PALATINE
Village making plans to break from county
Pushing ahead with talk of secession, the Palatine Village Council has created an ad-hoc committee to coordinate its efforts to sever ties with Cook County and has pledged to schedule a community meeting to discuss the reasons for the tax revolt.
Both the committee and the meeting will be led by council member Scott Lamerand under a resolution approved Monday.
Although details have yet to be decided, the committee would work with Mayor Rita Mullins on any issues linked to village concerns about the county’s 1 percentage point sales-tax increase.
County Board President Todd Stroger and officials from other northwest suburbs would be invited to discuss the increase at a community meeting, likely to be held at Harper College in Palatine.
Stroger reportedly has accepted the invitation, but council members expressed frustration that a date has not been set. Staffers from the village and Stroger’s office were expected to meet this week to talk about plans for the meeting.
“The council doesn’t want this to go away,” said council member Jack Wagner. “I’ve gotten hundreds of e-mails that say ‘Let’s secede from Cook County.'”
Mullins said she discussed Palatine’s plans at a recent meeting of the Northwest Municipal Conference and found interest among many managers and mayors.
— Jeff Bogart
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DES PLAINES
Police to shop around for red-light cameras
Des Plaines aldermen have instructed police officials to select a company to provide cameras to enforce red lights at intersections in the northwest suburb.
The 7-1 vote at a City Council meeting Monday allows police to push ahead with plans for red-light cameras, though council approval would be needed once a vendor and likely intersections are selected.
Fines for motorists who ignore traffic signals would be $100 under an ordinance approved Monday.
Police Chief James Prandini said it would take several months before cameras could be installed at one or two intersections.
“This appears to be more about revenues than public safety,” said Ald. Carla Brookman, who voted against the plans.
— Mark Shuman
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SCHOOL DISTRICT 46
Board, bus drivers reach 4-year pact
School board members in Elgin-based Unit District 46 have approved a four-year contract with the union representing school bus drivers and other transportation employees.
The agreement with members of the District U-46 Transportation Union calls for wage increases of 4.4 percent in each of the first two years of contract. District officials said that the increases for union members in each of the final two years would be greater than the rate of inflation and could reach 5.5 percent to 6 percent.
“I think parents are thrilled DUTU will continue to transport their kids,” said Ken Kaczynski, board president. “They do a tremendous job and I am grateful that will continue.”
Union members voted March 4 to ratify the agreement. The union represents about 400 drivers, mechanics, assistants and dispatchers. Members had been working without a contract since Aug. 25.
— Amanda Marrazzo
