Elgin looks to boost water pressure on east side
Water pressure - or a lack thereof - is a problem for parts of Elgin's east side.
With more new subdivisions on the horizon, city leaders are making headway on a comprehensive fix for the future - and a method to require developers to help pay for it.
"There is no doubt the developers know they have to pay their fair share," City Manager Femi Folarin said.
He estimated a centralized pumping station could cost as much as $2 million.
Normally, the city requires developers to pay various impact fees and foot the bill to extend utilities like water and sewer service to unimproved land.
But a large pumping station would also serve current residents, so that means to city must foot some of the bill as well.
"In this case we have to be part of the people who contribute," Folarin said.
The city on Wednesday night is prepared to spend an additional $11,000 on a contract with Engineering Enterprises Inc., to find a site and design the station. The total contract for the Hampshire based firm is now nearly $177,000.
Folarin said the exact breakdown of how to charge developers has not been decided. But the last thing Folarin wants is a bunch of randomly placed pumping stations scattered around each new development.
"We have to do something because I'm the one who says I don't want Hidden Creek to do its own thing," Folarin said. "It doesn't make sense to me."
Folarin cited proposals that could affect water use: Villa Olivia and Hidden Creek at Rolling Knolls.
However, neither of these have yet been approved by the city and are nowhere near breaking ground.
The former, a plan to erect 96 houses and 279 townhouses on 139 acres at the Villa Olivia golf course off Route 20 and Naperville Road, is on the city council agenda for Wednesday.
But Folarin said the item won't be discussed at the council until Nov. 12. The developer recently agreed to trim seven townhouse buildings from the plan.
The latter development, a plan to build 82 houses and 82 townhouses on 52 acres of the Rolling Knolls Country Club, 11N260 Rohrssen Road, was rejected by an advisory board. It could come before the city council for a vote on Wednesday, Oct. 22.