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

SC weighs whether Amazon must pay workers for mandatory COVID screenings

SC weighs whether Amazon must pay workers for mandatory COVID screenings

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Supreme Court is considering whether Amazon must compensate warehouse workers for time spent waiting...
WATCH: Tax increase talk at Statehouse; Bost’s election lawsuit against Illinois wins standing

WATCH: Tax increase talk at Statehouse; Bost’s election lawsuit against Illinois wins standing

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses the status of...
Illinois Quick Hits: Indiana governor 'working hard' to attract Bears

Illinois Quick Hits: Indiana governor ‘working hard’ to attract Bears

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun says the Chicago Bears noticed that the Hoosier state is open for business....
Vance's tie-breaking vote tanks resolution restricting Venezuela military actions

Vance’s tie-breaking vote tanks resolution restricting Venezuela military actions

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square By the slimmest of margins, the U.S. Senate successfully derailed a resolution that would have curtailed the Trump administration’s power to continue military action in...
Federal court upholds California congressional redistricting

Federal court upholds California congressional redistricting

By Dave MasonThe Center Square California’s congressional redistricting, designed to pick up five more Democratic seats in this year’s midterm elections, was upheld Wednesday in a federal court in downtown...
Trump orders new mediation for New York rail contract dispute

Trump orders new mediation for New York rail contract dispute

By Chris Wade contributionThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered new mediation for stalled contract talks between New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and union leaders in a last-ditch...
U.S. House passes two more govt funding bills, sending to Senate

U.S. House passes two more govt funding bills, sending to Senate

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In a bipartisan vote Wednesday, the U.S. House passed a minibus containing two more full-year federal funding bills, sending the package to the Senate for...
Governors seek delay on sharing cost of food stamp errors

Governors seek delay on sharing cost of food stamp errors

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square State and local officials are asking Congress for a delay on sharing the cost of errors in the federal food assistance program, but said they...
Supreme Court ruling allows Bost to challenge Illinois election law

Supreme Court ruling allows Bost to challenge Illinois election law

By Catrina Baker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A U.S. Supreme Court ruling clears the way for U.S. Rep. Mike Bost to challenge Illinois’...
Illinois quick hits: Illinois auto insurance rates dropping

Illinois quick hits: Illinois auto insurance rates dropping

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois auto insurance rates dropping A new report says Illinois auto insurers are lowering premiums by 4.26% in 2026 while providers...
SCOTUS rules on warrantless searches, double convictions and election suits

SCOTUS rules on warrantless searches, double convictions and election suits

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court decided three cases Wednesday about political candidates' standing to sue, warrantless searches, and double convictions. The justices marked Jan. 14 as...

WATCH: WA Democrats criticize reporter probes into potential daycare fraud

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Washington state Democratic leaders responded fiercely to the notion of journalists looking into possible fraud regarding Washington state daycares that receive taxpayer funds. The issue...
Title IX central to transgender sports cases, advocates say

Title IX central to transgender sports cases, advocates say

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases on transgender athletes participating in girls' and women’s sports. Advocates for state laws banning transgender participation...

WATCH: Legislator raises red flag over Illinois tax funds for group encouraging ICE protests

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois legislator is raising concerns about state taxpayer funds going to an organization he says is...
Bill filed to address loss of homes, equity over property tax debt

Bill filed to address loss of homes, equity over property tax debt

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Democratic state lawmaker has filed a bill to address the Illinois practice of county governments seizing...