One thousand eight hundred and sixty five people signed a petition asking the village board to delay the leaf-bagging edict until 2025, thus giving voters a chance to be heard via a referendum on the November ballot.
This petition seemed to have no impact on our board. With no citizen input and seemingly no comprehension of the enormity of the leaf-bagging task, the change in the fall clean-up is now in effect.
Because the board canceled the LRS leaf-removal contract and our Public Works Department, who in years past collected the leaves, may be too busy with other projects, we homeowners are left holding the bag. This leaves (so to speak) the onerous job on the backs of the residents.
What I gleaned from last Tuesday’s board meeting is that the possible inconvenience to Public Works supersedes the inevitable inconvenience to thousands of homeowners who must now pay more to lawn services or do the arduous leaf-bagging themselves.
Question of the day: Does our village board really want to hear from citizens about issues we deem important?
Shelly Uslenghi
Oak Park