Questions to be answered

We have several questions we would like the IEPA to answer, if possible.

In an email sent to Joe Caracci on January 25, 2018 regarding project L174402, you state the Village of Bensenville will need to provide any outstanding planning information. Then the Village of Bensenville will have to conduct a public hearing and provide documentation to the IEPA that they have addressed all public comments.

In your letter stamped June 3, 2015 to Mr. Caracci, there were three questions that still needed to answered by the Village of Bensenville:

1 - Please identify the estimated engineering and construction costs for the ineligible construction work so these costs can be deducted from the loan amount.

2 - Are there any intergovernmental agreements and/or service agreements for the White Pines area? Please explain the relationship for providing water services between Bensenville and the White Pines area and provide a copy of any available intergovernmental agreements with the endorsements from all parties.

_3 - Because the annual cost of residential water service is calculated to be greater than 2.0 percent of MHI, Bensenville must explain and justify how the proposed method of repayment was determined and whether there are less costly ways to implement the project.

Stated earlier in question #3, it is stated that the average monthly water bill is $123.39 and if you add in the cost of the loan, $99.98, the monthly water bill would increase to $223.37. The worst case scenario is used to explain user cost impacts during the public notification and comment period.

You also state that the proposed rate increase is 3.4% of the MHI for the area which is considered unaffordable.

Has the Village of Bensenville provided the IEPA with any of the information you have requested referencing the above?

In a March 9, 2016 email from Gary Bingenheimer to you, there is a discussion about lead service line replacement deemed eligible in a USEPA memo. This lead service line issue should be very carefully monitored. Most of the service lines that exist in the White Pines Area are copper. The Village of Bensenville has tried to use this as a "scare tactic".

The White Pines Civic Association did a water test to several homes in the area through an IEPA accredited agency and lead was not found to be an issue.

In a letter from the Village of Bensenville to Lisa Bonnett on July 10, 2015, the Village of Bensenville state "while there is no record of ownership or maintenance responsibility of the White Pines system having been conveyed to the Village subsequent it's construction, the Village has provided water to the area (true) and performed general maintenance (false) and emergency maintenance on the system for decades (true). The Village of Bensenville has stated 30 years ago are system was in poor condition, and has not done any general maintenance on the White Pines Water system for decades, PURE NEGLECT! No maintenance for 30 years!

Please remember that the Developer of our subdivision is the one that put our current water mains in the 50s and handed over our water system to the Village of Bensenville completely COMPLETELY FREE! and also gave them millions to expand the VOB public works.

The village has been collecting revenue for 70 years and spending it in the village and not in White Pines, Why? 70 years of lots of money!

We are here at this point today because of total neglect to our system!

The White Pines Civic Association has requested documentation showing general maintenance on the water system and they have not provided any.

In an email from you to Gary Bingenheimer and Heidi Allen on August 13, 2015, you state "Item 3 of the planning review letter explaining that the proposed project is considered unaffordable".

What has changed? If anything, the cost is more per resident water user per the Village of Bensenville rate structure.

The last question at this time pertains to 35 Ill 602.105 5) which states "The agency must not issue a construction permit unless the community water supply has filed a notification of ownership pursuant to Ill 35 Adm 603.101".

Has the Village of Bensenville filed this notification? In previous emails to the IEPA, the Village of Bensenville has said several times they do not own the water system in the White Pines Subdivision.

This is a huge loan for only approx 18,000 feet a pipe to be installed!
If the Village of Bensenville wants to move water mains to the front for their convenience, then they should pay the additional cost involved!

Residents can't be sure of VOB intentions within White Pines, until its put in legal writing. do not sign anything until then. also, The VOB should place on the village website (White Pines Portal) it should include the complete Design Engineering scope that cost of $450,000, Construction engineering cost of $500,000, legal cost of $100,000, and a huge contingency cost of $620,000.

All of us will get stuck with this once the ink dries! Be Informed!

Demand the VOB make all info above public on their website so all residents can view. not all are able or wanting to visit village hall for hours looking at documents.

We all want to get new water mains, but, at what cost? The VOB offered to pay half the cost but only if we annex.

Please be sure to add your own comments to the petition.