Politics & Government
Homer Township Considering Lawsuit With Village: Balich
The township is responsible for 21.6 miles of roads, and Balich said it doesn’t have the proper equipment to service them.
Andrea Earnest, Patch Staff
HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich said another lawsuit between the township and the village of Homer Glen may be possible if the village doesn’t approve an amended intergovernmental agreement allowing for some property to be given back to the Homer Township Road District.
“It’s at the point where things have to happen because winter’s coming,” Balich said.
The township board approved the intergovernmental agreement with the village at its August meeting, but the village has yet to do so.https://b992728c8bad0c246a46a563d631253b.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
“I don’t know where exactly we’re going to end up,” Balich said.
In April, the village of Homer Glen won a lawsuit between the village and the township regarding the transfer of the Homer Township Road District, and the property and equipment of the road district was transferred to the village. The previous township board filed an appeal, but the new township board dropped the appeal in June.
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Balich said the township was left with one plow truck and one pick-up truck, which can be equipped with a plow.
“How I’m going to sue and what I’m going to sue for is completely up in the air,” Balich said.
Balich said the township road district is still responsible for 21.6 miles of roads, and needs the equipment to do the job. He said one plow truck is not enough for the current workload.
“It’s a huge safety issue,” he said.
The intergovernmental agreement calls for the return of the highway department building, 14500 W. 151st St., a bucket truck, which was previously donated to the village by the township, two plow trucks and a 3.6-acre parcel.
According to village board documents, the village would have to purchase equipment and potentially land to properly maintain village roads if the agreement is approved. The cost for the village would be between $500,000 and $1 million.
Interim Village Manager Matt Walsh told Patch that whether the amended IGA is approved or not, it is the Village’s intent to continue working with the Homer Township Road District to ensure both taxing bodies are able to provide services for their residents.
“Additional litigation will simply take taxpayer funds away from services for residents,” he said.
Balich said if the agreement doesn’t pass, the township would most likely have to purchase its own equipment.
“People paid taxes to buy the equipment [originally], now they’re going to have to buy it all over again,” Balich said.
“[The road district transfer] was wrong,” Balich said. “It has to be rectified.”
The Homer Glen Village Board will consider the amended intergovernmental agreement at its Wednesday meeting.
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