City leaders blinded by federal dollars

So little road, so much controversy!

Residents attending a Meacham Road expansion “public information” meeting April 12 were angered as much by the fiscal irresponsibility and constantly changing cost projections of the project as they were by expensive renderings of plans for 3-5 lane “improvements” that fail to help homeowners along or near Meacham.

Rolling Meadows officials have already spent tens of thousands with their pre-phase concept traffic studies of one mile of Meacham Road. The next step, if approved, will be spending at least double that, tens of thousands more to complete an even longer Phase 1 study.

Perhaps all Rolling Meadows residents should be questioning why possible federal dollars are blinding city officials to how residents want their tax dollars spent.

Certainly not studying how to build a one-mile road nearby residents contend will destroy their property and decrease their safety! Nor do residents want a year and a half of construction, plus the ongoing costs of maintaining the entire length of Meacham in Rolling Meadows as IDOT assigns it to the city upon completion.

This issue is not just for residents along the one-mile corridor directly involved. Rolling Meadows taxpayers, Phase 1 study dollars still need approval. Let your city officials know you want tax dollars used to benefit local residents, not rush hour drivers with Route 53, its two frontage roads, and four-lane Quentin Road already available.

Ed and Becky Booth

Rolling Meadows