Water Agency Ordered to Pay $105,000 in Legal Expenses

The five towns that make up the Northern Will County Water Agency have refiled an eminent domain lawsuit seeking to take over an American Lake Water Co. pipeline.

But after voluntarily dismissing their suit earlier this year, the group — composed of Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Homer Glen, Woodridge and Lemont — has been ordered to pay about $105,000 in attorney’s fees to American Lake, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The agency has until Sept. 26 to pay up. Attorney James Boan told the Tribune that members of the agency were aware of the obligation to pay the legal fees when they moved to dismiss the suit, and will address the issue at a meeting next month. Click here to read the full story.

The eminent domain suit was refiled in June and now lists all five municipalities as plaintiffs.

The five towns began a bid to take over the pipeline on the grounds that American Lake Water is gouging citizens on water prices. The group is seeking to take over the Bedford Park line, which brings Lake Michigan water to the southwest suburbs.

Officials in Lemont, Woodridge and Romeoville have said only small portions of their communities are served by American Lake Water and would be affected.