Lake in the Hills mayor blocks Randall plan
Ed Plaza has put up a potential roadblock in McHenry County's quest to widen Randall Road from four lanes to six.
The Lake in the Hills village president Thursday night said he will not support a county plan to raze 26 homes on the town's west side, one of four options it is now considering for the project.
The county would need to secure a portion of Richard Taylor Park from the village to make that course of action a reality, Plaza said.
But as long as he's village president, Plaza will not surrender that property, which he dubbed the town's "ace in the hole" over the county - the county cannot legally seize village property through eminent domain proceedings.
The holdout would thwart the county's plan to level 26 homes on Patton Avenue, Miller Road and Clayton Marsh Drive, Plaza said.
The village board was expected to pass a resolution Thursday night that trumpeted "Plan A," which leaders say is the least invasive option out of the four county officials are reviewing. It would not raze any homes or take over any park. The plan that razes the homes is Plan C.
"We are not in favor of any project that's going to impact negatively on our residents, plain and simple," said Plaza, who is up for election in the spring. "They cannot do anything on this project, period, without the cooperation of Lake in the Hills."
Plaza made his comments at a meeting organized and attended by residents who would be affected if the demolition plan goes through.
County board member Jim Kennedy said he backed Plaza's position and indicated he would not support a plan that calls for getting rid of homes.
"I feel it should be an absolute last resort, a no resort," he said.
Roughly 40 residents attended the hastily organized gathering that comes weeks after a McHenry County Division of Transportation meeting, in which many learned that their homes could face the wrecking ball.
The plan is part of an the county's overall project to widen three miles of Randall Road between County Line and Ackman roads.
Some of that work is happening now at County Line and Harnish roads in Algonquin.
The latest leg of the project has not yet been funded, may cost between $60 million and $100 million, and could pull from all four options.
The division of transportation is expected to present its final plan in the spring.
County officials have indicated that they would not carry out the demolition plan if it proves to be least popular.
Even so, many residents wanted to make sure their feelings were on the record.
"If someone wants to make us a promise that it isn't going to happen, that's fine," said Deborah Jenssen, who has lived in the neighborhood for 26 years. "Until then, we're going to keep an eye on it."
People can comment on all four plans at www.randallroad.info. You have until Oct. 24.
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