Joliet schedules workshop meeting on Lake Michigan project

The Joliet City Council will host a special workshop meeting Thursday on the Lake Michigan water project.

The meeting is to provide updates on the project and is open to the public to attend in person at City Hall, at 150 W. Jefferson St, or view the meeting on the city website, www.joliet.gov. Joliet residents also can watch the meeting on Joliet Community TV-Channel 6.

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m., and the public will have the opportunity to speak.

The City Council a year ago agreed to connect with the city of Chicago for a pipeline that will bring Lake Michigan water to Joliet by 2030. The project was estimated to cost between $592 million and $810 million. The costs will contribute to increases in water bills, which are expected to rise to $88 a month by 2030.

Joliet is working with six neighboring communities to form a regional water commission to share the costs and benefits of the new water system. The meeting will include an update on the commission.

Other potential commission members are Crest Hill, Shorewood, Channahon, Minooka, Romeoville and Lemont.

Other items on the agenda include a status update on the water project, a discussion on funding strategy and the outlook for the coming year.