Water Commission, landowner in dispute
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The South Sangamon Water Commission will be going to court in its efforts to obtain an easement
that will enhance access to the proposed water plant located near Buckhart.
Commission Chairman Del McCord confirmed to the Clarion that there is a 20-foot wide easement
over 0.87 acres of property on Leach Road in dispute with the property owner in the area, Budd Alan
Hudgins. The easement is needed to construct a gravel access road to get to the well sites, McCord
said.
According to documents filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, the commission is using eminent
domain laws to aid in its quest to acquire the property in question. The commission has attempted to
negotiate a price to buy the property to no avail. In response, according to court documents, Hudgins
claims that the propxerty in question is not necessary to access or maintain the proposed water wells.
He says adequate means of access to the wells exists across adjacent properties.
The land in question is described in court documents as "vacant agricultural property." McCord said
the legal process could take as long as six months, but should not impact the timeline of the water plant
project, which is now at the bidding stage. He added that the commission has been able to negotiate
with other landowners in the area for needed properties and easements without major issue.
Continuing, McCord said the commission hopes to be able to give a firm water rate estimate to the
Chatham and New Berlin village boards by late March or early April, and from there the villages will have
to decide how to proceed (whether to pledge to buy water from the SSWC or stay with Springfield CWLP).
Also, there has been interest shown from representatives of the Round Prairie Water Co-op, which
has about 200 customers, in purchasing water from the SSWC if and when the plant comes online.
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
The South Sangamon Water Commission will be going to court in its efforts to obtain an easement
that will enhance access to the proposed water plant located near Buckhart.
Commission Chairman Del McCord confirmed to the Clarion that there is a 20-foot wide easement
over 0.87 acres of property on Leach Road in dispute with the property owner in the area, Budd Alan
Hudgins. The easement is needed to construct a gravel access road to get to the well sites, McCord
said.
According to documents filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court, the commission is using eminent
domain laws to aid in its quest to acquire the property in question. The commission has attempted to
negotiate a price to buy the property to no avail. In response, according to court documents, Hudgins
claims that the propxerty in question is not necessary to access or maintain the proposed water wells.
He says adequate means of access to the wells exists across adjacent properties.
The land in question is described in court documents as "vacant agricultural property." McCord said
the legal process could take as long as six months, but should not impact the timeline of the water plant
project, which is now at the bidding stage. He added that the commission has been able to negotiate
with other landowners in the area for needed properties and easements without major issue.
Continuing, McCord said the commission hopes to be able to give a firm water rate estimate to the
Chatham and New Berlin village boards by late March or early April, and from there the villages will have
to decide how to proceed (whether to pledge to buy water from the SSWC or stay with Springfield CWLP).
Also, there has been interest shown from representatives of the Round Prairie Water Co-op, which
has about 200 customers, in purchasing water from the SSWC if and when the plant comes online.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Jan. 14, 2010