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

Manufacturing advocate: 'Follow the actions' with Pritzker on taxes

Manufacturing advocate: ‘Follow the actions’ with Pritzker on taxes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he prefers growing the economy over raising taxes, but a small and midsize...
Illinois quick hits: National Guard restraining order extended; economic growth above trend

Illinois quick hits: National Guard restraining order extended; economic growth above trend

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square National Guard restraining order extended Following an agreement between the state of Illinois and the federal government, U.S. District Court Judge...
US and Qatar say EU climate regulations could impact LNG supplies

US and Qatar say EU climate regulations could impact LNG supplies

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Energy is urging the heads of State in the European Union (EU) to repeal or significantly change climate regulations adopted in...
U.S. debt tops $38 trillion for first time

U.S. debt tops $38 trillion for first time

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. national debt reached $38 trillion amid a partial federal government that costs taxpayers $400 million daily to pay furloughed federal workers to stay...
Trump defends tariffs, tells beef producers to lower prices

Trump defends tariffs, tells beef producers to lower prices

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Cattle producers called on President Donald Trump to reverse course on a plan to import beef from Argentina as prices for the grocery store staple...
VA secretary pleads with Democrats to end the shutdown

VA secretary pleads with Democrats to end the shutdown

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square As part of a visit to the Washington, D.C., veterans’ medical center Wednesday, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins publicly urged Democrats in Congress...

WATCH: Pritzker opposes redistricting Illinois mid-cycle as other states move forward

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The prospect of Illinois legislators changing the state’s congressional maps before the 2026 election seems unlikely with...
Record-long govt shutdown threatens food, early childhood education assistance

Record-long govt shutdown threatens food, early childhood education assistance

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senate Democrats are set to block Republicans’ government funding bill for the 12th time Wednesday, keeping the federal government shut down despite tens of millions...
Sen. Scott Wiener announces he's running for Pelosi's seat

Sen. Scott Wiener announces he’s running for Pelosi’s seat

By Dave MasonThe Center Square State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat and vocal opponent of the Trump administration, announced Wednesday he’s running for U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s seat....
Cities sue Trump administration for tying funds to DEI

Cities sue Trump administration for tying funds to DEI

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Denver has joined a coalition suing the Trump administration over funds it says have been "illegally" withheld. Joined on the lawsuit by other Democrat-run cities...
Federal shutdown sidelines 34,000 workers in Colorado

Federal shutdown sidelines 34,000 workers in Colorado

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As the federal government enters its fourth week of a shutdown, an estimated 34,000 Coloradans are currently on furlough from their federal jobs. That's according...
Poll: Majority of Americans favor voter ID requirement, split on mail-in voting ban

Poll: Majority of Americans favor voter ID requirement, split on mail-in voting ban

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square President Donald Trump’s plans to “restore election integrity” and prevent voter fraud include banning mail-in voting and requiring that voters present identification at the polls....
Op-Ed: Illinois becoming the lawsuit capital of America, and Springfield to blame

Op-Ed: Illinois becoming the lawsuit capital of America, and Springfield to blame

By Michelle SmithThe Center Square As someone who has spent decades building and rebuilding businesses in Illinois, I’ve grown accustomed to challenges that come with the territory: tight deadlines, rising...
Illinois treasurer promises to pass nonprofit legislation vetoed by Pritzker

Illinois treasurer promises to pass nonprofit legislation vetoed by Pritzker

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs says he will keep pushing nonprofit investment legislation that was vetoed by...

WATCH: Trump says he could attack drug cartels on land amid boat strikes

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump said the U.S. military could soon go after drug smuggling on land and would consider taking the matter to Congress, but said...