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Lake Zurich board reaffirms role in Lake Michigan water project and authorizes easement acquisitions
Summary
The Village Board approved two ordinances reaffirming participation in the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency’s Lake Michigan Water Project and authorizing the acquisition of underground water main easements; staff said easements will be obtained primarily by voluntary purchase and will typically be about 20 feet wide.
The Lake Zurich Village Board voted to reaffirm the village's participation in the Lake Michigan Water Project and to authorize acquisition of underground water main easements needed for the pipeline.
The action, taken after a staff presentation, approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency and an ordinance empowering the village to acquire easements and, if necessary, pursue legal proceedings. Both measures passed by roll call vote.
Why it matters: the pipeline alignment crosses multiple jurisdictions — including Lake Zurich and neighboring villages — and requires easements to install the water mains. Staff said the project is funded through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency state revolving fund, which includes federal funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Staff and engineers told trustees the typical easement sought for this infrastructure is adjacent to the roadway and about 20 feet wide; the easement grants the right to install and maintain an underground pipeline while property ownership remains with the parcel owner. "It is simply the acquisition of the right to bury a line underground," the village manager said, explaining that the surface of most properties is not expected to be materially affected.
Board members were told the village will attempt voluntary purchases and sale agreements where possible. The ordinance also contains an authorization to commence legal proceedings if negotiations fail; village counsel clarified that the authorization does not mean the village is initiating litigation immediately, only that it is authorized to do so if needed.
The measures included a requirement that the village adopt acquisition policies to comply with the Illinois Joint Action Water Agency Act and the Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 before offering formal purchase terms to property owners.
What's next: staff said the next steps include refining the route, beginning good‑faith negotiations with property owners, and taking additional administrative steps required under the cited statutes. Trustees approved both ordinances and the board discussion closed without supplemental conditions.
Quote: "As the memo states, we're refining the project route… now it's time to acquire the easements to put pipe in the ground," one project staff member said.
