ComEd starts work on transmission lines
In case you missed it, Huntley has decided to end its fight to prevent ComEd from building new transmission lines through the village.
The decision ends the village's resistance to the utility company's plans, resistance that included a formal resolution opposing ComEd's plans, a petition signed by more than 900 residents and testimony before ComEd's regulator, the Illinois Commerce Commission.
After commerce commission staff, an administrative law judge and the commission itself backed ComEd's plans, Huntley's fight seemed to be a lost battle.
ComEd hasn't wasted any time since the October decision cleared the way for work to begin on the new transmission lines.
The utility started work on the lines in late October and has nearly finished laying the foundations for the 61 poles that will be erected along Interstate 90.
The poles will be installed during the first two months of the new year, with the work expected to be complete by the end of April.
The work that will take the lines north from the tollway and along Kreutzer Road will not start until ComEd has acquired the rights to all the land along the route.
Currently, ComEd only has about half of the land it needs for the transmission line route north of the tollway, according to spokesman Jeff Burdick.
The utility is negotiating with the property owners along the route and has not yet used eminent domain to acquire any of the property, Burdick said.
I have heard of one property owner so far who plans to fight ComEd's efforts to acquire the property: former Huntley Unit District 158 board president and current board member Mike Skala.
Skala and any other property owners will have a difficult time fighting the utility giant; the commerce commission granted ComEd the right to use eminent domain to acquire property, if needed.
"Due to the urgent need of this reinforcement to the area's electric transmission system, eminent domain is necessary if the project is to be timely built," the commission's October ruling reads.
I'll let you know when work is to start on the portion of ComEd's route that goes through Huntley and if Skala and his neighbors have any luck holding out against the utility.
Registration open for piano festival: When I talked to music teachers in Community Unit District 300 about the district being named one of the country's best for music education, one of the programs teachers cited was the district's annual piano festival.
The district is already gearing up for the next piano festival in the spring. Students in third through 12th grades can register now for the festival, which will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.
Registration forms can be picked up from music teachers at any District 300 school and should be mailed with a $5 check by Feb. 6 to Cathy Storm; School District 300 Administration Center; 300 Cleveland Ave.; Carpentersville, IL 60110.
Jameel Naqvi covers the village of Huntley and school districts 158 and 300. To reach him, e-mail jnaqvi@dailyherald.com or call (847) 608-2718.