After a contractor working for a Winnetka resident ruptured an underground heating oil tank sending the oil into Lake Michigan, the village of Winnetka is seeking at least $38,000 in payments from the resident, according to Trib Local.
The
oil spill occurred last week, and according to Winnetka's Patch website, the initial cleanup was finished the next day at about 3 a.m. The oil ended up in the lake after traveling through the village's storm sewer system and caused two beaches to close. Trib Local said tests are ongoing to determine how to dispose of the oil.
Under village ordinance, the spiller would have to pay for the costs of the clean up and tests, Trib Local reports. Winnetka is also seeking repayment for the time local public works crews spent working on the incident. Steve Saunders, Winnetka's public works director, told the news source that they've started discussing repayment with the resident.
Patch spoke with Lieutenant Leslie Downing of the Marine Safety Unit of the Coast Guard, who said the village took "all necessary courses of action" to stop any further risks stemming from the oil spill.