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

Trump, Putin agree to meet in Hungary to discuss peace

Trump, Putin agree to meet in Hungary to discuss peace

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following a “lengthy” phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two have agreed to meet to try to end the...

WATCH: Pritzker says he’s lucky winning $1.4M gambling; GOP say he’s out of touch

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s a lucky man after reporting $1.4 million in gambling winnings from...
Report: Sharp decline in trans-identifying youth between 2023 and 2025

Report: Sharp decline in trans-identifying youth between 2023 and 2025

By Tate MillerThe Center Square A sharp decline in Gen Z Americans identifying as transgender and queer has occurred, from 6.8% identifying as a gender other than male or female...
Judge blocks USDA from demanding SNAP info from Illinois, other states

Judge blocks USDA from demanding SNAP info from Illinois, other states

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois leads a 21-state coalition blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture from demanding sensitive Supplemental Nutrition...
KaylaClark

Clark Secures Fourth Career All-Conference Honor at LIC Meet

Featured photo caption: Casey-Westfield senior Kayla Clark runs at the LaVern Gibson course during Tuesday's LIC Championship meet. Her 8th-place finish secured her fourth consecutive selection to the Little Illini...
'Moral disaster': Wisconsin leaders want answers on teacher assault probe

‘Moral disaster’: Wisconsin leaders want answers on teacher assault probe

By Jon StyfThe Center Square The leaders of Wisconsin’s Senate Committee on Education are demanding answers from the state’s Department of Public Instruction following a report showing that 200 investigations...
Stellantis announces $13B investment in U.S.

Stellantis announces $13B investment in U.S.

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Stallantis NV has announced a massive manufacturing investment in the U.S., specifically in four Midwestern states. The automaker, which manufactures more than a dozen brands...
Kellen Sullivan powers his way into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown in overtime, giving Casey-Westfield the crucial 21-20 lead. —photo by Terri Cox

Warriors Clinch OT Thriller with Goal-Line Stand to Remain Undefeated

Featured photo caption: Kellen Sullivan powers his way into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown in overtime, giving Casey-Westfield the crucial 21-20 lead. —photo by Terri Cox MT. CARMEL,...
Trump continues pursuit for peace in Eastern Europe, Middle East

Trump continues pursuit for peace in Eastern Europe, Middle East

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Fresh off the heels of President Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East, the president is set to host the Ukrainian president at the White...
WATCH: Sanctuary policies, public safety debated; House resolutions criticize Trump

WATCH: Sanctuary policies, public safety debated; House resolutions criticize Trump

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 share the ongoing...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker tax payments revealed; teen abortion rate 3rd highest

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker tax payments revealed; teen abortion rate 3rd highest

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker tax payments revealed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker paid taxes on more than $10 million of income in the most recent tax year, $1.4...
Poll: Majority of Americans concerned with rise in political violence

Poll: Majority of Americans concerned with rise in political violence

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about the rising rate of political violence but are divided on how much they think the media bears the responsibility for...
Brief filed in effort to restore Fourteenth Amendment, end birthright citizenship

Brief filed in effort to restore Fourteenth Amendment, end birthright citizenship

By Tate MillerThe Center Square America First Legal is leading the charge for the United States to return to the "original meaning" of the Fourteenth Amendment, meaning that children born...
Federal judge extends order on NYC anti-terrorism funds

Federal judge extends order on NYC anti-terrorism funds

By Chris WadeThe Center Square The Trump administration has been given another week to make its case to withhold more than $33 million in counter-terrorism funds for New York City's...
Trump says he may attend Supreme Court case challenging tariffs

Trump says he may attend Supreme Court case challenging tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Calling it "one of the most important cases in the history of our country," President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he might attend the...