Council warns residents not to pay disputed stormwater fee letters while attorneys review

At the November meeting, councilmembers warned residents east of Canton Road and owners in certain housing communities that they had received letters from a private contractor asserting stormwater‑related fees tied to a master plan. A councilmember told residents the village had forwarded the letters to village attorneys and advised homeowners and homeowners associations not to pay the notices until legal review is complete.

The speaker described the letters as threatening liens if homeowners did not pay within 30 days and said the village administrator had received many calls. "Please do not pay this bill," the councilmember said on the record, adding that HOAs should consult their own attorneys. The council did not identify a statutory basis for the fees during the public discussion and said it would await attorney guidance before recommending any action.

Council members encouraged residents to share copies of the letters with the village so attorneys could evaluate the contractor's claims and determine whether the letters are lawful or enforceable. The record shows the contractor name is transcribed inconsistently in the meeting materials; the council described the identity as a private group and did not assert the village had hired that contractor.

The council did not vote on any formal directive beyond referring the correspondence to village counsel and advising residents to withhold payment pending legal review. Residents with questions were directed to contact the village office for updates.