‘Free heat’ deal found to be sound

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted July 12, 2019 9:39 AM

Kellogg Co. argued that Cook County is obligated to provide free steam heat to its warehouse at 3249 S. Kedzie Ave. — based on a “covenant running with the land” in a 1973 agreement between the county and the city of Chicago — but the county countered by arguing this would violate the portion of the Illinois Constitution that says: “Public funds, property or credit shall be used only for public purposes.”Back in 1973, the city owned a municipal heating plant that supplied steam to …

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