Title
Extension of Utilities, 13435 Stephen Drive
History
The resident residing at 13435 Stephen Drive located in unincorporated Palos Park, has approached the Village to receive sewer service to his home in the McGinnis Lake Highlands subdivision (104th Avenue & 131st Street) of unincorporated Palos Township. The resident has indicated his septic system has failed and due to ground water conditions cannot be replaced. It was explained to that water service must accompany sewer service to facilitate proper billing for services. The property owner has expressed his willingness to extend the water main to meet this requirement. He has also been very active in his discussions regarding his current situation with outside agencies including the Cook County Health Department, USEPA, and IEPA. The USEPA and IEPA have been in contact with Public Works staff regarding access to Village utility services.
Public Works has reviewed the existing infrastructure and determined that it could be served with water, but not gravity sewer. A water main currently exists one lot away, on the opposite side of the street. This water main would need to be extended across the street and across the frontage of this property. A sewer main is located on the south side of Hillcrest Lane at the end of Stephen Drive. This sewer flow is west away from 13435 Stephen Drive. Elevations would prevent the sewer from being extended north on Stephen Drive.
Around 1987, the issue of serving the entire McGinnis Lake Highlands subdivision was discussed. At that time the majority of the neighborhood decided not to proceed due to the cost of this project. Should the property owner be allowed to tie on to our system the Village would require that the water line be extended to the far side of this property with a valve at the end. Gravity sanitary service can only be provided by extending the existing sanitary main from 131st Street and 104th Avenue; an endeavor not practical for an individual service. An alternative option is to allow the installation of a private sanitary lift station with a force main pumping the waste to the nearest sanitary manhole at the intersection of Hillcrest Lane and Stephen Drive. While out of the ordinary this type of connection is viable in extreme circumstances.
The current board policy (Ordinance No. 3698, 10/07/2002 attached for reference) with regard to water and sanitary service to unincorporated areas states that no water and/or sanitary sewer service will be furnished or supplied by the village to unincorporated properties unless they meet certain exceptions or conditions. The property at 13435 Stephen Drive in McGinnis Lake Highland of unincorporated Palos Township does not meet any of the conditions set forth in the ordinance.
To assist in the decision-making process an evaluation of prospective issues has been established. Below is a brief overview of these issues.
PROs
- The Village gets the water-main built
- The Village collects additional revenue for “out-of-Village” water rates
CONs
- The Village has no way of enforcing codes in the unincorporated area
- The Village cannot enforce the water sprinkling regulations in unincorporated areas
- A “piecemeal” water system is created when you allow tie-ons to come in one home at a time. This creates significant maintenance as a valve is placed at the end of every extension even if it is one lot at a time.
- The potential for ground water entering the sanitary system is high due to the apparently elevated ground water in the area.
- The installation of a private sanitary lift station is a significant precedent in servicing an individual unincorporated residential property.
The Board Policy was based on the limited water resources of the Village. Furnishing utility services in the unincorporated areas may impose substantial obligations and liabilities for the Village. However, certain circumstances were outlined as appropriate for an exception to the rule. Those instances were identified to allow for the appropriate amount of flexibility as determined by the Village Board.
On November 7, 2016, this item was reviewed and denied by the Public Works Committee and referred to the Board for denial.
Budget Impact
None
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve denying the extension of Village utilities for service to 13435 Stephen Drive, Palos Park, of the McGinnis Lake Highlands subdivision.