FOX RIVER GROVE –- Despite a recent petition to put the funding method of a controversial public works garage to public vote, the Fox River Grove Village Board narrowly approved borrowing $3.5 million to finance the project.
The Village Board voted, 4-3, Thursday night to issue $3.5 million in taxable debt certificates instead of the same amount in a double-barrel bond that was opposed by residents who filed a petition this week for a November referendum.
A new public works garage at County Line Road initially is estimated to cost between $2.9 million and $3.6 million and eventually might include office space and a repair shop. The village is planning to move the public works department to expand its adjacent wastewater treatment plant in an effort to prepare for future federal regulations.
While the double-barrel bond would have been cheaper, it also would have relied on local property tax revenues as a backup financing method in case of revenue shortfall.
Although that option was tabled Thursday night and the alternative approved, a handful of the 30 residents in attendance still spoke against the project, saying they disagreed with its concept and its location near some of their homes.
“You don’t have to expand the plant for three or four years,” resident and former trustee Tony Novelli said. “Why are you doing it now?”
Trustees Michael Ireland, Steve Knar and Cindy Cramer voted against approving the debt issuance.
“We have no clue what we’re going to do with the water and sewer rates,” said Knar, noting that most of the project would be funded through increases in those charges. “This is the wrong time to be spending that money.”
Trustees Gerald Menzel, James Tuman and Duane Figurski voted in favor of borrowing the money, with Village President Bob Nunamaker casting the tie-breaking vote.
The project is necessary, Figurski said, and the village would be saving more with current construction rates, as well as by not simultaneously expanding the treatment plant. The board also has been researching the facility move for the past seven years.
“To say we haven’t done diligence in looking at this is wrong,” Figurski said.
By AMBER KROSEL – [email protected]
Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.