January 29, 2023
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News - Joliet and Will County

Joliet could pay $2.8 million, become landlord of property to settle dispute over old bridge

City attorney says rental arrangement is “short-term”

By Bob Okon
JOLIET – William Zaffino and Mike Veugeler are on the wrong side of the bridge – the Old Richards Street bridge. Joliet wants to vacate the bridge, which would leave Zaffino and Veugeler, who need to get across to operate their businesses, with an 87-year-old bridge that needs $2 million in maintenance, according to the city's estimate. Except for the two business owners, no one else has property on their side of the bridge, which may have something to do with the city's argument that future maintenance of the bridge is not in the public interest.

The Old Richards Street bridge crosses Hickory Creek serving a small section of street occupied by only two businesses.

The city would pay almost $2.8 million to settle a lawsuit with two business owners who went to court when Joliet abandoned maintenance of a bridge they need to get across Hickory Creek.

Joliet would become owners of the business property, the businesses would stay and the city would get $1 a year for rent, according to a settlement headed to the City Council for a vote Tuesday.

Deputy City Attorney Chris Regis said the landlord arrangement “is contemplated as a short-term solution. It’s our plan to move some city services into those buildings. We’re just not ready yet.”

The bridge serves a section of Old Richards Street occupied only by the two businesses – a road construction company owned by William and Peggy Zaffino and an auto business run by Michael Veugeler.

Richards Street was reconfigured during the construction of Interstate 80, leaving the short stretch of Old Richards Street isolated.

The Zaffinos and Veugeler tried to prevent the city from vacating the bridge, which already was in a state of deterioration.

But I-80 also is a big part of the dilemma. The two business properties stand alone on the short stretch of what is called Old Richards Street, which was cut off at I-80 when the interstate was built. Regular Richards Street is located just east of Old Richards Street and has access ramps to I-80. The westbound entrance ramp to I-80 is so close that the Illinois Department of Transportation has not allowed the creation of an alternative access road that would bypass the bridge and connect Old Richards Street directly to Richards Street. The proximity of that access road to the I-80 ramp would create a safety hazard, IDOT has said.

The Old Richards Street bridge was already falling apart when the city abandoned maintenance in 2018.

The city estimated that the bridge needed $2 million in repairs. The business owners said they should not be held responsible for bridge upkeep. The city vacated the bridge in 2018, meaning it would no longer maintain it.

The settlement going to the council would require the city to maintain the bridge.

Attorneys for the Zaffinos and Veugeler did not return calls for comment Friday.

Regis said buying the property was the best option for the city.

“Our choice was to build a new bridge or buy the property, he said. “Buying the property is cheaper.”

A Will County judge in 2020 ruled that the city had liability for the business owners’ predicament and instructed the two sides to work out a settlement.

Joliet would pay $1.8 million for the Zaffinos property, according to the settlement. The city would pay $975,000 for Veugeler’s property.

The Joliet City Council on Tuesday voted to abandon the Old Richard Street bridge that leads to two businesses and a vacant property.

The weight limit on the Old Richards Street bridge was lowered as its condition worsened.

The council also will vote on lease arrangements for the two businesses.

According to the leases, Joliet would maintain the bridge and give the two tenants 90-days notice to leave if the Illinois Department of Transportation determines the bridge can no longer be used.

Joliet would pay all property taxes, utilities and building insurance. The tenants would be responsible for the buildings’ interiors. The city would be responsible for the exterior, including roofs, parking and fences.

Regis said the city plans to develop an alternate access to the property so it won’t depend on the bridge once it moves city operations to the site.

The city previously tried to develop an alternate access. But IDOT rejected the proposal because of the proximity of Old Richards Street to I-80 access ramps.