Old police station site cleared in Lake Zurich

The tanks are gone and the ground cleared of any possible hazards but a few more months are needed to sort out financial details regarding the old police station site on Main Street in Lake Zurich.

Village officials on Tuesday received a three-month extension of a $100,000 matching grant to sort out the paperwork with a contractor that is in receivership.

“The project is done, the site is remediated,” Village Administrator Bob Vitas said.

The village originally received a county grant to remove an underground gasoline tank and contaminated soil in 2009. The village in summer 2010 was granted an extension, as more soil borings and lab work were needed to better define the project limits.

The contractor completed the work last March and the village backfilled and restored the site in May. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in August determined no further remediation was necessary.

But the general contractor on the project filed for bankruptcy before final payment could be delivered. The bankruptcy was denied and the company went into receivership. The village is working with the receivership and is close to a resolution.

The county's health and community services committee on Tuesday unanimously recommended approval.

The site is the original location of the village's gas pump and is situated in one of several redevelopment areas that comprise Lake Zurich's downtown plan.

“It's good to have that site cleared because you can't sell property that is contaminated,” Vitas said.

The stalled downtown plan remains a work in progress. The village has not had a developer since last January, when an agreement with Equity Services Group LLC was terminated.

Since then, the village has been working with three companies to re-evaluate the plan, Vitas said.

“We're not reinventing the wheel,” he said. Instead, the analysis is intended to provide a fresh perspective on what realistically might be pursued given the poor economy.

“It gives the village an opportunity,” Vitas said. “Now is the time to get your house in order.” That work is expected to be ready for review in November.

Meanwhile, work continues so the village will be ready when the time comes. Asbestos is being removed from the former Mexico Lindo restaurant, 35 N. Old Rand Road, in advance of demolition.