Schaumburg Township to ask voters if road district, highway commissioner post should end

Schaumburg Township will ask voters on Nov. 3 whether the road district and elected highway commissioner position should be abolished in May 2029.

Responsibilities for the maintenance of 10 centerline miles of unincorporated roads and the district’s budget would be moved under the authority of the township board if approved.

Trustee Demetrius Gibson cast the dissenting vote on Thursday’s 3-1 measure arguing the public — including current Highway Commissioner Timothy Buelow — had received little notice of such a plan.

“I thought the decision was a bit hurried,” Gibson said Friday. “We could have taken more time to deliberate.”

He expressed concern about the effect on current road district staff and what it would mean to lose an elected position.

But Township Supervisor Tim Heneghan — both the longest-serving member and only Republican on the board — said he agreed with Democratic trustees Holly Fath and Robert Fiorio that similar changes by other nearby townships demonstrated this could be effectively done.

“It’s something that’s been talked about for a number of years,” Heneghan said, referring to earlier memberships of the board. “In our mind, why wouldn’t you?”

Trustee Tom Pirovano was absent from the vote.

Heneghan said the highway commissioner’s salary is approximately $18,000 and he doesn’t believe another hired position would be needed to take it over.

But Buelow said his year of experience in the role has shown him that’s a nuanced topic and it warranted discussion. He believes the success of surrounding townships in making such a change has been mixed.

“I do think a well-run road district is probably the most efficient way to run things,” Buelow said. “I still deal with road district issues every day. I see how long some issues take to resolve. Administratively, it’s probably going to be a lot more than they figure.”

A teacher by trade, the highway commissioner job is not the primary source of Buelow’s income. He sees himself as a public servant in both roles. But he understands many people favor reducing the levels of government and said everyone should vote their conscience.

“This is not personal for me,” Buelow added. “Whether this is right or wrong, I don’t know.”