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

Pritzker looking at how Illinois can cover looming SNAP funding lapse

Pritzker looking at how Illinois can cover looming SNAP funding lapse

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In less than two weeks, and with the upcoming holiday season, the ongoing federal government shutdown is...
Retired Navy captain disputes Pritzker’s military politicization claims

Retired Navy captain disputes Pritzker’s military politicization claims

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Former military leaders have lined up on both sides of the debate between President Donald Trump and...

WATCH: Few details on latest boat strike; two survivors in custody

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump released few details Friday afternoon amid reports that two survivors of a suspected drug submarine strike near Venezuela were in U.S. custody....
Illinois quick hits: More arrested in Broadview protests; shutdown impacting federal courts

Illinois quick hits: More arrested in Broadview protests; shutdown impacting federal courts

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square More arrested in Broadview protests Illinois State Police say 11 people were arrested Friday morning after they repeatedly blocked a street...
No progress on funding as Trump cuts programs amid shutdown

No progress on funding as Trump cuts programs amid shutdown

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After a third week of making zero progress on a federal funding deal, lawmakers have headed home for the weekend with no hopes of ending...
Denver calls for return of federal funding for Planned Parenthood

Denver calls for return of federal funding for Planned Parenthood

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Denver has signed on to an amicus brief looking to protect federal funding for Planned Parenthood. The Mile High City joined more than a dozen...
NYC sues Trump over pullback of federal funds

NYC sues Trump over pullback of federal funds

By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York City is taking the Trump administration to court over a decision to claw back tens of millions of dollars in federal funding over...
Illinois quick hits: ICE ordered to wear body cameras; Fed's Beige Book released

Illinois quick hits: ICE ordered to wear body cameras; Fed’s Beige Book released

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square ICE ordered to wear body cameras A U.S. District Court judge in Chicago has ordered federal immigration enforcement officers to wear...
WATCH: GOP says Pritzker out of touch winning $1.4 million; veto session week 1 wraps

WATCH: GOP says Pritzker out of touch winning $1.4 million; veto session week 1 wraps

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 reaction from...
Pritzker sounds alarm on DOJ voter data request; conservatives call response paranoid

Pritzker sounds alarm on DOJ voter data request; conservatives call response paranoid

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The debate over Illinois’ voter rolls intensifies after the U.S. Department of Justice requests full voter...
Republicans more likely to say DOGE effective at cutting waste

Republicans more likely to say DOGE effective at cutting waste

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Republicans view President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency more favorably than Democrats and independents as the president's cost-cutting bureau enters a new era after...
CW8GAllStars

Braves Participate in 8th Grade All-Star game

Six members of the Casey-Westfield Braves Class of 2030 participated in the 3rd Annual WVYFL North vs. South 8th Grade All-Star game Sunday afternoon at Cooks Stadium on the campus...
WATCH: Trump administration seeks to make fertility, IVF treatments more affordable

WATCH: Trump administration seeks to make fertility, IVF treatments more affordable

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Trump administration has struck another deal with a big pharmaceutical player, this time in the fertility space. EMD Serono, a subsidiary of German pharmaceutical...
States say they get big return on anti-Trump litigation

States say they get big return on anti-Trump litigation

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Attorneys general in California and Arizona say their states are getting billions of dollars back in their many lawsuits over what they call the Trump...

WATCH: Braver Angels CEO: Political dialogue is still possible – even in deep-blue WA

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A little more than a month after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah, new Braver Angels CEO Maury Giles came to...