Bill Balling, the Managing Director of the WRB LLC consulting firm, recommended that Niles switch its water supply from Chicago to Evanston.
For the past few years, the village has been looking for an alternative water supplier that would be cheaper than Chicago. In May 2014, Gewalt Hamilton Associates engineering firm presented two possible alternative sources – Glenview and Evanston. On Feb. 24, Niles trustees hired WRB LLC to make sure that the alternatives are feasible.
During the May 12 informal consideration session, Balling presented the company’s report to the board. It recommended that Niles pursue Evanston as a water supplier. While teaming up with Morton Grove and Park Ridge would be the least expensive option, Balling explained that teaming up with Morton Grove alone was still less expensive in the long run than staying with Chicago.
Gewalt Hamilton Associates’ report recommended that Niles, Morton Grove and Park Ridge join together to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver water from Evanston to the three municipalities.
During the Feb. 24 meeting, Niles Village Manager Steve Vinezeano said that Park Ridge’s participation was “in flux.” In March, Glenview pulled out of the negotiations, leaving Evanston as the only alternative option.
In his presentation to the board, Balling explained that the pipes that would bring water to Morton Grove, Niles and Park Ridge would be an extension of the infrastructure that supplies Evanston water to Skokie. According to the diagrams in the presentation, the pipes would largely follow Oakton Street. One branch would split off at Harlem Avenue toward Niles’ water treatment plant near the intersection of Touhy and Milwaukee avenues. The second branch would continue along Oakton, turning south on Greenwood Avenue to connect to Park Ridge’s water treatment plant.
If only Niles and Morton Grove are involved in the project, Niles would have to spend about $56 million. If Park Ridge is involved as well, Niles’ share of the cost drops to $43 million. It would take 30 years to pay off the debt created by issuing bonds, but once it does, the village will be able to take full advantage of the savings. Ultimately, the report estimates that, over the course of 40 years, Niles would save $139 million if Park Ridge isn’t involved and $164 million if it is.
The report explains that the calculations are based on the assumption that Chicago and Evanston water rates will rise based on the level of demand, as well as operating and maintenance costs.
The report recommends that the municipalities sort out which communities will participate and which will not by July.
Balling said that his company recommends that two to three firms should handle the design and three to five firms should handle construction. The design phase would take about 18 months, while the construction would take about 24 months.
The goal, Balling said, was to finish construction by the end of 2018 – the year before Niles’ and Park Ridge’s water supply contracts with Chicago end.
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Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.