Sewage solution within reach

JOLIET -- The days of open sewage running in the streets of the Ridgewood neighborhood could be over by the middle of next year.

The Joliet City Council votes tonight whether to join an intergovernmental arrangement that would provide city water and sewer services to about 200 homes in the neighborhood in unincorporated Joliet Township.

The system would be built with money provided by Will County, which has collected state and federal funding for the project, and maintained by the city of Joliet, which will charge out-of-city water and sewer rates to pay for its operation.

Ridgewood is surrounded by city borders on the East Side of Joliet but has remained outside the city limits.

Over decades, a number of wildcat sewers and undersized septic systems have contributed to problems that have been at their worst when open sewage has run into the streets of the neighborhood.

The new arrangement would leave Ridgewood outside of city limits but bring them into Joliet's water and sewer system.

"We probably should have done it years ago to address all of these problems," City Manager Thomas Thanas told the city council at a workshop session Monday.

There were county representatives who said the project is ready to go but waiting a green light from the city.

"This is important because we have the money in our hands, but we need the agreement (with Joliet)," said Ron Pullman, community development director for Will County.

Pullman said work could begin in about a month if the city council signs off today at its regular meeting.

The county and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which also is providing funding, still must give final approval, he said.

The entire project will cost about $2.5 million.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, announced last week that the federal government will provide $550,000 for the project.