Lift station site proves controversial
A sewage station being put in place alongside the Menards development in Long Grove has raised the ire of area residents.
The lift station is proposed for a spot on Checker Road on Lake County property.
It became a necessity when the Menards home improvement center developers starting putting in sewer lines for the store at Lake-Cook Road and Old Route 53. The village wanted the nearby Country Club Estates neighborhood to have the ability to connect to the sewer line if that ever became necessary.
"We looked at a number of different locations," Village Manager David Lothspeich said during a board meeting Tuesday.
However, residents are not happy that the station is planned near a pond, citing concerns about the ecosystem. And traffic safety concerns over a blind spot in the road by the proposed station were brought up Tuesday by dozens of homeowners who attended the meeting.
A truck would visit the station site at least three times a week, and residents said that poses a danger for people coming around the curve when the truck pulls out.
A bike accident occurred in the area recently, they said. However, that was farther west on the road, before the S-curve that residents cited.
Other concerns include leaks and the odor.
However, engineers for the village said Lake County has, on average, one leak per year, and that's only on main lines and not on lift stations.
The village will be putting up fencing to screen neighbors from the station itself.
Residents said there are other spots that are better for the station, which is about 6 feet high. They expressed their concern that the village is pushing too quickly for a spot on Checker Road when other areas are more viable.
The village agreed to try to set up a meeting with its engineers, Lake County, the Menards developers and residents to find a compromise.
"There are issues at each site," Village President Maria Rodriguez said. "There's no perfect spot."
However, she said the site isn't set in stone.
"We intend to find out more information and include the residents," she said.