Macomb advances Tower Road asphalt-plant lease and schedules lead-service inventory vote after resident raises water-cost concerns

The Macomb Committee of the Whole discussed a proposed ground lease with United Contractors Midwest for property on Tower Road, a resident’s concerns about water-project costs and fee structure, and a proposal to use a $40,000 Illinois EPA grant to inventory nearly 1,700 unknown water service lines.

Scott, speaking for city staff, summarized the lease as a renewal of a long-standing agreement covering the Tower Road asphalt plant. He said the lease would raise rent from $7,500 per year to $10,000 per year for the first 10-year term and that the contract includes a later increase of $2,500 after that period. "So it's just a continuation of that agreement," Scott said, noting the city itself is a major user of the plant for municipal projects and that rents must be balanced against the city’s own project costs.

Alderman Armand Dorsett said his concern was procedural rather than substantive: recent items have gone from subcommittee directly to council for a vote without committee review. "Here is my problem," Dorsett said, urging clearer guidelines on how items are routed to subcommittees and to the Committee of the Whole so council members receive timely information on time-sensitive matters.

City staff responded that, when items are not urgent, they typically go to committee and that staff will recommend a process for the council to consider. "We will recommend a process, and the council can decide which direction you would like to go," Scott said.

During public comment, resident Dana Walker said the city’s new water-plant cost — which he cited as approximately $44,000,000 — would amount to roughly $10,000 per household and argued the current flat-rate debt-service fee is unfair to low-volume users. "I'm asking that you don't increase the flat rate minimum fee and just do away with the flat rate service fee," Walker said, urging the council to adopt a different formula for debt-service allocation.

On water infrastructure, Alice Ortman presented a proposal from IMAG to use a $40,000 Illinois EPA grant to survey unknown water services and determine whether they are lead or galvanized. "The final survey upon which our schedule for lead line replacement will be based is due April 2027," Ortman said, noting the city has nearly 1,700 unknown services and that IMAG hopes to identify roughly 500 before April 2027 if property owners cooperate.

After discussion the council placed the Tower Road ground lease and the 410 Candy Lane driveway special-use permit on the agenda for second reading and final action next week; the IMAG agreement tied to the Illinois EPA grant was scheduled for approval at the council meeting on Tuesday (next meeting date, per staff).