Politics & Government

Legislation Allowing Village to Create Its Own Water Company On Quinn's Desk

Gov. Pat Quinn has 60 days to sign the bill, which would let Lemont and four other communities create their own water company.

Legislation that will allow Bolingbrook and four other neighboring communities to create their own water company was officially sent to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk for signature Tuesday.

Quinn now has 60 days to sign the bill into law.

Bolingbrook will band together with Homer Glen, Bolingbrook, 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.

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State lawmakers passed the measure May 30.

Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar said the group would likely meet as soon as Quinn signs the bill to discuss what action may be taken.

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Last year, Illinois American Water got approval for a $41 million rate increase from the Illinois Commerce Commission and permission to raise rates by up to 5 percent annually without ICC approval, a Chicago Tribune report said.

Buying the pipeline would afford Bolingbrook residents a cheaper water bill, Claar said.

And if the new agency can’t purchase the pipeline, they’ll likely look to acquire it through eminent domain.

“This (bill) allows us to create a water agency, and if the agency chooses to do so, we will seek to purchase the Illinois American Water pipeline,” Claar said. “The alternative to that, if we choose to do so, if to seek it through eminent domain. But that decision must be made after the agency is formed.”

Illinois American Water Director of Government Affairs Tim Leahy said the bill won’t lower residents’ bill because less than 10 percent of the average customer’s bill would be affected by a takeover.

“Many local governments subsidize the cost of providing water so their rates do not reflect the true cost of providing those services,” Leahy said. “At a time when many municipalities are broke and struggling to meet infrastructure improvements, pension obligations and payroll, I don’t see how they can provide these services at a lesser cost. It’s just not realistic.”


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