DOLTON VOTERS SPLIT
Trimming number of trustees divides residents at polling sites
A question of trimming the number of trustees in Dolton was dividing voters, while allowing pickup trucks to park in Flossmoor driveways was gaining support as was sharing pot tax revenues with schools, according to unofficial election returns.
Some binding, but mostly advisory, referendum questions were on the ballot in the south and southwest suburbs, covering a wide range of subjects.
While recreational marijuana isn’t yet approved in Illinois, voters in Chicago Heights were asked whether the city’s share of revenue from pot sales, should it become legal, be turned over to local schools.
With 15 of 19 precincts reporting, 82 percent of voters favored the idea while 18 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
In Flossmoor, an advisory referendum question was intended to gauge residents’ views of the village’s longstanding ban on parking pickup trucks in driveways.
The question asked whether the village should allow a Class B truck or van, 8,000 pounds or less, to be parked in a residential driveway, provided the vehicle is for personal and not commercial purposes. If voters favor doing away with the ban, village officials say a public hearing could be held and the restriction lifted.
With 7 of 9 precincts reporting, 64 percent of voters favored revisiting the ban while 36 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
But Flossmoor would still restrict pickup trucks used for commercial purposes, with trucks and vans having advertising or commercial markings or equipment, such as snow plows, being barred.
Flossmoor initially banned all pickups from the village in 1975. Since 1989, the village has allowed residents to own pickup trucks, but they must be kept hidden in garages. Parking on driveways is only allowed for loading or unloading materials. Village officials have said they believe Flossmoor may be the only community in the country with such a restriction.
Voters in Dolton weighed in on three binding referendum questions.
One question asked whether candidates for village president, clerk and trustee be elected at nonpartisan general elections, with no primary elections, starting with the April 2019 election.
With 14 of 19 precincts reporting, 51 percent of
voters favored the idea while 49 percent were opposed, according to unofficial results.
Another would cut the number of trustees to four from the current six, and the numbers of voters backing and opposing the plan were evenly split, according to unofficial vote totals.
A third question would allow trustees to serve no more than two consecutive terms. The term limits would not apply to the village’s mayor or clerk.
According to unofficial results, 66 percent of voters supported the measure while 34 percent were opposed.
Village trustees have urged residents to reject all three proposals, which are supported by Mayor Riley Rogers.
In four south suburbs — Hazel Crest, Midlothian, Richton Park and Thornton — voters were asked in a nonbinding referendum question whether Cook County should “create and maintain a tax incentive program that results in lower property tax bills and reduces the tax burden on local property owners and taxpayers.”
With about 80 percent of precincts reporting, the measure was overwhelmingly favored, with 97 percent of voters supporting it, according to unofficial vote totals.
Also on the issue of property tax relief, voters in Lemont and Palos townships had an advisory question on their ballots asking whether the General Assembly should expand tax exemptions for homeowners, seniors and veterans. The question is not on the ballot in other south and southwest suburban townships, such as Bremen, Orland, Rich and Thornton.
With 7 of 14 precincts reporting in Lemont Township, 85 percent supported the additional exemptions while 15 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
With 23 of 39 precincts reporting in Palos Township, 94 percent of voters supported the idea while 6 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
In Lemont and Palos townships, voters also were asked, again in a nonbinding question, whether Cook County’s controversial and short-lived soda tax should be reinstated.
With 7 of 14 precincts reporting, 19 percent of Lemont Township voters supported the tax while 81 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
With 23 of 39 precincts reporting in Palos Township, 26 percent of voters supported it while 74 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
Approved in late 2016, the penny-per-ounce tax on sweetened beverages took effect in August of last year, but county commissioners last October voted to repeal the tax, with the repeal taking effect Dec. 1 of last year. The soda tax question is not on the ballot in other south and southwest suburban townships.
Apart from the recreational marijuana question, Chicago Heights voters also were asked whether the city should develop and operate a solar power generation facility and sell electricity it generates to local users. With 15 of 19 precincts reporting, 74 percent of voters favored the plan while 26 percent objected, according to unofficial vote totals.
Another question asked whether the city should establish an optional household recycling program in which homeowners would pay to participate, with the city providing recycling totes as part of its garbage collection service.
With 15 of 19 precincts reporting, 58 percent of voters were in support of the idea while 42 percent were opposed, according to unofficial totals.
One of a handful of south and southwest suburbs not allowing video gambling, Palos Heights asked voters in an advisory referendum whether gambling terminals should be allowed in the city.
According to unofficial vote totals, with 9 of 14 precincts reporting, 42 percent voted to support the gambling terminals while 58 percent were opposed.
Voters in the Tinley Park-Park District were being asked to approve a 7-cent increase in the corporate tax rate, although park district officials say residents shouldn’t see the increase on their property tax bill.
The district could opt to abate the increase, but the higher tax rate would also be offset as the district retires outstanding debt at the end of next year and at the end of 2020, according to Shawn Roby, park district executive director. The increase in the corporate tax rate is needed to provide funding for ongoing maintenance of facilities and playground and park renovations, Roby said.
According to unofficial vote totals, with 27 of 40 precincts reporting, 26 percent of voters favored the tax increase while 74 percent were opposed.
The North Palos Fire Protection District was seeking a tax rate increase of 20 cents, to $2.23 from the current $2.03 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation, which would add $52 to the tax bill of a home valued at $100,000, according to Chief Paul Mackin.
The district has been borrowing money with a $1 million line of credit to continue its operations. With the tax rate increase it plans to end borrowing, build up its reserves and be able to purchase needed equipment, he said.
Unofficial results show 47 percent of voters backed the increase while 53 percent were opposed.
Three advisory referendum questions were on the ballot in all Cook County suburbs.
One asked whether the community they live in should match the $13 per hour Cook County minimum wage law for adults older than 18 by July 1, 2020.
With 912 of 1,599 precincts reporting, 80 percent of voters were in favor while 20 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
Another countywide non-binding question asked suburban voters whether their community should match the county’s earned sick time law, which allows workers to accrue up to 40 hours of sick time a year.
With the same number of precincts reporting, 86 percent were in support while 14 percent were opposed, according to unofficial vote totals.
A third question, also advisory, asked whether the state should strengthen penalties for the illegal trafficking of firearms and require all gun dealers to be certified by the state.
With the same number of precincts reporting, 90 percent were in favor and 10 percent opposed, according to unofficial results.