The year 2023 saw Lake Zurich leaders make marked advancements toward switching the town’s water supply and supplier. The year was marked by the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic and community staples, including activities, returned to more pre-pandemic iterations, and village leaders pointed to economic boosts.
Village Board makes strides on switch to Lake Michigan water
In 2023, Lake Zurich village trustees gave the final go-ahead to an ambitious water development plan that will switch the community’s main water source from local groundwater to Lake Michigan water.
The plan will take years to materialize, but over time, village leaders expect that the switch will save the town’s water customers money, provide safer and more dependable water and more.
For decades, Lake Zurich has been looking at a variety of options after aging well infrastructure and, more concerningly, radioactive contamination in local water, demanded attention. The radioactive material, radium, is naturally occurring, but the radium in local water exceeded allowable levels – though the trouble didn’t end there.
Radium, a carcinogen, is currently mitigated by a costly removal process and it also forces the municipality to deal with hazardous nuclear material for years to come.
Even when moved out of state and secured in radioactive storage facilities, the town is still responsible for the radioactive waste and any spills or contamination associated with it, so long as it remains dangerous. At one 2023 Village Board meeting, Trustee Mary Beth Euker said a spill or accidental contamination could cripple Lake Zurich financially.
“That remediation could come back to bite us in the future and that’s not being good stewards of public resources, in my opinion,” Euker said.
With the changeover, the village’s water will arrive already treated and suitable for consumption through the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. Village Manager Ray Keller said the village was lucky to be able to join the CLC JAWA because the waiting list is long. Passing on the deal in 2023, he said, would have wasted money already spent on research and could have added untold years to the project because Lake Zurich would have been placed at the end of the line.
“We’re at the use-it-or-lose it point because the line is long,” Keller said. “Doing nothing is not a responsible or a viable option.”
The switch will take years to complete and the town plans to take out a 30-year-loan for the $152 million cost, according to village officials. But, once done, the new system is expected to provide an optimal source of safe water for the community.
Plans made to address old infrastructure
Village trustees made long-term plans in 2023 to repair or replace over $100 million in aging infrastructure, some of which is reaching the end of its useful life and is as old as the town itself – established over 50 years ago. The projects include sidewalk and park improvements, street upgrades and nearly $1 million in sewer repairs that village officials expect will extend the life of necessary infrastructure while limiting major malfunctions.
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Lake Zurich gains more residents, sees business development
According to the Jan. 1 “State of the Village” report, Lake Zurich grew by 310 households last year. These new arrivals filled a new townhome development site, and village leaders expect even more families in the area with a 23-unit townhome development that is now open.
Park improvements planned in 2024 include adding more resources for handicapped patrons, in addition to road, sidewalk and parking lot improvements. The village has held a series of public meetings to gauge interest and hear feedback from residents interested in these public works projects and in late summer, the village launched a website soliciting public opinion.
The website, LakeZurichTogether.org, includes a comment map for users to comment on various projects around town and that information will be used to help drive priorities and interest in various projects.
Among other 2023 economic drivers, Chase Bank opened a new office off Route 22 in a development deal worth millions. Additionally, new restaurants and businesses opened in the Main Street District, an economic engine for the town.
Village leaders compare crime in town v. national trends
The last year saw the village hire several new firefighters, EMS personnel and police officers to replace personnel who retired or left the village. Mayor Tom Poynton continued to praise the village as a safe suburb, with crime rates some 43% lower than national averages.
Jesse Wright is a freelancer.