Elk Grove Twp. out of regional group

Elk Grove Township has pulled out of a suburban regional government council, saying the group never did anything for the township.

Township board members this week voted to stop paying dues to the Northwest Municipal Conference, which serves governments through a variety of initiatives and helps lobby their interests.

Supervisor Nanci Vanderweel said she pushed for the township to sever ties with the Northwest Municipal Conference after decades of membership.

Elk Grove, one of three townships in the group, paid $5,000 a year in dues. New Trier and Northfield are the other township members.

"I didn't feel that we were getting anything from the organization since they dealt primarily with municipalities," Vanderweel said. "I'm not going to give them money to not do anything for us."

She said the group seems to work more toward the interests of its 47 municipalities.

Mark Fowler, executive director of Northwest Municipal Conference, said losing Elk Grove Township is disappointing.

But he said he understands, agreeing that since the majority of members are municipalities, they get more attention.

"You never want to lose members of your organization," Fowler said. "(But) with three townships and 47 municipal members, admittedly the slant is going to be toward the municipalities."

He added he will contact Vanderweel about changing her mind, but she said Friday nothing would sway her decision.

Particularly troubling to Vanderweel was the council's opposition to a proposed state law that would increase the power of township supervisors -- in certain counties and in select instances -- to be equal to that of mayors.

Fowler said he didn't know the townships felt that way.

The township's interests are served by other membership groups, such as the Township Officials of Cook County, Vanderweel said.

There are no specific plans for the money that would have gone toward dues, she said.