Round Lake Heights voters reject plan to create water system

Round Lake Heights has been buying water from neighboring Round Lake Beach for years, and will continue to do so as voters Tuesday rejected a proposal to borrow $2.7 million to develop a village water system, according to unofficial election results.

About 75 percent of voters rejected the plan Tuesday - a far different result from just a five months ago, when a similar referendum narrowly lost in the November election.

Proponents argued that having a local water system would allow village officials more control over water rates, ensure a more consistent flow with fewer interruptions, and improve safety by reducing pressure drops during an emergency.

If the measure had passed, the owner of a house valued at $200,000 would have paid about $388 more in taxes the first year.

The $2.7 million would have paid for the installation of about 4,300 feet of pipe to connect directly to Lake Michigan water provided by the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. The money also would have funded construction of a water tower.

Round Lake Heights has been buying Lake Michigan water from Round Lake Beach for many years, and pays Round Lake Beach a transmission fee of 91 cents per 1,000 gallons.