Voters in Central and Southern Illinois will have a lot to think about at the ballots on November 9. Except in those communities who approved it last year, there will be a referendum on nearly every ballot in the area to allow municipal aggregation. Even municipalities like Woodford County and Streator, who previously denied the measure, will have the measures back on the ballot in the spring. Both the Woodford County Board and the Streator City Council approved the referendum in close votes.
Streator had the referendum on the ballot in November. The measure was defeated 610-411, in a vote that shocked City Manager Paul Nicholson who said that he had no idea why voters turned it down the first time. But 5 months later, they will have another opportunity to take advantage of the cost savings.
Woodford County Board Member John Krug said, “The philosophy is it seems to have been successful to get a cheaper bid. We felt it was worthy to bring it back to the board.” The board members of Woodford County have seen the savings afforded the residents of nearby communities who began aggregating last year, and have been fielding calls from residents wondering when they will get a chance to receive the same benefits.
Aggregation took off last year and the results for the communities which have taken advantage are remarkable. The success of aggregation is causing many residents in non participating communities to wonder why they are not receiving the benefits of municipal aggregation. This effect is spreading, and residents of municipalities like Woodford County and Streator, which strongly denied the referendum last year, are clamoring to see the referendum on their next ballot..
For more information on municipal aggregation, click here. For the full article, see below.
