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Oak View residents press Lisle over long-running water issues; village says infrastructure largely replaced, cost questions remain
Summary
Oak View residents told the Lisle Village Board on June 16 they may pursue deannexation or other actions over longstanding water problems and high costs. Village staff and Illinois American Water said mains in the subdivision have largely been replaced, and staff will compile a report on billing and options for residents.
Several Oak View residents used public comment time at the Village of Lisle meeting on June 16 to press the board for action on a long-running water problem, warning that deannexation or other measures are possible if the village does not resolve costs and service issues.
Susan Sriel, an Oak View resident of 29 years, told the board she had given the new board time to act and said that "time expires on June 30," after which she would begin discussing alternatives with fellow residents, including the possibility of deannexation from Lisle and annexation into unincorporated Downers Grove. Sriel said the average cost to an Oak View homeowner to be annexed into the Village of Lisle is about $1,000 and that taxpayers in Downers Grove pay substantially less for water; she estimated an Oak View household could save between $1,960 and $2,800 annually by moving to Downers Grove depending on taxes and water use.
Other public commenters accused the village of delay and questioned inspection and billing practices. One speaker said they had hired an engineer and believed the lines were not installed correctly and threatened further action.
In officials' reports later in the meeting, Deputy Village Manager Mitchell said the village and Illinois American Water met to review the Oak View system. Staff reported that most water mains that formerly ran through backyards have been relocated to front-right-of-way and that older 4- and 6-inch cast-iron mains have largely been replaced with 8-inch (and some 6-inch ductile iron) pipe. Mitchell said those infrastructure improvements have addressed flow, water quality and firefighting concerns, and that the village has confirmed remaining service issues with Lisle Woodridge Fire Protection District Chief Creston.
Mitchell said Illinois American Water declined the village's expressed interest in purchasing the system but agreed to provide a ballpark valuation so the village can analyze feasibility. He said staff will compile a report summarizing the status of improvements, billing and rate components and will distribute that analysis to Oak View residents; no completion date was given. "The goal is to put together a report that kind of says ... here's the analysis," Mitchell said.
Residents who spoke cited potential fiscal impacts to the village if households pursue deannexation, with Sriel estimating Lisle would lose roughly $200,000 in annual property tax revenue and that the Lisle Park District and library district would also lose tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual revenue.
The board did not take a formal vote on Oak View remedies at the June 16 meeting; staff were directed to continue compiling information and to return with a summary for residents.
