Darien Gives Back Money To Sterling Bay

DARIEN, IL — The Darien City Council on Monday agreed to give back most of the money from a bond as part of an agreement with Sterling Bay, which is developing a 153,000-square-foot warehouse at Interstate 55 and Cass Avenue. But two aldermen opposed doing so. One of them questioned the action at a time when the city was telling residents it has no money for their drainage projects.

In 2018, Sterling Bay posted a $1.6 million infrastructure bond with the city to ensure it would follow through with public improvements such as grading, erosion controls and storm sewer. City officials said the company has completed its end of the bargain, so it was time to give all but $149,000 back. The remaining money is subject to a one-year maintenance period.

One outstanding issue is the removal and replacement of a segment of storm sewer next to the public works site. The cost to repair the infrastructure is estimated at $40,000, with Sterling Bay and the city each agreeing to pay half, according to a city memo. City staffers are working with Sterling Bay to finish the necessary work, with the city planning to reimburse the company in 2022, the memo said.

However, Ward 3 Alderman Joseph Kenny disagreed with the idea.

"We're telling residents we can't help them with their water projects because of budget constraints, and then we've got this one sitting here. I know it's apples and oranges," Kenny said. "I have a hard time telling a handful of residents that we've got no money for you this year, yet we're going to go ahead and pay them back in 2022. I have a hard time swallowing that one."

Mayor Joseph Marchese said he didn't think the city was telling residents it had no money for them.

"They're still getting municipal services," the mayor said. "We're just not doing capital projects this year, so I wouldn't tell residents that we're not doing anything for them."

Kenny shot back, "Tell that to the people who had water issues this weekend."

Ward 5 Alderwoman Mary Sullivan said the bond was part of an agreement to make sure the developer met all requirements.

"This is money we're holding with the intention they were going to finish the project," she said.

The City Council voted 5-2 for giving the bond money back. Dissenting were Kenny and Ward 4 Alderman Tom Chlystek, who did not give a reason for his vote.