Water agency set to re-file eminent domain suit
“The Northern Will County Water Agency is preparing to re-file its eminent domain suit to take control of the water pipeline owned by private utility American Lake Water Company.
Four of the agency’s five member communities approved an ordinance that addresses “procedural” issues with the first lawsuit, according to agency attorney Jim Boan, clearing the way for the suit to be re-filed.
Lemont and Romeoville approved the ordinances April 14 and April 16, respectively, while Bolingbrook and Homer Glen approved it Tuesday night.
In Woodridge, the vote could be closer as the board will hear the ordinance on Thursday.
The Woodridge Village Board voted narrowly – 4 to 2 – in March to approve a revised intergovernmental agreement with the water agency. Woodridge Trustees Greg Abbott and Mike Martinez were vocal in their opposition to Woodridge’s role in the agency.
“To me, it’s not right for governments to come together and basically take another utility company’s pipeline because we don’t like the way they’re running businesses,” Abbott said before he and Martinez voted against the revised agreement.”
Terrell, Ryan. My Suburban Life 23 April 2014.