Politics & Government

Mayor Fights to Keep American Water from Digging Deeper in Your Pocket

Bolingbrook's Roger Claar says agency's fight to take control of water line likely will lead to a trail late this year or early in 2015.

The headaches he can do without.

Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar said he has grown tired of a Chicago newspaper reporter who “hammers us” with Freedom of Information requests on a hostile water takeover he is involved in as the recognized leader of the Northern Will County Water Agency.

He says the reporter wants five years of emails on the agency’s attempt to secure the takeover of American Lake Water Company’s Bedford Park transmission line, which runs Lake Michigan water out to Bolingbrook and many other parts of Will County.

“Just so he can read it; he probably won't even understand it and write an article,” Claar said. “ ‘Why is the Village doing this?’ Every time they print an article about us going forward, I get emails, ‘Mayor, keep going.’ "

Claar is working with a team that also includes the mayors and/or high-ranking officials from Homer Glen, Lemont, Romeoville and Woodridge. And he said he remains in this water fight for the long haul during his remarks at the State of the Village Luncheon on Thursday at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.

Claar explained how charges have been added to resident bills to cover fire protection that already exists.

"It's just a way to get in your pocket a little more,” he said. "We're trying to stop it."

Claar sees the battle moving toward a trial by late in 2014 or early in 2015.


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