Glenview-Niles Water Dispute Continues in Court

Updated at 12:10 p.m.

It's not water under the bridge.

The Villages of Glenview and Niles are still in court to hash out a nearly $3-million water bill dispute.

In August, Glenview asked a Cook County judge to force Niles to turn over all the documents it wants to conduct an audit to determine whether Niles has been overcharging a Glenview-owned water utility since 1997, and, if so, to order Niles to refund the amount of the overcharge.

The requests come in a countersuit filed against Niles, which has asked Cook County Judge Rita Novak for a preliminary injunction to force Glenview to pay its water bills for North Maine Utilities from April until now.

Glenview, which owns North Maine Utilities, stopped payment on the bills in May, saying it has put the money in an interest bearing escrow account until it can figure out whether Niles has been overcharging it for water.

As of Dec. 1, Niles Village Manager George Can Geem told Journal & Topics Glenview owes $2,955,462.

At the most recent hearing on Dec. 21, Judge Novak ruled against two motions put forward by Niles--one to dismiss Glenview's counter claim of damages and the other to limit Glenview's requested audit. 

A motion to have Niles turn over requested documents is still pending and scheduled for Jan. 12.

"The rulings indicated to Glenview that one, Glenview’s counterclaim states a valid cause of action and that two, Glenview should have the right to gather facts and present its case," Communications Director Lynne Stiefel told Patch. 

For more on the dispute and how it all started, check out Patch's Want to stay up-to-date on the latest local news? Like us on Facebook!