Oakview resident urges Lisle to provide direct village water; staff schedules open-house planning for early 2026

Susan Sorell, an Oakview resident, told the Village Board on Nov. 3 that Oakview customers have paid large sums to Illinois American Water and formally asked the village to provide direct municipal water and a date to deed the system to the village. "We would like direct village water," Sorell said, and criticized the board for not responding to previous calls and emails.

The request came during the public-comment portion of the meeting. Sorell said she had contacted Mayor Mullen and Village Manager Cook and that a FOIA request found no village records that the village is monitoring Illinois American's contract requirement that it maintain 35 to 85 PSI. "This is not even being monitored by the village," she said.

Village Manager Cook responded during staff reports that staff is working to schedule an open house to present a potential rebate concept and related information. Cook said staff has identified more than 100 Illinois American Water (IAW) customers who are inside village boundaries and who may affect the cost or scope of any rebate or connection program, and that public works identified approximately 20 locations that might connect to village water via a new service line. He also noted that in 2006 the village offered connection opportunities to 19 properties in the area; two at the time expressed interest but did not complete permits.

Trustees asked for an accelerated schedule. Trustee Lesniak urged holding more than one open house and suggested aiming for January 2026 so the board could receive resident feedback before next year's major budget discussions. Other trustees and staff said mapping and jurisdictional complexities (including parts of the 4 Lakes area that are partly unincorporated) need to be resolved and that staff will attempt to present a schedule at an upcoming meeting.

No formal action or ordinance was adopted on Oakview water at the Nov. 3 meeting. Manager Cook said staff will notify the public of specific open-house dates once they are set and will reach out to property owners previously contacted about service connections.