Metro West Kane County Municipal Leaders Meet with Legislators in Springfield
Representatives from several Kane County municipalities traveled to Springfield on Tuesday, May 14 to advocate their position on several issues, including the instability of the local government distributive fund and rising public safety pension costs.
Village President Patsy Smith and Trustee Mike Millette of Campton Hills, Batavia Aldermen Dan Chanzit and Kyle Hohmann, East Dundee Village President Lael Miller, Montgomery Village President Matt Brolley and Montgomery Trustee Steve Jungermann were in Springfield as part of the Metro West Council of Government's annual Drive Down event. Administrators from Gilberts, St. Charles, Montgomery, East Dundee and Geneva also attended the event.
Metro West Council of Government, a regional group of municipal representatives that covers Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties, organizes the annual event where local mayors, aldermen and municipal staff travel together to Springfield to lobby on behalf of various causes.
“This is an important way to get the attention of lawmakers,” said Mary Randle, executive director of Metro West. “By meeting them where decisions are made, in Springfield, and bringing a large group, it lets them know where our needs lie.”
The Kane County representatives joined other Metro West members in the office of State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka to talk about the cash flow issues facing local governments.
Metro West members defended house bill 961, which would require the efficient collection and disbursement of income and sales tax revenues to which local governments are entitled.
The Metro West mayors, trustees and managers met with Gov. Pat Quinn and House Republican Leader Tom Cross, Deputy House Republican Leader Tim Schmitz, House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, Deputy House Majority Leader Frank Mautino, and Senator Toi Hutchinson. They also met with Representative Michael Fortner and Senator Karen McConnaughay.
Metro West urged legislators to “continue the reform of public safety pensions to ensure the long-term viability of the pensions and prevent more taxpayer hardships”, Randle said. Another regular attendee (and legal advisor to the mayors), Steve Andersson of Mickey, Wilson, Weiler Renzi and Andersson in Aurora, highlighted the importance of visiting lawmakers in Springfield rather than their home offices.
“It makes quite a statement for our mayors and managers to take time to drive down to Springfield and meet directly with the legislators,” Andersson said of the annual trip. “And on these issues, a big statement is what we need.”
The group also met with leaders of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to discuss economic development and water supply planning and stormwater issues. They also learned more about Governor Quinn's Clean Water Initiative.