Elk Grove mayor has had it with idling

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson is revved up about no idling.

He wants drivers to be more mindful about turning off their engines if they have to wait outside a school, park or business. Johnson sees it as an environmental issue.

Upon hearing a report from a committee meeting held last month recommending handing out fliers discouraging idling, Johnson on Tuesday night said he wants something more permanent: signs posted in some areas.

"I think signs are a good reminder to shut down (engines)," Johnson said.

In a town with a 5.5-square-mile business park and 105,000 people driving through every day, there are more opportunities for idling in Elk Grove Village than in other suburbs, Johnson said.

Trustee Nancy Czarnik questioned where the signs would go.

Johnson suggests posting about five signs outside prime idling spots, including the post office, schools and park district properties.

Police also would pass out brochures or fliers to drivers as a reminder.

Then, the village board could revisit the issue after a year.

"I think the signs could work and we could have some trial areas," Trustee Sam Lissner said. But he also noted that idling is prominent in many areas, including fast-food restaurant drive-through lanes.

The design of no-idling zone signs is likely to become a contest for young students. There's no word yet on details, but Johnson said he expects the signs to be up by the end of the year.

Czarnik said she thinks the schools will be a great place to encourage education against idling, saying it worked in getting more people to wear seat belts. Children learned about its importance in the classroom and began urging their parents to wear seat belts.

Johnson said that while that's true, many people still didn't wear seat belts until it became the law.

But the village at this point has ruled out making idling illegal and punishable by fine, officials said.