Fox River Grove's garage plan postponed
Nearly 300 Fox River Grove residents have stalled the town's plan to use to build a new public works garage by using federal bonds.
On Tuesday, resident Glenn Kayler delivered a petition with 295 signatures to village hall, in which signers ask that the measure go before a public vote in November as a binding referendum question.
Kayler only needed 247 signatures to secure a spot on the November ballot, but decided to play it safe by getting more.
"I don't like to play it too risky," Kayler said.
The move throws a wrench in President Robert Nunamaker's plan to build a new public works garage on County Line Road near Route 22, using bonds from the federal government.
He will now have to wait until voters endorse the measure in November.
"Am I disappointed we can't do the stimulus bond? Yes," Nunamaker said. "Am I disappointed that people have exercised the right they have to object to these things? No, I'm not."
On Dec. 17, the village board proposed to sell between $2.8 million and $3.5 million in bonds to build the garage.
To comply with a recommendation from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the village needs to shut down its existing public works garage by its wastewater treatment plant and build a new one, while expanding the plant.
Nunamaker heard about special federal bonds that allow the village to negotiate its own interest rates that the marketplace could either accept or reject.
Nunamaker said he was acting swiftly because he wants to put people back to work in Fox River Grove and capitalize on cheaper construction bids and low interest rates.
Nunamaker said the bonds will no longer be available after New Year's Eve.
"If people see the point of view of the village in November (by voting yes), we still have the opportunity to use these bonds and save the money," said Nunamaker, who estimates the bonds would save the village $1.5 million.
But some residents, who during a 2008 nonbinding referendum said they wanted the garage issue brought to a public vote, have accused Nunamaker of not listening to the people.