SPRINGFIELD -- One small city in northern Illinois is feeling the sharp edge of a dispute between state attorney general Lisa Madigan and the Illinois EPA reported by LNL last week.

The town of Morris, southwest of Chicago, is tied up in litigation with the IEPA over methane emissions at a local landfill because of the wrangle, area media reported today. Madigan's office on Friday was granted a continuance in the case until next Monday (Oct. 29), the date a trial was supposed to begin.

The IEPA is still refusing to cooperate with Madigan's office in lawsuits, including trial testimony, over claims the AG is unfairly trying to alter the distribution of about $4 million annually in legal settlements to the two agencies in her favor.

Morris (pop. approx. 11,000) was sued by the IEPA over the lack of methane-gas control from the town's Community Landfill. The IEPA argued that the city was jointly responsible for fixing the landfill's malfunctioning system, which Morris officials dispute.

City officials are hoping to get a new trial date next Monday after an airing of grievances between the AG and the IEPA, reports noted.