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Fort Heights legal counsel says village negotiating $1.2M water debt with Chicago Heights
Summary
At the Oct. 2 meeting legal counsel reported the village has paid $30,000 monthly toward a water debt that has reached about $1.2 million and said negotiators are seeking to raise payments to roughly $40,000 per month; residents asked for more transparency and financial records.
Legal counsel told the Fort Heights Village Board that the village has been paying $30,000 per month toward a water-bill debt to the city of Chicago Heights and estimated the outstanding balance at approximately $1,200,000. Counsel said the village is negotiating with Chicago Heights and that the village is looking at a potential payment arrangement of about $40,000 per month.
Resident Ruthie Beasley questioned the history and transparency of that debt, saying, "When Mayor Griffin left office the 1st time, Chicago Heights cleared our debt for that water bill. Why are we so far in debt with Chicago Heights again?" The mayor and legal counsel replied that records can be requested under the Freedom of Information Act and emphasized the board cannot be held responsible for prior administrations' unpaid bills.
