The water tower saga continues....

From the 3/14/07 Daily Herald:

Volo Still Trying To Find Site For Trail

By Lee Filas
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Volo officials hope negotiations with the Lake County Forest Preserve District over a new location for the future Millennium Trail will remain civil.

But district President Bonnie Thomson Carter said she is still upset Volo built a water tower on land earmarked for the trail without informing the forest preserve.

The forest preserve rejected three alternatives late last week to relocate the planned trail off land Volo used near Route 60 and Fish Lake Road.

Carter, who also serves as a Lake County Board member representing Volo and Fox Lake, said the alternatives were rejected because of construction issues or being too close to major highways.

She said the forest preserve came up with its own alternative and sent it to Volo for review.

Carter said the proposals from Volo were not in the best interest of the forest preserve.

“There were significant drainage issues and a 12-foot drop off from backyards to the trail,” she said. “We have asked our staff to come up with the best possible solution and present it to the village.”

Volo Mayor Burnell Russell said he has been meeting with forest preserve officials to try to work out the details. While some of the meetings have been tense, he understands the preserve is upset. He said it was his mistake the village did not contact the forest preserve before building its water tower.

“We are trying to find a new location for them,” he said. “It might take some time, but it will all get worked out in the end.”

If the two sides do not come to an acceptable solution, the forest preserve could turn to litigation. One possibility is Volo could be ordered by a judge to tear down the $1.3 million water tower and two wells, which cost about $300,000 each.

Sixteen feet of the 60-foot easement earmarked for the Millennium Trail was built on. A portion of the water tower, two wells and two concrete pads were built on the trail land. The rest of the $5 million water system Volo built near the easement is on village land.

Russell said the village intends to complete construction on the trail in the fall.