Residents urge council to investigate unpaid taxes on military housing and rising rents; water-bill disputes and renters' rights raised

During public comment on Sept. 15, multiple residents raised concerns about property-tax compliance, gentrification, and water-bill practices.

Carl Lambreeth said he discussed with the mayor of Highland Park that a New York-based company owning military housing may not be paying local real-estate taxes. "I estimate between North Chicago, Highwood, and Glenview, there's probably a thousand housings. That represents approximately $10,000,000 in taxes that should be paid but is not," Lambreeth said. He suggested forming a multi-jurisdictional committee among North Chicago, Highwood, Glenview and Highland Park to investigate.

Another commenter (identified in the transcript as a resident) described what they called active gentrification: multiple brand-name property managers operating under several company names, inconsistent water bills being charged to tenants who still have valid leases, and rents reaching levels (the commenter cited $1,600) that the speaker said are unaffordable in parts of the city. The commenter urged Alderman Coleman to hold a ward town hall and criticized how sales and property transfers had been handled in nearby jurisdictions.

Mike Mueller, who identified himself as a union representative for city employees, attempted to discuss collective bargaining negotiations but was reminded by the city attorney that collective bargaining negotiations are not appropriate for public comment and are confidential until ratification.

Why it matters: residents asked the council for investigation and local outreach on tax compliance, renter protections and water-bill practices, and requested more public engagement. The council did not take formal action on these public comments at the meeting.

Next steps: residents requested a town hall from Alderman Coleman; no formal referral or motion was recorded in the meeting transcript.