Glen Ellyn
Signs point to pact with college
An intergovernmental agreement meant to quash a contentious debate between the village of Glen Ellyn and College of DuPage that surfaced over the installation of campus signs could be signed in the next few weeks.
Village Attorney Stewart Diamond said last week that he is hopeful the agreement will go before the COD board of trustees at its meeting Thursday, and the Glen Ellyn Village Board in May.
Both boards must approve the agreement for it to take effect.
During the past year, the two entities have been at odds over whether the community college needs village permission for a variety of campus changes, particularly the installation of about $2 million in electronic signs.
Glen Ellyn believes all COD building and zoning activities are subject to village approval, while the college believes state law exempts COD and other junior colleges from any local control.
Instead of taking the issue to court, both sides agreed in August to try to settle their differences through an intergovernmental agreement. In turn, Glen Ellyn trustees said the college could proceed with the sign installation.
If approved, the agreement will require COD to comply with state building code regulations. There will also be a provision allowing for binding arbitration should COD not follow those regulations. COD also would have to put on hold its lawsuit challenging the village’s oversight of campus improvements.
— Jenn Zimmerman
Elmhurst
Park ‘swamp’ to be drained
A resident’s complaints about standing water that he said is a “swamp” along a stretch of the Illinois Prairie Path in Elmhurst are scheduled to be resolved.
Elmhurst Park District Deputy Director Jim Rogers said last week that in May the Park District, which owns the land, will install piping to drain the area, which collects water and allows mosquitoes to flourish during the summer.
The water will be drained into the city storm water system, Rogers said. The project will cost about $7,000.
“This will considerably alleviate the unsanitary conditions now present in this area and should reduce the massive mosquito population, although it may displace the ducks now residing within,” said Jerome O’Connor in an email to Rogers.
Last summer, O’Connor, who lives in the Prairie Manor subdivision, brought the problem of standing water to the attention of Park District and city officials.
— Annemarie Mannion
