Bensenville to begin construction on water project

Work is poised to begin on a controversial project to improve the water delivery system in the White Pines neighborhood near Bensenville.

Village President Frank DeSimone last week announced that he had signed the final documents for Bensenville to receive a $5.8 million loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The money will help fund the replacement of parts of White Pines' antiquated water system.

"This project has been a long time in the works, and I'm very pleased to see it come to fruition," DeSimone said during a village board meeting. He later said that lead pipes will be replaced up to people's houses as part of the village's contract with Addison-based John Neri Construction Co.

To pay for the work, some White Pines residents can voluntarily be annexed and pay for it through property taxes, while others will have to pay a higher surcharge that will increase their water bill for 20 years.

The White Pines Civic Association has fought a multiyear battle with Bensenville over the replacement of the water system. It's continuing to voice its opposition despite court losses. On Sunday, the group hosted Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mark Curran for a neighborhood rally.

"I want a forensic audit of our money, and I want an audit of the engineering," said Gina Mellenthin, president of the association. "What's going on is not fair."

A flyer promoting the rally accused DeSimone of coming "after our homes with foreclosure" if White Pines residents "do not accept the 'conditions.'"

"This is a gross misinterpretation," said Bensenville Village Manager Evan Summer, noting that any Illinois town can place a lien on a property that is delinquent in not paying water bills. "We have never, ever tried to foreclose upon one of those liens."

Mellenthin also sees a potential Bensenville land grab with its invitation to White Pines residents along the village border to voluntarily seek annexation.

Due to geography, White Pines resident Jim Brill cannot seek annexation. Brill is a member of the White Pines Community Alliance, a group that broke away from Mellenthin's association.

"Sometimes my yard looks like Lake Michigan because some of the mains run through my backyard," said Brill, adding that he's "tired" of frequent breaks and leaks.

In addition to frequent main breaks, officials say the existing water system produces substandard water pressure to combat fires.

"There's other suburbs that have this same issue," Brill said. "They don't have the opportunity to get new lines and we do."