Elgin task force discusses limiting leaf collection and snow removal

Leaf collection and snow removal became the biggest targets for spending cuts in the third meeting of Elgin's budget and financial planning task force.

City Manager Sean Stegall told task force members Tuesday night he wants feedback on the viability of cutbacks in snow removal, which he said is held to a “gold standard” in Elgin, as well as leaf collection, which he said is, by design, unequal, expensive and inefficient.

In terms of snow removal, Public Services Director David Lawry outlined the aggressive approach employees take during and after any snowfall, including overtime that is automatically built into 12-hour shifts. Stegall questioned whether that approach can be scaled back.

Just like community members, some task force members have the luxury of raking leaves to the side of the road for pickup while others must bag their own leaves. Some stood to lose more from cutting the $400,000 program, a fact that drove part of Tuesday's discussion.

But Stegall warned against a narrow view when it comes to discussing the full range of city services.

“We're not going to get anywhere if everyone thinks about how each problem affects them personally,” Stegall said. “That's the antithesis of living in a community.”

Task force members brought up The Centre and The Hemmens several times as alternatives for city cuts. Higher property taxes and decreasing funding for the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce were also discussed.

Barbara Bonner pressed for a description of the bare minimum the city must provide as a starting point, but Keith Rauschenberger told his fellow task force members what the city chooses to fund is more political than the basics.

“There's a difference between what the city has to provide and what the city is obligated to provide,” Rauschenberger said.

Patricia Segel said it would make most sense to propose cuts based on what would hurt the fewest people citywide. And ultimately, the task force acknowledged it would be impossible to complete its work and make everyone in the community happy.