Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont and Woodridge have joined together to control water rate increases and explore the feasibility of purchasing an Illinois American Water pipeline.
Five Will County communities have joined together to form a new water agency and purchase a pipeline from Illinois American Water, officials announced Monday. The villages of Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont and Woodridge are now part of the Northern Will County Water Agency. The first meeting was held June 11. The agency will now likely look to take action against Illinois American Water and overtake the pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs via eminent domain. The communities have been been meeting for several years to discuss the feasibility of purchasing the pipeline and stabilizing rates for residents, according to a press release. In August, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed off on …
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Romeoville is one of five communities looking to establish the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency.
Romeoville became the fifth and final community to sign an intergovernmental agreement that moves the group one step closer to a planned takeover of an Illinois American Water pipeline. The pact replaces an earlier version that included Plainfield, which has since decided against becoming a part of the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency, Mayor John Noak said. Member agencies — Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont and Woodridge — are considering taking steps to acquire the pipeline through eminent domain, citing repeated rate hikes by Illinois American. Last week, Bolingbrook Village Attorney Jim Boan said the company, which provides Lake Michigan water to suburban customers, has increased its rates by 100 percent over …
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Officials from the five area municipalities that have begun the process of creating a joint water agency are irate over the private water supplier's recent telephone campaign and new website.
Updated at 5:59 a.m. Dec. 20 As five area municipalities move closer to attempting a takeover of an Illinois American Water pipeline, the company hit back, launching a new website and conducting a telephone survey of residents of the communities. On Monday night, Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves confirmed that he and many other residents received the phone call last week. The survey was so misleading, he said, that he is consulting attorneys about filing a legal injunction against the company. "It starts off asking whether residents are happy with water rates and eventually asks questions about [me and the resident's political party affiliation]," said Reaves, who claims the calls are politically motivated. Chris Bacon, Illinois American’s …
Friday, December 16, 2011
Private water supplier launches telephone campaign, website.
Updated at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 As five area municipalities move closer to attempting a takeover of an Illinois American Water pipeline, the company hit back, launching a new website and conducting a telephone survey of residents of the communities. Chris Bacon, Illinois American’s Chicago metro area external affairs manager, said the calls are aimed at gauging what residents know about the proposed takeover. “We just want to gain a better understanding of our customers and their understanding of eminent domain,” Bacon said. Five communities — Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Homer Glen, Woodridge and Lemont — have begun the process of creating a water agency, with the aim of acquiring the Illinois American Water pipeline through eminent domain. By …
Monday, August 29, 2011
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 83 Friday. The bill allows Bolingbrook and four other communities to create their own water agency.
Bolingbrook and four neighboring communities, including Romeoville, will create the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency thanks to legislation that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law Friday. Those five communities will now likely look to take action against Illinois American Water and overtake the pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs via eminent domain. The bill—Senate Bill 83—allows Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont, Romeoville and Woodridge to create the agency, which Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar said would meet soon after Quinn took action. Claar says the agency would lower residents' water bill. Illinois American Water says Bolingbrook can't prove that and in the meantime, …
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Legislator who represents Bolingbrook in the Illinois House says Senate Bill 83 will help control water rates for area residents.
In Bolingbrook for a small town hall meeting, State Rep. Emily McAsey, D-Lockport, said the village's attempt to create its own water company would be a good thing for area residents. McAsey said she has met with—and will continue to talk to—Gov. Pat Quinn's staff regarding Senate Bill 83, which currently sits on Quinn's desk awaiting signature. The bill will allow Bolingbrook, Home Glen, Lemont, Romeoville and Woodridge to take on Illinois American Water and likely use eminent domain to try and overtake an IAW pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs. State lawmakers passed the measure May 30. Last year Illinois American Water received approval for a $41 million rate increase from the Illinois …
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Romeoville among five communities that have joined forces to acquire Illinois American Water pipeline.
In a show of solidarity, the communities looking to create their own water company in order to takeover an Illinois American Water pipeline are urging Gov. Pat Quinn to sign legislation currently on his desk. Lemont did its part Monday night as the village board unanimously voted to adopt a resolution that supports Senate Bill 83, which will allow Romeoville, Lemont, Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, and Woodridge to take on Illinois American Water and likely use eminent domain to try and overtake an IAW pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs. The organization would be called the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency. State lawmakers passed the measure May 30. Quinn has 60 days from that date to …
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Five villages await Gov. Pat Quinn's signature on a bill that would create the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency.
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Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Bolingbrook and the four other cities that have banded together to take on one of the largest water providers in the country are one step closer to using eminent domain thanks to a measure pushed through the Illinois statehouse during the final week of the state’s legislative session. Senate Bill 83 enables five communities — Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont, Romeoville and Woodridge — to create the Northern Will County Joint Action Water Agency, which will likely look to take action against Illinois American Water to overtake the pipeline that carries Lake Michigan water from Bedford Park to the west suburbs. State lawmakers passed the measure this week and the bill now awaits Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature to become law. Bolingbrook Mayor …
Joe Schmo
9:03 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Blame the Illinois Commerce Commission. They set the rates, not IAW. more ›