Skokie Calls Evanston Water Lawsuit 'Reckless And Hostile'

SKOKIE, IL — Three weeks after the City of Evanston filed suit against the Village of Skokie in an attempt to enforce an increase to water rates effective Oct. 1, Skokie officials have released their first public response, calling Evanston officials "extremely irresponsible," describing the neighboring town's actions as "reckless and hostile," and blaming Evanston's "recently acknowledged budget distress."

Evanston has sold Skokie water since 1944. The two communities have signed two long-term water supply contracts, but they have not been able to agree on a new deal since the recent one expired. In a Tuesday news release, Skokie officials said the Village "has attempted to negotiate with Evanston in good faith to determine a fair wholesale water rate."

"There are consequences," said Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen. "When neighbors take unilateral and oppressive actions designed to penalize its neighbors that have historically cooperated with and supported their community.”

Van Dusen said Evanston was using a distorted and deceitful approach to negotiating a new wholesale price for water.

"Evanston does not have the right to balance its City budget on the backs of Skokie residents,” Van Dusen said Skokie is looking at all its options for responding to the price hike, which he described as "clearly a result" of Evanston's $6 million budget deficit.

Not only that, Van Dusen said Evanston has been using revenue from its water fund as a kind of slush fund.

"Evanston uses more than $5 million in revenue each year from inflated water charges to its own residents as a hidden property tax, transferring revenue from its water fund to support myriad projects and programs unrelated to water service. The actual Evanston budget deficit is $11 million," Van Dusen said. "We will vigorously defend Skokie taxpayers against Evanston’s actions and will look at alternate sources that can provide water to our community." (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Skokie — or your Illinois community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Evanston's lawsuit was filed in Cook County Court one day after its city council voted to increase the rate it charges Skokie to $2.06 from $1.08 per 1,000 gallons. Evanston points out Skokie's alternative source, Chicago, sells water to neighboring municipalities for $3.88 per 1,000 gallons, while Skokie points out Evanston recently offered lower prices to Morton Grove and Niles. However, those towns must spend more than $80 million to pay for their own connection and manage their own water pressure while Skokie does not.

"It is shocking that, in the middle of ongoing negotiation meetings, Evanston would take such reckless and hostile actions which strain the relationship between our communities," Skokie Corporation Counsel Michael M. Lorge said. "The simultaneous filing of Evanston’s complaint the day after its City Council approved an outrageous wholesale water rate hike belies any interest in intergovernmental cooperation. This complaint was not drafted overnight; over the past few months, Evanston made abrupt excuses to cancel negotiating meetings while secretly drafting legal action and dropped it on us in a manner designed to damage the Village.”"

According to Skokie's news release, Evanston also provided only a few days notice that it would be stop providing Skokie with water quality testing and pump maintenance services.

"The Village of Skokie assures Skokie business and residential water customers that water service will continue uninterrupted and that water will continue to adhere to the highest water quality standards," said Skokie Village Manager John Lockerby. The Skokie Health and Public Works Department was able to put in place replacement inspection and maintenance services, according to the release.

"To give only 72 hours’ notice that this vital public health protection would be terminated was extremely irresponsible of Evanston officials, leaving the Village in a precarious position," said Skokie Health Director Catherine Counard.

Read more: Evanston Sues Skokie To Enforce Water Rate Hike

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