Morton Grove maintains 97 miles of water mains and keeps six employees on call every day to oversee its operations, said Kevin Lochner, director of operations and assistant director for the village’s Public Works department, during a tour of Public Works facilities.
Lochner’s presentation was one of several during a nearly three-hour tour presented to Village Board members Aug. 3. to familiarize them with the department and its facilities and equipment before they make spending decisions.
Water main leaks typically occur from November to March and can be difficult to find, causing water loss until they can be located and repaired, Lochner said.
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“Next week we are starting a leak survey of the water mains,” he said. “We’re not yet at 100 percent, but that is something we’re shooting for.”
Village Administrator Chuck Meyer, who started his position just weeks ago, said the special meeting was intended as an “informal conversation” to show the Board the current state of Morton Grove’s assets in public works.
“It is the start of a larger conversation that we anticipate to ramp up in the fall as we start our budget process and discuss our capital improvement program as it relates to the budget,” Meyer said.
Public works currently has 39 full-time employees, four part-time staff and three vacancies, Director Mike Lukich said.
“It is a real team,” Lukich said. “Many of the employees are residents, which gives special meaning to the idea of serving the residents.”
Among the department’s existing infrastructure are storm and sanitary sewers, roadways, alleys, sidewalks, lights, trees, water mains, hydrants, reservoirs, pumps, valves, water treatment equipment, generators, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems, he said.
This year public works will examine the condition of its existing equipment and likely perform a “needs analysis” during the fourth quarter, Lukich said.
“For 2025, we will look at what we can do based on the village’s resources and strategic plan,” he said. “We will probably provide recommendations to the Village Board at about budget time.”
Ultimately, a five-year plan will be created, Lukich said.
“We don’t want to surprise the Board,” Meyer said. “We want to have a plan in place: What can we afford to do and what do we need to do? The goal is to have an operational document to guide us.”
Trustee John Thill said he likes the idea of the five-year plan and requested future updates on the department’s assets.
“It’s good to see you are proactive and not reactive,” Thill said. “If this information can show up in our quarterly report to residents, that would be great.”
In a tour of the village’s north pumping station, 8820 National Ave., supervisor Marty Durkin said the station was built in 1931 and once supplied water to the entire community.
Today, the station pumps out about 2.4 million gallons a day, far less than was once projected, thanks to conservation and more efficient household appliances, Durkin said.
“People don’t want to see $250 water bills, so they’re more cautious,” he said. “You’re not seeing sprinklers going everyday.”
Morton Grove began buying its water from Chicago during the 1930s, but eventually switched to Evanston in 2019, said Joe Alongi, pump station crew leader.
“They get their water from Lake Michigan,” Alongi said of Evanston officials. “They have three intakes about a mile out into the lake. It’s filtered, tested and phosphates are added.”
“Switching to Evanston was the best thing we ever did because it pays for all of this,” Thill said.
Durkin said about 12 years ago Chicago raised its rates 44% in three years, prompting the village to begin looking for alternative water suppliers.
The south pumping station, 6702 Oakton St., which opened in 1960, holds about 5 million gallons, he said. Morton Grove purchased the property recently, Lochner said.
Bill Burns, superintendent of facilities, said the village vehicle maintenance shop, which spans 37,000 square feet, was built in 1956. All village vehicles are maintained there, Burns said.
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The vehicle storage building was constructed in 1992, he said. The salt storage facility nearby holds up to 4,500 tons of salt, Burns said.