizens to let their voices be heard in a different way — at the polls.

These next two meetings should be about communication so that everyone is on the same page.