Wauconda Twp. man wants vote on officials' benefits
A Wauconda Township man, who wants to get a question placed on the ballot on whether township officials should start paying for part of their benefits, complained Saturday that the township is missing the deadline for the November ballot.
But the township supervisor said if the issue doesn't get on in November, it could go to the next election in April.
Wauconda Township officials are holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Wauconda Township Hall, 505 W. Bonner Road in Wauconda, to consider the issue. But that's three days after the Lake County Board's deadline to provide such issues for the November ballot, said petitioner Michael Hennessy of Wauconda Township.
“It's very purposeful,” Hennessy said of the late meeting.
Wauconda Township Supervisor Glenn Swanson said township officials scheduled the special meeting as soon as they could, and it was within the required 45 days. The 45th day would have been Aug. 24.
The nonbinding question Hennessy wants to pose to voters is: “Shall Wauconda Township provide funding (to exceed 15 percent of cost) for retirement benefits, health, dental and life insurance for the elected officials.”
Hennessy said he submitted his first petition in March, but the township board failed to include the question at its annual meeting in April. So Hennessy submitted a new petition in July, which is now set for consideration on Aug. 23.
An email dated Aug. 14 from Lake County Clerk Willard Helander's office said the office is in the midst of preparing for the November election, which includes ordering ballots. It said the deadline for the board to adopt a resolution is Monday, Aug. 20.
Thursday's meeting will consider whether the township board shall certify the advisory referendum to the election officials. If they approve, then it goes to the board at its meeting on Sept. 19. Then the benefit question may be posed to taxpayers at the next available election, which likely would be in April 2013, Swanson said.