Townships in Will and Kankakee Counties are concerned about a renewed legislative push to eliminate townships, which hit the Senate floor in February.
Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Western Springs, SB2217, introduced the “Low Population Township District Dissolution” Bill on February 7. If codified, it would force smaller townships, with populations under 5,000 residents, to consolidate with either an adjacent township or the county they are within. Currently, the Bill is with the Executive Committee.
From Yellowhead Township in Kankakee County to Green Garden Township in Will County and many in between, township officials have flocked to Facebook to remind residents of the many different services township governments provide.
“We’re trying to get the information out to the people because it should be up to the voters — the constituents of the townships. If the government is going to do away with townships and just push it through, how do people have a voice?” Yellowhead Township Trustee Patrick Pahl questioned.
A post titled “Save our Townships” that summarizes township services has been circulated by township officials. It states 1,426 townships in Illinois maintain 72,000 miles of roads — more than half the roads in the entire state.
Pahl’s township maintains just over 50 miles of road and primarily covers the Grant Park area in Kankakee County; he hopes the bill will not move forward so he can continue to do the work he’s been doing for the past nine years as a township trustee.
Green Garden Township Supervisor Don Murday said his township board will be voting on resolutions next month opposing township elimination bills.
“All townships are obviously concerned about losing autonomy. We also will post information on our website about the legislation,” Murday said.
Nearby in Peotone Township in Will County, officials are feeling the same way.
“We feel local government always will better represent the needs of our constituents. The larger government gets, the less accountable it becomes as evidenced by our current State of Illinois issues and financial woes,” Peotone Township Supervisor Gene Younker said.
Younker’s township board likely again will contact officials as they have done before when efforts to dissolve townships have been presented in the past.
Manhattan Township intends to send a resolution opposing anti-township bills to their legislators, Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights and Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, to let them know they do not want them supporting those bills.
“We’re essentially the grassroots of government to people,” Manhattan Township Clerk Kelly Baltas explained.
“We live in our communities, and we support our residents. You can get rid of townships, but you’re not saving much. On average, townships only get 2% of the tax bill, which is next to nothing compared to the other taxing bodies.”
“The majority of our services are provided by the elected officials. We really don’t have staff. The road district is the only one that has two full-time staff members, and the assessor has a seasonal and part-time employee,” Baltas said of the extraordinary amount of volunteer work townships do to serve residents.
“The county would have to hire people to take on our roles,” Batlas said, if the townships were eliminated.
She explained things like the volunteer-run food pantry is overseen by Supervisor Jimmy Walsh. She helps with voter registration.The board helps residents with special use permits that have to go before the county. She added that townships also help with general assistance, such as if someone has trouble paying their electric bill.
“We know what our residents are looking for, like with solar farms. We are pushing hard to make it look nice. The county won’t turn it down if they meet their regulations. We do what we can to make it nice. We’re pushing to make it better,” Baltas continued.
Under current legislation, counties are prohibited from denying solar development applications that meet state standards.
“You lose voices fighting for your community,” Baltas added.
Washington Township, which covers the Beecher area and more than 70 miles of road, is urging residents to contact their legislators to oppose the bill.
“I get we have a lot of layers of government in the State of Illinois,” Washington Township Clerk Joe Burgess said.
“I can understand what they’re thinking, but I don’t think they thought it through well enough to do it the correct way. My biggest concern is that once they start, they’ll try to eliminate all townships,” he said.
Burgess noted Washington Township is specifically in tune with its residents, sponsoring community activities like the Beecher Youth Commission, EMA, Concerts in the Park, and the Fourth of July Festival. He also brought to light how approachable the township officials are.
“Our assessor is extremely approachable. She makes appointments, asking when are you going to be home? It’s a part-time position. If she finds something wrong, she will get it fixed for them. She’s a phone call away,” Burgess said.
The Bill is receiving such ardent opposition, not simply because the townships don’t want to be eliminated, but because they feel residents will be left in the lurch if it passes.
“That is another issue – there is no plan right now. Once you do it, what happens?” Pahl questioned, noting that although the smaller townships would be absorbed, no one has budgeted for the additional expenditures an absorption would create nor created a plan to manage the extra work.
Other townships echoed Pahl’s concerns.
Burgess noted there would be significant lag-time if residents have to contact the county, noting they wouldn’t have the staffing to handle the additional work.
“That’s a lot of work for the county to pick-up — mowing ditches, plowing snow, all of that type of work. These roads need constant updates, there’s tar and chipping and pothole repair, especially in this season. We stay on top of repairs. For the county to pick-up all of the additional roads in Will County — they don’t have the staff,” Burgess explained.
Baltas echoed that sentiment noting the county likely doesn’t have the equipment to maintain gravel and tar-and-chip roads, which would mean more expenses for the county, eliminating any proposed savings that could come from doing away with the township.
In general, townships offer a variety of programs, including senior programs and activities, assistance with senior tax freeze implementation, mental health programs, transportation via Will County Dial-a-Ride, a food pantry, a medical closet, assistance obtaining handicap placards, help understanding and dealing with property assessments, snow removal, early voting, and more.
“It’s just a good program for the people. We try to return the money to the constituents, sponsoring youth sports teams, and doing the work we do maintaining roads, mowing, ditches, culverts, and more. We do a lot of things you wouldn’t see as much under larger government,” Pahl explained.
Townships are keeping an eye on legislative action, passing resolutions and, in the future, will offer town halls to help make residents aware of the situation if it progresses.
Those wishing to contact the 13-member executive committee currently reviewing the township elimination bill can visit: https://www.ilga.gov/senate/committees/members.asp?committeeID=3072. Furthermore, they are encouraged to reach out to their Illinois state legislators to communicate their wishes as constituents.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.