On the agenda was a request by the DuPage Forest Preserve District for water and sewer service from the City of
The Forest Preserve (FP) has asked the city to bring city water and sewer connections to its site at the Williams and Mack Roads area. Current buildings are served by water wells, filtration equipment and septic fields.
The FP plans to build another building adjacent to the existing fleet maintenance building. It may build an additional building for the nursery or other functions in the complex. Actual locations have not been decided. However, having city water and sewer would improve the FP’s facility management and at lower cost. Also, fire protection sprinkler systems work better with higher pressure city water systems.
Warrenville’s water and sewer pipes stop at the southern edge of the
Meanwhile residents within the city may consider whether they will connect to the system when it is available to them. The city’s policy does not require residents to hook up to the systems.
There are non-residents adjacent to the city wishing for city water and sewer. They cannot obtain these connections unless two things occur: first, the system lines must be adjacent to their property, and second, they must agree to be annexed to the city. The latter must also have their property abutting a property previously annexed to the city. Annexation must be contiguous, not hodge-podge.
To provide water and sewer to residents north of the
The West-Win Home Owners Association encouraged residents of their area to attend the meeting. Most association members live in Winfield and unincorporated
West-Win documents stated the following concerns: 1) providing water and sewer connections will enable the FP to expand its building complex at the site; 2) the FP has plans to build three buildings not just one; 3) these plans will create an ‘industrial complex’ that is not in keeping with the existing area and residences; 4) property values in the area will decline; 5) quality of life will be changed against the wishes of the residents; 6) the FP has repeatedly kept their plans secret so voters are unaware of the plans; 7) FP’s development will increase flooding concerns both for adjacent properties and the river; 8) FP equipment traffic on Mack Road exceeds the road’s engineering design thus placing maintenance costs on township taxpayers.
The aldermen listened to audience comments and discussed their own concerns with the request to extend water and sewer to an unincorporated area. The process for moving forward was also discussed and outlined a transparent process complete with public meetings and hearings for each step.
The council approved a recommendation that city staff work with FP staff to develop an Inter-Governmental Agreement that will define all of the particulars of the project if it is to move forward. Negotiating all of the points will take many months. The recommendation was approved for council action at its regular meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 16.
Other matters discussed and approved at the meeting included a Vacant Property Registration Program to help the city keep vacant buildings from becoming a cause of blight; agreements for right of way restorations along Rockwell and Calumet Streets caused by the adjacent construction of Route 56; approval comments prepared for response to the county’s proposed flood mitigation projects; approval of a policy amendment and process for temporary fee waivers for non-profit entities; expanded authority to hire part-time electrical and plumbing inspectors; approval of a measure to expand the number and size of menu board signs at fast food restaurants; establishment of a charge for zoning verification and code compliance letters; inclusion of language from the state safety act for carnivals and amusement rides into the city code.
The council also received into consideration written reports showing vacant commercial facilities within the city limits, as well as enforcement activity for the building and zoning codes.
The meeting was followed by a closed session to deal with litigation matters.
Council Meeting Jan. 16
The Warrenville City Council met in regular session Jan. 16. Approximately 37 attendees were interested in the Forest Preserve issue (FP’s request for water and sewer extension to their Mack Road facility), and 12 citizens made comments, all but one of whom shared their desire to block the FP’s further development of the Mack/Williams Roads site.
Pat Sinnott arose to urge residents to plan their attendance at the February 25th Coffee Expo at the IBEW building in Cantera. The Expo is free to attend and will provide a day-long opportunity to attend classes, lectures and demonstrations all centered on coffee brewing, tasting and equipment to make the best cup of coffee. National experts will be present for this event. Register at Coffee Con 2012 on the web. The event is partially funded by a grant from the Tourism and Arts Commission.
Alderman Bill Weidner announced that he is a career management employee of the Forest Preserve. After consulting with both city and Forest Preserve attorneys, Mr. Weidner learned of no legal prohibition of his participating in discussion or voting on the issue before the council. However, he voluntarily recused himself from the evenings handling of the agenda item.
