Taxpayers deserve vote on parkway
I was appalled to read Karen McConnaughay's response to the reporter's key question in the Friday, July 31, Daily Herald interview on "The Case for Longmeadow."
The reporter asked if she supported a referendum, and she replied no because "the infrastructure investment that is in a location of the county that many people in the southern end may never go to…" That is exactly why the entire county of Kane should not be liable for maintaining and payment of bonds for this Longmeadow project.
No one from Kane County is intended to use this, yet we suffer the destruction and payment for this infrastructure investment.
There have been two previous referendums on this project and both of them showed a lack of support for Bolz Road Bridge/Longmeadow Parkway. That is the slippery slope she refers to, the county did not want to know if the taxpayers would support it. They just want us to pay for it.
The article also states that "all the dollars for the project will come from the state or federal government." Then why is it a county road if the state and federal governments are paying for all the dollars?
It is clear that John Schmitt does not represent his taxpayers in Willoughby Manor. Right now only the citizens who live near this expensive and destructive infrastructure are aware that Kane County is responsible.
The taxpayers in Kane need to find out what they are in for.
The Thursday, July 30, Daily Herald reports Kane County Board has a looming deficit. Should we be inviting more unnecessary expenses when so many departments need funds that are over our budget?
Longmeadow Parkway is one big budget that should be cut. Taxpayers deserve a referendum.
Mary Hausner
Dundee Township