Villa Park rejects measure to revive vehicle stickers

The Villa Park board Monday night put the brakes on a proposal to bring back vehicle stickers.

Meeting as a committee of the whole, board members voted 5-1 to reject a measure to reinstitute the stickers. The stickers were eliminated several years ago in favor of a utility fee.

Trustee David Hegland, who requested the idea be considered, voted in favor of stickers.

"It's a straightforward, honest fee for a straightforward, honest need," Hegland has said.

Officials suggested using the anticipated $275,000 in annual revenues to replace vehicles or fix roads. As proposed, Villa Park would've collected $25 per passenger vehicle or motorcycle, $35 for recreational vehicles and $24 to $45 for trucks. Seniors would've paid $10 per vehicle.

"The real estate tax has increased. The sales tax has increased. The water and sewer rates have increased. I'm opposed to this," Trustee Richard Illian said. "Let's pull in the (village) belts a little more."

Trustee Al Bulthuis abstained with a vote of "present."

However, Bulthuis agreed with Trustee John Davis by saying the timing was wrong.

"With the way the economy is, people are losing their homes, not getting medications," Davis said. "Let's wait anther year."

Trustee Tom Cullerton reiterated his suggestion that the village look to the forthcoming off-track betting parlor for revenues.

Bulthuis declined to cast his "nay" vote after complaining that he thought the issue was dead following a village board workshop meeting last month. He said he felt the board was wasting its time rehashing the issue this week.