Icy reception for plow request in S. Elgin

South Elgin board members were cool Tuesday night to a group of townhome owners requesting the village consider an even-odd plowing schedule for snow events more than 2 inches.

"It's a precedent we'd set for anywhere in this town," said Trustee Steve Ward. "If you have it here, you can't tell the next guy 'no.'"

Bruce Gartzke, who lives in the Sandhurst townhouse development, collected signatures from 75 percent of the 240 units in his neighborhood supporting a change. Only 10 people said "no," and the rest could not be reached.

For years, the village has banned on-street parking during snows of 2 inches or more. The buildings in Sandhurst have four units, each with a one-car garage shared by a large driveway. There's room for one car outside the garage, but the townhouse association tows cars parked two deep because it blocks the common driveway.

So residents with more than two cars face either a $150 tow or a $30 ticket, or they must drive around in circles in the middle of the night while the plows come through.

"It's a no-win situation (now)," Gartzke said, adding an even-odd parking schedule could provide some room on one side of the street while plows hit the other.

Trustees said they would work with village staff for some type of alternate solution, but suggested Gartzke and his neighbors take their complaints to the homeowner's association. Gartzke said the association has been non-responsive.

Trustees said they could empathize with Sandhurst residents, but stressed that all village residents have to deal with the inconveniences of ordinance. "We have to look out for the interests of the entire village," said Trustee Michael Kolodziej.

Village President Jim Hansen also noted an even-odd schedule could double the work for village plow drivers because they would have to pass twice. "If I had 15,000 signatures here, I'd look at this a lot more seriously," he said.