There will be a Public Hearing this evening at 6:30 PM at Village Hall to hear comments on the proposed Village of Barrington Hills Annual Appropriation Ordinance. A copy of the proposal can be found here, and the 2022 ordinance is available here for comparison.
The proposed 2023 Appropriation represents an increase of $1,029,899, reflecting an 11.4 percent increase. The categorical increases comparison to 2022 are as follows:
The proposed 2023 Roads and Bridges Appropriation is $2,124,500, compared to the amount approved in 2022 of $1,433,160, or a 48.2 percent increase. The reasons are revealed in recordings of the November 8, 2022, two-hour Roads and Bridges Committee meeting found here, but we’ll focus on the primary one for brevity’s sake.
The recordings reveal that, despite the repeated objections of the Village President, relying on his years of experience as Roads and Bridges Chair service, and the Village Engineer, whose expertise we pay for, Laura Ekstrom, current Roads Chair, is recommending the entire length of Oak Knoll Road be resurfaced this year. It’s no secret that Ekstrom happens to live on Oak Knoll Road.
Oak Knoll Road has undergone patching since it was last resurfaced. To the casual observer, this work resulted on a sound road surface with significant useful life remaining.
However, it’s Ekstrom’s contention, likely influenced by neighborhood friends, that Oak Knoll Road suffers, “aesthetically.” Admittedly, the road surface colors won’t pass a color pallet comparison. However, we’ve driven Oak Knoll frequently after Ekstrom’s testimony, and resurfacing Oak Knoll Road prematurely this year would be a waste of taxpayer’s heard earned money.
Furthermore, given her position in Village Government, we find it unethical and egocentric for Ekstrom to even consider a proposal that clearly benefits her.
Resurfacing the entire length of Oak Knoll is an incredible waste of money. An obvious self interest directive.
I voted for Laura as did many others I we know. Reading this is extremely disappointing and makes me regret my vote.
When Marty and Colleen took office ten years ago I remember the backlog on road resurfacing was 4-5 miles. Through hard work and common sense, they and others eliminated that backlog so much so that it appears to be acceptable to take on wasteful projects like Oak Knoll.
For the record I drive this road almost daily, and I’d say it’s perfectly fine, but nobody asked or didn’t want to hear my opinion.
I am so glad that I left all this corruption for Florida and I only wish I had done it sooner! Barrington hills is merely a fond memory of things that were. It no longer exists!