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Algonquin Awaiting Land Deal

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 21:00 CDT

Algonquin leaders hope the Kane County Forest Preserve doesn't stand in the way of the village's water treatment plant expansion and they wait willing to pay full price to make sure things move forward.

Plans are on the table to expand Algonquin's treatment plant near Buffalo Park Forest Preserve off Route 31 just west of the Fox River. The village has acquired most of the acre or so to the south of the existing plant required to expand but needs the forest preserve to agree to hand over the rest.

Appraisals of the forest preserve-owned property came in about $10,000 apart, said village public works director Robert Mitchard. The city pegged the property's value at $40,000 with the forest preserve in at $50,000.

Mitchard told members of the forest preserve commission's executive committee Friday that he hoped the parties could meet in the middle but conceded the village is prepared to pay the top price.

After a closed-door meeting to discuss the possible sale, the executive committee emerged Friday without a deal but district President John Hoscheit said the negotiation is not over.

"There is going to be a continuing dialogue," he said.

The forest preserve doesn't have a set policy for deciding on such requests, and Hoscheit said this proposal would be examined to determine what is in the best interests of the forest preserve.

For months, requests for easements that allow expansion of sewer lines or other utilities have sparked debate about whether the forest preserve should be supporting infrastructure projects that generate development.

This case likely will be no different, but Hoscheit noted the district's mission is to protect open space and not systematically stop development.

The estimated $16 million expansion will increase the village's capacity to clean water to 5 million gallons per day, up from 3 million gallons. If this final land deal goes through, Mitchard said Algonquin would like to start construction next spring.

The forest preserve likely will include provisions in a future sale to landscape the new plant and limit what can be built on the property. Restrictions or provisions dealing with odor also will be included.

Source: Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.

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