I want to talk with you today about the proposed Blackwell Fleet Maintenance garage. Those of us who oppose this project have an uphill battle. Warrenville mayor David Brummel, believes the train has left the station without any meaningful public involvement. Why has it reached this point? Apparently, because development on this site has been planned for years. As well, considerable money has been spent on the project already. But old plans can and in this case have, become outdated. And simply because expenditures would be wasted if the project did not proceed is not a sufficient reason to proceed. What would be more wasteful is to proceed with a seven and one half million dollar project of questionable utility.
I have two points to make this morning. The first concerns political values. The second relates to the current state of the economy.
First, political values. I understand you all have been elected to the Board of Commissioners on the Republican ticket. I share the GOP's core values of limited government and fiscal responsibility.
But, I am at a loss to understand how anyone who accepts these values could approve this garage.
It perpetuates big government. You have heard or read comments over the past few weeks voicing concern about the bloated size of the Forest District fleet. It is three times the size of the McHenry county fleet with only 10 percent more acreage to service. The proposed garage will not only accommodate the oversized fleet, it is obviously planned with growth in mind. Why is larger government involvement the solution to servicing the Forest District's fleet?
The funding of the project is a missed opportunity. I understand the projected cost is in large part to be covered by a windfall of some five and one half million dollars which the District will receive in connection with the O'Hare expansion. On the surface this seems commendable but why has the Commission chosen to use these funds, which amount to almost 14% of the District's '08/'09 operating budget, to finance a controversial project? A fiscally responsible Commission could find better uses for this money.
I am told that one of the rationales justifying the garage is that area businesses cannot be relied upon to provide timely services. I doubt these businesses would agree with this assessment, but in any event why is the District spending public funds in order to compete with the private sector?
My second point concerns the economy. We are in a deep recession. How much longer it will last is anyone's guess. At a time when property values continue to plummet and the State legislature is debating whether to increase our income taxes why is the District proceeding with a seven and one-half million dollar project of questionable utility? Why not use the O'Hare windfall to pay the District operating costs in an effort to reduce the County's tax burden.
So where are we today? We have a project about to proceed in uncertain economic times, a project whose need, size and location has not been studied in any meaningful way, a project that will do nothing to reduce the tax burden on the citizens of the County, and finally a project that will deprive our local businesses of work they could ably and willingly perform. For all these reasons and more it is project that will continue to grow public opposition.
If this resonates with any of you let me make a suggestion. Shelve this project and use what's left of the O'Hare money to cover costs that will otherwise be paid for by our taxes. Then take another look at this project, a hard and thorough look, a look that takes into account the values of the party you represent. If you do that, I am confident that you can identify a project that, unlike this one, is both consistent with those values and fulfils the real needs of the District's fleet. You will then have earned the support of the voters who elected you to the Board in the first place.
Thank you for your attention.
Terry McBride
Bender Lane
West Chicago