By Steve Balich
Read letter at the bottom of the video
The following Email was sent to me by Will County Land use. Lockport Heights may have their water main replacement project funding removed because Bid Specs from Homer Township are not compliant. Will county has been working with Homer Township since November 2018 trying to move forward on this project.
I wanted to alert all that we have encountered some critical problems in executing an agreement with Homer Township for the Lockport Heights Sanitary District long standing water main replacement project. Since 2010, the County has expended over $1.5 million in CDBG funds to implement a phased in water main replacement project within Homer Township for the LHSD. This phased in project was initially expected to cover 5 to 7 years and was proceeding as expected from 2010 through 2015. For the past 3 years, the project has seen a slowdown and the County commitment of $490,000 for 2016, 2017 and 2018 has been put on temporary hold, waiting for action by the Township/LHSD. We have been working diligently with the Township and LHSD (Lockport Heights Sanitary District) to get the $490,000 under contract and for the work to begin. Since November of 2018 we have been in constant communication with all parties regarding the HUD requirements on expending the $490,000. However, actions have been taken by the Township that are not compliant with the executed agreement between the Township and the County that have forced us to begin a discussion with the Will County SAO. We intend to seek County Board authorization to have the $490,000 reallocated to other projects in August, once the SAO provides their opinion. In the meantime, we have announced our intent to the Township that because the project bid specs were not compliant with the executed agreement with the County, we would seek to have the funds reallocated. The LHSD has indicated funding for the project is available through other means.
Ronald J. Pullman, Director Community Development Div. Will County Land Use Dept. 58 E. Clinton St. Joliet, Il 60432
