Trees disappear from Fox River Grove garage site
Fox River Grove resident Paula Kayler knew that the village’s plan to build a public works garage off County Line Road meant she probably would lose the view of verdant trees across the street from her house.
But Kayler said she didn’t think it would happen while a lawsuit seeking to block the construction was pending.
“I didn’t expect them to start the work so soon,” she said. “We used to look at beautiful trees, deer and gorgeous birds. Now I have to keep all my blinds closed. You can’t look at it, so barren and with all the heavy equipment.”
Residents filed the lawsuit in November, arguing their property values will take a hit, their water wells and septic tanks will be contaminated by runoff from salt and fuel, and their existing flooding problems exacerbated. They also fear added traffic and noise will be disruptive.
Village Administrator Art Osten said the village decided to perform site grading and tree removal because the same work was being done in an adjacent parcel, which meant saving money by using the same contractor. The work cost nearly $42,000, Osten said.
The work began last month, and by Sept. 9 all the trees along County Line Road were gone, leaving the barren earth in full view, Kayler said.
Village President Robert Nunamaker said that is only temporary. “We will be planting grass; it should look pretty nice there,” he said.
As for what will happen if the village loses the lawsuit, Nunamaker said this way the land already is prepped for future use.
“I don’t think we’re abusing (our power). If the lawsuit doesn’t go through, we’d obviously do something else with the land,” he said. “Someone else will be building houses, or an office building or whatever. In that regard, it would have to be graded according to Lake County (requirements).”
But resident Janice Molenaar, who is part of the lawsuit with her husband, Mark, thinks that is just not acceptable.
“All those trees, that is a real loss. And for what?” she said. “It is just heartbreaking.”
Molenaar contacted the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, outlining her concerns regarding pollution and drainage. IEPA spokeswoman Maggie Carson said inspectors made site visits on Sept. 8 and 9 and most likely will follow up with more inspections or possibly an investigation.
“There were notations of some concerns. Does this reach the level of a violation? I couldn’t say. It’s a process.”
Nunamaker said village officials took to heart the judge’s recommendation at the last hearing in August to try to address residents’ concerns.
“We will try to address the noise, sight line and traffic issues. We’re giving our best shot,” he said, declining to give specifics.
Kayler and her husband initially were part of the lawsuit but dropped out when they lost hope, she said. They sold their home in March and will be moving to Algonquin next month, she said.
“We were basically forced to sell our home,” she said. “It’s horrible.”
Village officials pointed at the consequences of the lawsuit delaying of the project. Rising costs for materials and labor will amount to an estimated additional $100,000 expense, plus an annual $130,000 in interest payments for $3 million taken out to pay for the garage, they said. There also will be legal costs associated with the lawsuit.