Ela Township's new home gets a nod

Ela Township is moving ahead with plans to build new offices on five acres next to the township's Knox Park off Route 22 in Lake Zurich.

The Lake Zurich village board Monday night unanimously approved site development plans and annexation of the property at 22155 W. Route 22 that will be the township's future home.

The village will provide water and sewer and police services to the township.

The board also decided to refund $4,800 of the $5,000 annexation fee to the township since the project is for another governmental body, Village Administrator John Dixon said.

That's because village officials required the township to install decorative street lights on the property similar to those along Main Street in downtown Lake Zurich.

"It was a little bit more expensive, which is one of the reasons why we refunded the money," Dixon said.

However, the village will not be waiving its fees for water and sewer connections, inspection, building permit and other development costs, Dixon said.

Township officials will soon begin accepting construction bids for the project.

The main reason for the new digs is Ela Township's services have outgrown the current office space at 99 E. Main St., Lake Zurich. That building has no room for storage of documents and is also not insulated well.

The planned two-story, 11,200-square-foot township building will house offices for the supervisor, assessor and social worker and their staffs. It will include a community room for public hearings and civic activities, kitchen and conference rooms, and will be handicap accessible.

The project will be funded through $1 million set aside for building improvements in the township's general fund. The cost has not been determined.