Towns ordered to pay legal expenses in water supply dispute
“TThe Northern Will County Water Agency has been ordered to pay more than $100,000 for legal expenses to the owners of a water supply line it is trying to acquire after the agency voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit earlier this year.
The agency had its eminent domain lawsuit against American Lake Water Co. dismissed in a Will County court in March, but re-filed the suit in June after all five of the towns comprising the agency had passed the required ordinances.
A judge ordered the agency, made up of Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Lemont, Woodridge and Romeoville, to pay about $105,000 in “reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses” to American Lake in light of the dismissal, according to court records.
The new eminent domain suit now lists all five towns as plaintiffs along with the agency.
It contains the same argument as the original January 2013 suit, arguing that a public takeover of a Lake Michigan water supply line in Bedford Park would be in the best interest of the public and help drive down high water bills.
Agency attorneys declined to comment on the Aug. 12 court order, or where the taxpayer dollars will come from to pay the six-figure reimbursement.
The agency has until Sept. 26 to pay American Lake Water, according to court records.”
Ziezulewicz, Geoff. Chicago Tribune 20 August 2014.