Hubble plans wait on IEPA

The long-anticipated vote to put the future of Hubble Middle School in the hands of taxpayers may come as soon as Aug. 22.

Both Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 and the current owner of the proposed Hubble Middle School site said this week they expect the final barrier to putting a Hubble question on the February ballot to fall by the school board's next meeting.

That barrier is an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency review. The district needs a clean bill of health from the Illinois EPA for the would-be Hubble site near Herrick Road and Galusha Avenue in Warrenville. Such a determination is signified by the receipt of a "No Further Remediation" letter.

Steven Gregory, the chief operating officer for James McNaughton Builders, said all the environmental tests are complete as is a draft of the letter. James McNaughton Builders owns the site.

"We do expect that the NFR letter will be issued and received here any day now," Gregory said.

Difficulties locating water to test for contamination at the property delayed the Illinois EPA review for months. Larger equipment was brought in at an extra cost to drill down about 65 feet to find water. Gregory said test results on that water showed it was so clean it was safe to drink.

School board President Andy Johnson said in an e-mail interview Thursday that he would call for a vote to officially put a Hubble question on the ballot as soon as he sees the agency's letter.

At this point, the only thing delaying the letter may be a work stoppage at the Illinois EPA if the state doesn't pass a budget with funds to pay the employees.

"All eyes are on Springfield right now," Gregory said.

In the meantime, District 200 already has met with DuPage County and Warrenville officials to expedite the permitting process for the stormwater drainage and the special use of a school at the site. The school board voted this week to begin the preparation of the civil engineering drawings for the new Hubble, which are needed for the permits.