Residents raise water, truck traffic and data‑center concerns during Manhattan public comment
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Summary
Multiple residents urged the village to pursue studies and coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions on proposed data centers, solar developments and heavy truck traffic; one resident warned a safe‑route‑to‑school path could change school bus service.
Several Manhattan residents used the board’s public-comment period to press the village on large proposed developments and local safety issues, including a proposed data center in the nearby area, solar projects, heavy truck traffic through the village, and the village’s Safe Routes to School grant application.
Andrea Bombhart (spelled in the public record as Andrea Bombhart) said she and other residents are concerned about a proposed data center near Joliet that she said could draw heavily on groundwater. “A lot of Manhattan is on well,” Bombhart said. She asked the village to press Joliet and other jurisdictions to require the developer to fund independent water‑use and health‑impact studies; she cited Yorkville’s request that a data center fund a $250,000 water study as an example.
Bombhart also raised concerns about a large solar project at Wilton Center and heavy truck traffic that she said is routing through neighborhoods.
Another resident, who identified herself as Liz Lemur, said truck enforcement has improved but remains insufficient and described trucks using restricted routes. Lemur recommended additional signage and speed‑detection devices and said existing state route signs were removed in the past. She urged the village to work with the state to prevent trucks from using residential streets.
Megan Minor spoke about the village’s application for the state’s Safe Routes to School program. Minor said the village’s likely plan to route a new path through the White Feather subdivision could change the school-district transportation boundary and cause the district to withdraw bus service for students who would fall within 1.5 miles — referencing Illinois school code 105 ILCS 5/29‑3 (cited in the meeting as “5‑5‑29‑3”), which governs when districts must provide transportation. Minor said the village and school district should coordinate because residents may not realize a new sidewalk or path could affect their bus service.
Board members and staff said they will continue to pursue coordination with Joliet Township, the township and state representatives and will keep residents informed. Mayor Mike Adrienne and trustees said they are working with plan commissioners and county/state officials and that the village will continue to request studies and communication from outside jurisdictions.
None of the public comments in the meeting record resulted in immediate board action; board members asked staff to follow up and to meet residents after the meeting to continue the dialogue.
