Too many questions on underpass project

Why didn't the village of Barrington consider having a binding referendum when only 500 comments were obtained at the public hearing in 2013? Since 500 comments constitute .05 percent of the voting population of the Village, it does not seem reasonable to engage in a $60 million underpass project without a vote.

The village leadership has announced they have received funding and commitments of $21 million for both projects. I urge the village to separately disclose how much of the funding has been received and how much has been committed in future budgets from Illinois agencies.

By commingling what has been received and spent with budgeted commitments the village is window-dressing how far along they are in obtaining full funding.

The expected cost of both projects, underpass and reconfiguration of Lake Zurich Road is approaching $70 million.

One last point to ponder, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation executed a directive dated April 26, 2011, indicating that federal aid expended on preliminary projects that has not advanced to the right-of-way acquisition or construction within 10 years from the date the aid was awarded, is required to be repaid. Has the village of Barrington been skewed to fast-track the early acquisition of ROW properties given that they received federal funds through the TIGER II grant in 2011?

There appears to be a legitimate reason to question this. Particularly since a letter was circulated stating, "If the Village decided it wanted to negate the project, it would need to reimburse the Phase I money, $3.5 million, which is more than 1/6 of our village's overall annual budget."

Does this comment worry anyone? Is the grade separation and the reconfiguration of Lake Zurich Road a legitimate necessity to our town's residents?

Vote "no" Nov. 8. We do not want public funds spent.

Nancy Lashbrook

Barrington