Joliet water agreement, $575M in police settlements lined up for committee approval 

A $1 billion deal to sell water to the city of Joliet could take a leap forward on Monday if aldermen approve a preliminary agreement paving the way for both cities to seal a 100-year deal later this year. 

The ordinance (O2021-420) up for consideration by the City Council Committee on Finance during its 10 a.m. meeting would set ground rules for negotiation over the agreement that could supply Joliet with 30 million gallons of drinkable water per day starting in 2030. In return, Illinois’ fourth-largest city would pay Chicago anywhere between $24 million and $37 million per year, according to Chicago Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett.