Trantina Farm Work Begins: Excavators, Clay Brought To Site
“There will be a presentation to the public when the Township gets a plan to present, which we do not have now,” Balich said.
Andrea Earnest,Patch Staff
Posted Mon, Apr 24, 2023 at 3:31 pm CTReply (1)
HOMER GLEN, IL — Concerned residents noticed some excavation and equipment at Trantina Farm, which is a property that is part of the Homer Township Open Space Program — but township officials haven’t yet shared what project will be done at the site.
Township Supervisor Steve Balich told Patch that the Township is excavating and also putting clay at the site.
“The clay is being put in to be the start of the road to come in and [a] parking lot,” he said in an email last week to Patch, but with no approved plans for a project for the site, it’s unclear how the parking lot will be used.
Balich said the permits were issued by the Village of Homer Glen, and the Township is getting the excavation and clay at no cost, thanks to Road Commissioner Brent Porfilio.
Balich said the savings to the Township is “well over $100,000.”
“The barn and the silos on the property are not being touched,” Balich said. “We hope to eventually get plans to build a pole barn type structure when we get the needed money from other sources than property tax or fees.”
Balich mentioned a 2020 referendum, which was passed by Homer Township residents. The referendum asked voters if the Township Board, “in accordance with its Open Space Program pursue grant funding without increasing or adding any new real estate taxes, for the purposes of constructing a multipurpose, pole barn style structure to be used for educational, environmental, recreational and social community activities?”
Clarification:
There was a Referendum that passed telling the Township Board to build a Community Center Along with the ability to pay for it with a Bond. This was under the Meyers Administration. We the current Board have been asked over and over for the last 2 years as to when we will build the Community Center. We will not go for a Bond because that will increase your property Taxes. We have talked about getting grants and looking for alternative ways to get the needed money without getting any increase in taxes or fees for over a year.
Thanks to Road Commissioner Brent Porfilio, we are getting the site excavation for a parking lot and roads, along with the needed clay at no cost to the Township. Clerk Vicki Bozen and myself Supervisor Steve Balich, have been working on getting the grants, and just researching about other possible sources of income that are not a tax increase or fee.
Questions can be answered by calling Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich 815-557-7196)
“This Community Center was passed by referendum under the prior administration,” Balich said, but so far there are no actual plans for such a center.
“The building will not be in competition with any of our businesses,” he added. “Possibilities may include a basketball court for wheelchair basketball, a stage, a kitchen, and a large enough room for our senior bingo. After school programs as well as other active or passive recreational uses may also be a possibility. Most importantly, there will be no tax increase.”
Balich said people from across the Township will benefit from this kind of project, but so far plans for the project — and exactly what it will entail — have not been released.
“There will be a presentation to the public when the Township gets a plan to present, which we do not have now,” Balich said. “We will have a public hearing to get public input before moving forward when there is an actual plan.”
This is not the first time that Homer Township residents have been concerned about open space in the area. Last year, residents organized to oppose the sale of Purdy Farm, another open space parcel.
