Special Service Tax Weighed for Flood Prevention: Winnetka Spring Town Meeting

Residents in the Winnetka flood plain could one day pay more for property taxes, as the might consider the area a special service district to prevent the massive flooding that devastated the village last summer.

Such a proposal is one of many that sits on the table, according to Village President Jessica Tucker, when she spoke at the Spring Town Meeting of the Winnetka Caucus Council Wednesday night. The caucus’s spring meeting was held at District 36's Washburne School. Part of the goal of this meeting was to check in and see performance of the respective governing bodies on the caucus's platform planks.

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Current Caucus Chairwoman Sandy Berger was pleased with what she heard. “They are taking the ideas very seriously and addressing them,” Berger said. “They are following through on the plans.”

Stormwater Prevention

Tucker emphasized that the possibility that a hybrid of plans could evolve as Winnetka leaders do what they can to prevent the .

Stormwater management is a major topic in front of the village board right now, as $2.2 million has been budgeted this year to address the topic. A fund has been set up, but the issue of how to channel money into that fund is still being debated.

That is where the idea of a special service district comes in, and Tucker compared the idea to the alley improvements that were recently completed in west Winnetka.

“This could be one way to look at how to fund the stormwater utility,” Tucker said. The flood plain is designated by FEMA.

Speaking out against the special service proposal was Bernard Hammer, a resident of Winnetka since 1979.

“I don’t think it is really consistent with the Winnetka way,” Hammer said. “Every one of us pays for schools taxes even if we are grandparents or great grandparents. The cost of the schools are paid for by everybody, and it seems to me the same thing should apply with the flood areas of the city.”

“There is not one particular way [to fund the prevention tactics]. It will probably be a combination or blend,” Tucker said.

Lengthening Terms of Village Board

Another issue that Tucker addressed is the possibility of changing the term structure on the village board. Tucker, who will be stepping down as Village President in May 2013, would like to see trustees be able to serve longer than two, two-year terms as is the case right now.

“Work gets done much more efficiently and effectively with a stable and consistent, experienced and knowledgeable council. That comes with time and knowledge on the council,” Tucker said.

That Question of the Post Office

Finally, Tucker said the situation with the U.S. Post Office at 512 Chestnut Ave. has been placed on the shelf until the stormwater management issue is addressed.

The village owns the property, and the distribution services and mail carriers have been moved to a location in Glenview, but the retail operation remains open.

Foreign Languages at District 36

Moving over to District 36, President Dana Crumley said the board is very impressed so far with the work of Dr. Thomas Hagerman, and they will be looking to looking to extend his contract very soon.

She mentioned a major change in the curriculum is the implementation of foreign language teaching will be offered for sixth graders.

“The students will be speaking, writing and communicating daily with their teachers to increase the mastery of foreign language,” Crumley said.

She encouraged people to get out to more school board meetings.

“Part of our commitment to really taking our job seriously is we do debate and engage in serious conversation. We don’t always agree on everything but that is the process of the school code.”

Nielsen Tennis Center's Groundbreaking

Richard Pierce, the head of the Winnetka Park District said the Nielsen Tennis Center will have a groundbreaking later this year to expand their services.

“There will be a huge improvement in traffic flow and the bonus of two extra [parking] spaces,” Pierce said.

Library Update

Floating back to the issue of stormwater management, Winnetka-Northfield Library Board President Bob Sanfilippo said the building received approximately $210,000 in damage costs from last summer’s storm. They were insured for up to $200,000, but to continue their insurance coverage, they will have to make changes in their building plan since this was the second time in six years the library has been hit with flooding. Therefore, a local engineering firm has been retained, and Sanfilippo said changes will be made to try and prevent flooding in the future.

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