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Lake County OKs expanded sewer service in Grayslake for truck terminal

A key element involving a truck terminal proposed in Grayslake was overwhelmingly approved Tuesday by the Lake County Board in a contentious issue that has raised questions about cooperation between communities.

The 17-4 approval of Grayslake's request for a sewer extension to 33 acres of farmland on the village's far southeast side bordering Mundelein paves the way for Saia Inc.'s plan for a 24-hour truck terminal to advance.

But the question ultimately was one of providing a service rather than what would be built, according to county officials, as such requests are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Saia could have pursued annexation to Libertyville or Mundelein but chose Grayslake, supporters noted.

"That was a business decision to be made," said county board member Bonnie Thomson Carter. "They're the ones taking all the risks." She chairs the board's public works and transportation committee, which last week recommended approval 9-0.

The sewer extension conformed to the county's own "considerations and principles" for such requests that were established years ago to take politics out of the process, Carter said. She said the company's willingness to limit truck traffic in residential areas to the south and build a six-acre buffer to shield the views of Mundelein residents near Midlothian Road showed it listened to public concerns.

Board member Jeff Werfel, a village trustee in Grayslake in August when the annexation and zoning was approved, said Saia had been "very flexible and accommodating" in buffering the facility and addressing concerns regarding air quality, noise, lighting and traffic.

"It satisfied me and gave me confidence we'd be working with good partners," he said.

While agreeing that new business helps to offset residential property taxes, Mundelein and others contended the towns were being pitted against each other and this was the wrong place for a truck terminal with service and repair facilities. Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz argued his village had ample sewer capacity near the site.

"This is the first time a request is for land adjacent to a community that has (sewer) capacity and is willing to negotiate to provide service," he said. The approval would take away Mundelein's ability to recoup its investment in those facilities and set up future service conflicts with the county, he said.

The plan faces "huge opposition," raises flooding issues, interferes with governmental cooperation, provides unfair fiscal benefits to Grayslake and was a "ridiculous" use for the location, Lentz said.

Board member Chuck Bartels, a longtime economic development professional who was elected in November to represent the Mundelein area, said he was voting against the measure out of respect for his constituents who "consistently have asked me to consider the land use."

"I'm really sad to see these two communities haven't been able to work together," Bartels said.

Mundelein has a suit pending against Grayslake regarding the validity of the annexation and zoning, but talks regarding a boundary agreement are ongoing. The North Shore Sanitary District, which treats waste for the county, also must sign off on the service extension.

Land annexed, trucking facility approved by Grayslake

Grayslake sewer request aired

Truck terminal plan in Grayslake clears a key hurdle

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