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Homer Glen board signals short trial with lobbyists to press state and federal action on Illinois American Water
Summary
Trustees gave informal consensus to allow the mayor and village manager to engage lobbyists for a 30-day trial to press state and federal officials and support a proposed valuation bill affecting eminent-domain acquisition of utilities.
The Village of Homer Glen’s mayor and village manager sought and received informal board consensus to engage lobbyists for a 30-day trial to pursue state and federal avenues related to the village’s long-running dispute with Illinois American Water.
Mayor Nitzke Trojke described the plan as a targeted, short-term effort to see whether lobbyists can “move the needle” by meeting with state and federal officials. She asked trustees for support for a 30-day trial engagement that would fall under the village manager’s contracting authority for small professional services.
Nut graf: Trustees emphasized a desire to avoid repeating past multi-year, high-cost litigation approaches. They supported testing a lobbying path that, if successful, could advance a statutory change and funding options tied to municipal acquisition of private water systems.
The village attorney provided context on pending legislation. He told the board that a senate bill under consideration would change how valuation is determined when a municipal government exercises eminent domain to acquire a water utility. “That entire bill … would set forth statutorily a much more favorable method of valuation of public utilities when a municipal government acquires it via eminent domain,” the attorney said, describing a statutory formula that would replace complex earnings-based valuations currently used in some disputes.
Trustees and staff discussed options including lobbying in Springfield and a possible trip to Washington. Village Manager Joe Baber confirmed that the mayor and manager can approve consultant contracts under $10,000 and asked for the board’s consensus to proceed with a short trial engagement; several trustees voiced support but no formal board vote was taken.
Ending: The mayor and village manager will review a proposed scope and, if within the manager’s authority, may execute a short consultancy agreement to test the lobbyists’ effectiveness. Staff will report back to the board after the trial period.
