More Mundelein power lines may go underground
Mundelein officials are considering burying some old power lines to improve the town's appearance.
The cables in the downtown area - near some of the village's main entryways, such as along Hawley Street or Allanson Road - are being eyed for relocation.
"Overhead wires can become unattractive," Village Administrator John Lobaito said during a committee-of-the-whole discussion Monday night.
The work would be done as part of other construction projects, such as roadwork or the creation of a bike path, officials said.
Local property owners would pay for the line burials. Extra fees would be added to monthly ComEd bills until the project is completed, Lobaito said.
"And then it comes off their electric bill," Lobaito said.
The cost would be spread across the entire village, not just the neighborhood that contains the lines being buried, Lobaito said.
Power lines that are part of new real estate construction projects already must be buried, according to village rules.
Line burial would be considered on a "case-by-case basis," Lobaito said.
Some might be too expensive to bury. That was the case for the cables running down Hawley Street, which now is being widened, Lobaito said.
No formal action was taken on the matter, but trustees overwhelmingly supported the idea of burying power lines.
Trustee Kerston Russell was the concept's biggest supporter, saying it would improve the town's appearance and reduce power outages.
"I think it's well worth it," Russell said.
Mundelein officials have spent the last few years trying to improve the town's image, and they said relocating existing power lines could be another way to beautify the scenery.
Earlier this year, the village adopted comprehensive sign rules to create a more unified look for stores and businesses in Mundelein.