McHenry Times

Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) is calling on leaders of Lake in the Hills to delay a vote on the sale of the village’s water system to a private company until residents of the area have had more time to review the proposed transaction.

Skillicorn said in a press release that residents were first made aware of the proposed deal involving Central States Water Resources in mid-February when it was introduced for a vote by village officials.

At a Feb. 23 meeting, residents expressed their concerns with the proposed deal, insisting that they had insufficient time to fully review and discuss it among themselves.

Rep. Allen Skillicorn

“It is now March 22, less than a month later, and the issue has reappeared on the agenda with the minimum allowable notice for a vote this evening,” Skillicorn said in the release. “Residents contacted the representative to voice their concern that for an issue this complex they need more time to fully understand the ramifications.”

According to the release, village officials have said their motivation for selling “is to eliminate the liability of the village of owning a system that does not turn a profit. The water system, along with fire hydrants, must be replaced, which is expected to cost $1,793,357.”

Critics argue the proposed sale amounts to a betrayal of many longtime residents, who were told something different when the village first purchased the water system some five decades ago. According to the Northwest Herald, since 2002 residents have been paying a quarterly $6 water main replacement fee to repair the water main.

“The majority of Lake In The Hills residents who live in the incorporated areas have had their water system updated, but not the unincorporated area, those residents are being pushed aside because it “...does not turn a profit,” Skillicorn added in the release. “I call on the Village of Lake in the Hills to table the item for an additional month to give the residents affected more time to ensure that their concerns are adequately considered and addressed.”

The Herald previously reported it is unclear if rates will increase for residents given the proposed sale.

Central States Water Resources, a private water and wastewater utility company, is expected to pay just $1 to close the deal, according to the release.