Casey Approves Two Easement Ordinances for North-of-Interstate Utility Work

Spread the love

Casey City Council Meeting | May 18, 2026

Article Summary: The Casey City Council on Monday, May 18, 2026, approved two ordinances cleaning up easement paperwork tied to utility development north of Interstate 70 — releasing a broad blanket easement on one property and formally acquiring a utility easement across another. Both passed unanimously.

Casey Easement Ordinances Key Points:

  • Ordinance No. 625 releases an unrecorded blanket utility easement covering an entire roughly 55- to 60-acre property north of the interstate so the land is more attractive to a future developer.
  • Ordinance No. 626 authorizes acquisition of a 0.036-acre permanent utility easement from Paul W. and Marsha Lee for a sewer/water extension, for $10 plus recording costs.
  • Public Works Director Ryan Staley said both items are final cleanup paperwork on easements that were already signed and recorded.
  • Both ordinances passed on unanimous roll-call votes.

CASEY — The Casey City Council on Monday, May 18, 2026, approved two ordinances tidying up easement paperwork connected to utility development north of Interstate 70, with Public Works Director Ryan Staley describing both as routine final steps on agreements already in place.

The first, Ordinance No. 625, authorizes the release of an unrecorded Utility Services Easement dated Nov. 8, 2024, on property owned by a group of family holding companies — the Huisinga and Pfeiffer family LLCs, according to the ordinance. Staley said the existing easement covered the entirety of the property, roughly 55 to 60 acres, and was so heavily weighted toward the city that it could deter development. “It leans very heavy toward us,” Staley said, explaining that the city had already signed and recorded a more appropriately scoped easement on the portions where utilities will actually be developed.

“In the event the property is developed, the developer at that time will want this to be released,” Staley said. “So we’re just clearing it up now.” City Attorney Tracy Willenborg had flagged the unrecorded blanket easement as overly broad. Hanley made the motion to approve, and the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll call.

The second, Ordinance No. 626, authorizes the acquisition of a permanent easement for utility purposes from Paul W. Lee and Marsha Lee. According to the ordinance and the attached easement agreement, the easement covers 0.036 acres for a total of $10 and other consideration, plus recording costs, in support of a sewer extension project. The packet’s permanent easement agreement, prepared by HWC Engineering, was recorded in Clark County in December 2025. Staley said the property runs from the west side to the east side across the Lee parcel and that the easements had already been executed and recorded. “This is just clean up as a final paperwork for this project,” he said. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Staley also briefed the council on the broader interstate utility project, reporting that BNT Drainage, which won the low bid on the electric portion last summer, has confirmed it will honor that bid. A pre-bid meeting for the water and sewer portions is set for June 2, with a bid opening June 17. “Trying to get everything wrapped up this year,” Staley said.

The two properties tie into a larger effort to extend water, sewer, electric and gas service to develop land near the interstate interchange.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Texas appealing El Paso court ruling against new congressional maps

Texas appealing El Paso court ruling against new congressional maps

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas is appealing a federal district court ruling in a lawsuit filed over its new redistricting law. On Tuesday, a panel of three judges on...
Elections board drops campaign finance fines against IL Senate President

Elections board drops campaign finance fines against IL Senate President

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The campaign finance violation against Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, is over after the Illinois...
Illinois corrections officials say they are on schedule for prison mail scan rule

Illinois corrections officials say they are on schedule for prison mail scan rule

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Department of Corrections officials are promising to have a permanent rule on electronic mail scanning drafted...
00FredThomasQuarterBackPressure

Calhoun’s Late Touchdown Ends Casey-Westfield’s Playoff Run, 28-21

Feature photo caption: Senior Fred Thomas applies pressure to the Calhoun quarterback on a key third-and-long in the third quarter. His pressure forced an incompletion and a punt, giving the...
DOJ probes Berkeley riot; Illinois TPUSA warns hostility isn’t just in California

DOJ probes Berkeley riot; Illinois TPUSA warns hostility isn’t just in California

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into University of California Berkeley after...
'Consequential' day ahead for future household electricity costs

‘Consequential’ day ahead for future household electricity costs

By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – PJM’s Board of Directors is preparing to make one of the most consequential decisions of this...
WATCH: Chicago committee rejects proposed tax hikes; Hemp industry wants regulation

WATCH: Chicago committee rejects proposed tax hikes; Hemp industry wants regulation

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from...
Illinois quick hits: Bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act ready for Trump

Illinois quick hits: Bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act ready for Trump

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act ready for Trump Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Schaumburg, says a bipartisan bill she sponsored is headed...
Clark County Graphic.6

Clark County Approves New Heating System for Animal Control Building After Pipes Freeze

Clark County Board Meeting | October 10, 2025 Article Summary:The Clark County Board has approved the installation of a new $3,980 heating system for the county's Animal Control building. The...
Chicago council committee rejects mayor’s proposed tax hikes

Chicago council committee rejects mayor’s proposed tax hikes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council Committee on Finance has rejected a package of higher taxes proposed by Mayor...
Illinois quick hits: Elections board considers primary election petition objections

Illinois quick hits: Elections board considers primary election petition objections

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Elections board considers primary election petition objections Gov. J.B. Pritzker has one challenger in the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial primary. Former Chicago...
Feds: Illegal commercial drivers licenses issued in California

Feds: Illegal commercial drivers licenses issued in California

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square A federal agency reported the California Department of Motor Vehicles illegally issued thousands of commercial drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants. According to the U.S. Department...
Socialist candidate runs against Los Angeles mayor

Socialist candidate runs against Los Angeles mayor

By Dave MasonThe Center Square A trend of socialist mayoral candidates in the nation’s biggest cities is continuing with housing advocate Rae Chen Huang’s candidacy against Los Angeles Mayor Karen...
193 youth in care of Illinois' child welfare agency missing in 2025

193 youth in care of Illinois’ child welfare agency missing in 2025

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – So far this calendar year, Illinois’ child welfare agency reports 193 missing youth in care, an increase...
Hemp industry advocate promises to work with Pritzker, lawmakers

Hemp industry advocate promises to work with Pritzker, lawmakers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker and an advocate for the Illinois hemp industry have different views on reform after...