By MICHELLE MULLINSDAILY SOUTHTOWN |JUN 15, 2021 AT 8:57 AM
Calling it a great day for taxpayers, the Homer Township Board voted unanimously Monday to drop its lawsuit against the village of Homer Glen.
The former Homer Township Board filed the lawsuit in December claiming the village was unlawfully trying to seize the property and assets of the Homer Township Road District.
Former township road district Commissioner Mike DeVivo negotiated with Homer Glen on a transfer of stewardship that gave control of the road district’s property to the village, which created its first public works department.
The previous township board under former Supervisor Pam Meyers sought to stop the transfer of equipment and assets, but Will County Circuit Judge John C. Anderson ruled April 7 in favor of the village and road district.
The township board then appealed the circuit court’s decision.
Meyers and her slate of candidates lost their reelection bids April 6 to Will County Board member Steve Balich and his slate of candidates, who were seated last month. Meyers said at the time that she filed the appeal to keep the case alive while the newly elected village and township boards decided how to proceed.
The transfer of assets took place April 19, but the litigation was still ongoing and a village attorney said the appellate court likely wouldn’t make a decision until next year.
Under the transfer, the village would leave the township some trucks and smaller equipment necessary to maintain 18 miles of unincorporated roads, and the village would reasonably share equipment with the township road district.
Homer Township Supervisor Balich said Monday residents of Homer Glen and Homer Township are the winners. Balich said the former township board spent at least $18,000 on the lawsuit, but he is unsure of the final cost of the litigation.
“The village of Homer Glen and Homer Township have spent a boatload of money on lawyer fees,” Balich said. “I didn’t immediately close it out because I wanted to make sure that the village of Homer Glen was willing to work with us on what we need. The village of Homer Glen is working with us. Everything is fine.”
Balich pledged that the township and the village will work together.
“We all have the same taxpayers,” Balich said. “We all have to do whatever it takes to bring down the cost of government. I don’t like spending money unnecessarily. I’m so glad it’s done.”
Homer Glen Mayor George Yukich agreed.
“We both agree there is no reason to fight over the road district and spend any more money,” Yukich said. “We are working together to make sure the village and the township do what’s right for all of our residents.”
Recent Homer Glen documents show that the village spent about $67,000 on attorney fees related to the road district since August 2020.
Since Homer Glen incorporated as a village in 2001, the township road district had been maintaining 135 miles of Homer Glen roads through intergovernmental agreements, and Homer Glen taxpayers have contributed to the cost of the equipment. The township road district also maintains 18 miles of roads in the unincorporated areas of the township.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
