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Robbins board approves LinTech engineering work, green-lights temporary operator amid IEPA order
Summary
The Village of Robbins approved contracts to hire a licensed operator at $1,500 a month and to fund immediate work to satisfy an IEPA administrative order, with trustees citing an urgent need to fix water system violations and shore up collections.
The Village of Robbins on Dec. 6 approved contracts to hire a licensed operator and to fund work aimed at resolving Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) findings that the village said included intake-vent, tank overflow screen and operator-staffing deficiencies.
Mayor Darren E. Bryant and a majority of trustees voted to approve the vendor proposals after Mr. Lin, identified in the meeting transcript as a licensed operator, proposed overseeing the village’s Class C water system for $1,500 a month and completing administrative-order work for $39,000. The board’s motion, moved by Trustee Tiffany S. Robinson and seconded by Trustee Ernest Maxey Jr., passed on a roll call vote with five yes votes (Dyson, Maxey, Robinson, Brewton, Collier) and one absence (Trustee Gregory N. Jackson).
The vote follows a staff briefing in which V/A Shuntai Sykes summarized the administrative order’s schedule: roughly 17 items overall, with some tasks required within 30 days, others within 60 days and the remainder within 180 days. Mr. Lin told the board he has worked alongside village staff for years and that his proposal would include weekly oversight, water-sample reporting and the engineering submittals the administrative order requires. He also said he would prepare a low-interest loan application “for free” if the Village agrees to participate in the financing program.
Finance Director Mr. Kemp presented the revenue picture that prompted the action: he said the village faces a collections deficit and must increase rates after the new year unless collections and enforcement improve. Board members said they aim for a uniform billing approach and discussed stepped-up shutoff enforcement as a collection tool.
Trustees and the mayor discussed financing mechanics. Meeting discussion referenced a previous $40,000 payment to address a gate-related violation and a separate loan-finance figure presented as $35,000; Mr. Lin’s administrative-order proposal was described as $39,000 with a suggested breakdown of $6,500 for the next six months. The board asked staff to pursue loan application options while pressing for prompt remedial work to meet IEPA/USEPA deadlines.
The board scheduled a Water Committee meeting the following Thursday to develop rates, enforcement and financing specifics. No ordinance or final rate schedule was adopted at the special meeting.
Votes and next steps: Trustees approved the operator and administrative-order contracts and directed staff to pursue loan financing and coordinate with regional and state partners to meet regulatory deadlines. The Water Committee will continue the policy work on rates and delinquency enforcement.
