Villages balk at funding Sugar Grove tollway study
Sugar Grove is considering asking neighboring Elburn and Kaneville to contribute to a study on completing the I-88 and Route 47 interchange, but they will have to summon all their powers of persuasion.
It doesn't look like either village will quickly get out the check book.
The first reaction of Elburn Village President James Willey was hearty laughter.
"That's awfully funny," Willey said when informed of the suggestion.
Kaneville Village President Bob Rodney said his community is "not in a financial position to participate."
The suggestion was made by Trustee Thomas Renk when the Sugar Grove board discussed coming up with the funds for the $196,000 feasibility study at the Nov. 6 board meeting.
Renk reasoned that commuters from Elburn and Kaneville would benefit from a completed tollway interchange, because they presently have to drive farther to get to an expressway. There is no eastbound on ramp or westbound off ramp to the tollway in Sugar Grove.
But it still didn't make sense to Willey.
"Of the three communities, Elburn, Kaneville and Sugar Grove, the three are very different," Willey said. "Elburn and Kaneville are trying to control growth and keep from chewing up farms. Sugar Grove is very aggressive about its growth strategies.
"So what they are proposing is that we help fuel their growth. We would benefit from the convenience of having the interchange, but Sugar Grove would develop around it. They have no intention of sharing any of the economic benefits.
"They know that Elburn and Kaneville aren't high growth communities, so I have to ask in all seriousness, 'What's in it for us?'"
Rodney had a similar thought.
"I don't see how it would benefit our little village when we are four miles west of Route 47," he said. "Especially when the proposed Prairie Parkway is supposed to relieve traffic on Route 47. If this is what the state is proposing, why should local villages study something else?"
Rodney was referring to the Prairie Parkway proposal which would run north and south and connect to Interstates 88 and 90 along a line parallel to Route 47.
Sugar Grove will kick in $50,000 for the study and has a commitment of $68,000 from developers.
At the Elburn center
The Elburn and Countryside Community Center at 525 N. Main St. in Elburn made about $1,300 from the Oct. 14 fundraiser "Pamper Yourself Pink."
The center's manager Laurie Studdard said participants enjoyed the event and the vendors would like to have another fundraiser. Spring is a possibility.
The center has a permit for construction of a new roof and work could begin soon. The center took out a loan to pay for the project and money from the Oct. 14 fundraiser and subsequent events will be used to pay down the debt.
Nutcracker performance
The Blackberry School of Ballet and Dance, a community program, will perform "The Nutcracker" at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the center.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children, students and seniors. Stop at the center between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call (630) 365-6655.
ngier@dailyherald.com