Read a digital version of the newspaper on your computer tablet or smart phone using either an app or a web browser Ohio — Residents are fed up after watching their water and sewage bills consistently increase over the last nine months Boris Marjanovic told News 5 that his bill in March was $145.67 A lot of people are concerned about constant hikes and we're wondering if it's possible to not have these hikes every three months If it's possible to have maybe five or 10% [hikes] for one year instead of every three months,” Marjanovic stated One is listed as “meter fee,” and another is listed as “service charge.” News 5 looked over Marjanovic’s bill and saw the “meter fee” was added in June and the “service charge” listed on a separate line in September Willowick City Council President Monica Koudela said the billing system was recently changed “There is a listed service charge which is a flat rate charged by the city I believe it should be $23.50 per household but I believe it is being listed differently on these new bills versus the old style I’m not familiar with a meter fee,” she said He added the sudden rate hikes are unfair and slowly creeping to the point of not being affordable She said she lives in a small home with her husband Did I forget to pay the bill?’ And I looked at it again and I went what are we going to do?,” Betsa explained and she told me go on the Willowick community page ‘You're not the only one.’ I started scrolling through and I started crying There's got to be something that the council can do for us.” Betsa said her family has had to budget harder and even consider moving elsewhere you'll see a for sale sign in front of our house that we thought was going to be our retirement home,” Betsa stated Marjanovic said while his rate hikes have been affordable he’s worried about what the future will hold when it comes to figuring out his finances The City of Euclid has been federally required to make updates to the sewer treatment plant Willowick’s Sewer Revenue Fund was used to keep up with the costs “The Sewer Revenue Fund pays not only the fees charged for treatment by the City of Euclid but it also pays wages for our Sewer Department employees and repairs to our sewer system throughout the city,” Koudela said the Sewer Revenue Fund expenses have exceeded revenue Those expenses have been covered by the remaining fund balance and funds were advanced from the General Fund.” More than $300,000 was loaned from the General Fund to the Sewer Revenue Fund to cover the expenses and keep the account balance positive That advance is typically returned to the original account within a year “These are tough conversations and tough decisions We are all fighting the same battle,” she added News 5 reached out to City of Euclid Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer-Gail Tuesday afternoon She explained that Willowick is a “master meter” community which means they do not pay based on water consumption but on actual wastewater flow into the City of Euclid through a point-of-entry meter The City of Willowick City Council held a meeting Tuesday night The water and sewer fee increases were not on the agenda but a handful of residents voiced their concerns “There's got to be some type of regulation “[City Council] was talking about if they had to take from the general fund that the safety forces would lose out and I was thinking I would rather pay for the safety forces you're still hitting families that can't even afford to feed their children.” “What’s your takeaway from tonight’s meeting?” I asked I'm advocating for the other residents as well,” Betsa responded Members of Willowick’s City Council did attend a Euclid Service Committee meeting where they expressed their concerns with the rate hikes and said they will continue to explore other options The City of Willowick could build its own sewage plant but it estimates the cost will be $100 million and that doesn't include treatment or staffing “We heard the concerns raised at the Service Committee meeting and are hoping to make some adjustments as requested The City of Euclid Sewer rates remain lower than NEORSD and other area sewer plants and we continue to seek grants and efficiency improvements to combat higher costs,” Holzheimer-Gail said The next Euclid City Council meeting will be on Monday Willowick residents like Betsa plan to make their voices heard Ohio — A Lake County family is still pleading for answers They want someone to come forward with new information after they say their infant granddaughter suffered alleged abuse last year RELATED: 'We need answers.' Lake County family asking for information after baby girl suffered abuse The alleged abuse is still under investigation by the Willowick Police Department The Lake County Prosecutor's Office is also reviewing the case folks gathered outside the Lake County Courthouse to bring renewed attention to the case to the Lake County Prosecutors and the Willowick Detectives to please do something," said Jeri Kuzma said her infant granddaughter is making progress and she's in therapy five days a week," said Kvoriak Kvoriak said Makenna weighed only 12 pounds at 6-months-old Kvoriak said the infant was rushed to Rainbow Babies and Children's Memorial Day weekend says someone needs to come forward to give the case more momentum "We think somebody out there knows something and that is going to tip the scales so that we can get some justice for Makenna," said Depledge Kvoriak said Makenna is still unable to walk "Jennifer and her family have met with the prosecutors as well call Detective Greg Spakes at 440-585-1234 You can also contact Carolyn Mulligan at the Lake County Prosecutor's Office at 440-350-2683 Supporters of the Kvoriak family have started this GoFundMeto offset high medical costs for Makenna's treatments Ohio — A Willowick mother is continuing her mission to send love and a little teddy bear to a family that is grieving pregnancy and infant loss Elizabeth Michalski started the nonprofit "A Touch of Teddy" in memory of her son Michalski received more than 500 requests for teddy bear ornaments that her non-profit sends to grieving families October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month Michalski keeps the conversation going year-round with her work with the nonprofit "Miscarriage and loss is one of those things that has always been a taboo subject for lack of better words and people need to grieve," said Michalski Families who have experienced a loss can order a bear or multiple bears for free Folks can purchase bears for a loved one for a small fee "I have heard so many stories of what these tiny teddy bears mean to these families it's someone actually recognizing their loss," said Michalski To learn more about Elizabeth's mission and order a bear, click here Ohio — A Lake County family is pleading for answers Jennifer Kvoriak is now the full-time caregiver for her infant granddaughter Kvoriak said Makenna's life changed drastically on Memorial Day Weekend the baby weighed only 12 pounds at six months old "Makenna was intubated for eight days from her head trauma She had one night particularly that she seized so much we did not think that she was going to pull through," Kvoriak said who has emergency temporary custody while police investigate what happened to the infant Kvoriak had to leave her job to accommodate Makenna's medical needs dozens of doctor's appointments and many medications What happened to the baby is currently under criminal investigation The Lake County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case turned over from the Willowick Police Department Kvoriak and DePledge do not know who hurt the baby They are both asking the community to stop social media rumors and start speaking up "We think somebody out there knows something and that is going to tip the scales so that we can get some justice for Makenna," DePledge said Kvoriak said she plans to be by Makenna's side as she continues to heal you are asked to call Willowick Police Detectives at 440-585-1234 The family set up a GoFundMeto offset the costs of Makenna's treatment