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Blue Island outlines water bond spending and long-term needs; residents report water odor
Summary
Councilors discussed the status of $12 million in water bond proceeds, a Burke Engineering estimate of roughly $98 million in long‑term water infrastructure needs, routine water-quality testing that the city said showed no EPA violations, and an isolated report of a 'rotten egg' water odor to be investigated.
City officials reviewed the status of water‑infrastructure financing and operations during the June 9 meeting.
Administrators said roughly $10–12 million in bond proceeds for water projects are held in a secure account; only limited spending has occurred so far (sewer televising and engineering fees). The administrator said the city needs a completed engineering solution to replace aging tanks without loss of pressure and that the work will likely continue into next year. A staff memo cited a multi‑decade estimate from Burke Engineering that placed long‑term water‑system needs at about $98 million over approximately 20 years.
Officials emphasized that the bond proceeds are to be repaid from the water revenue fund (an abatement), not by a property-tax increase. "Bonding is a dedicated resource to repay these funds," a city official said; in this case water revenue is the dedicated source.
Separately, city staff presented a draft of the annual Consumer Confidence Report for the water system and said recent required testing found no EPA violations. A resident and an alderman reported a transient "rotten egg" odor in the water that the resident suspected was hydrogen sulfide; staff said they would connect the resident to water operators to investigate whether the smell was localized and would review testing results.
Councilors also asked for documentation supporting the $12 million figure and the underlying engineering estimates; staff said the estimate came from earlier engineering presentations and work by Burke Engineering and that additional briefings (including a presentation by engineer Travis Perry) will be scheduled.
What happens next: staff will provide further documentation on the bond proceeds and engineering estimates and will investigate the reported water odor with operators; the council indicated it intends more detailed follow-up briefings on water‑system projects.
