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Community Corner

By Vote, Not by Force

An anonymous writer recently posted a misleading comment under the article “Public Works Director Talks Ash Trees, Solutions” (link below):

http://lemont.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/public-works-director-talk-ash-trees-solutions?newsRef=true#comment-41766450

This person attempted to grant credit to the mayor and village board for reduced electric rates in our town by stating:

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Thanks to our ELECTED officials taxes are under control, services adequate to represent the needs of the community and non tax revenue flows are being considered..and you get a great deal on electric.....”(my emphasis ).

But the truth is that it was the people of Lemont who got that great deal for themselves.  On March 20, 2012 the citizens of Lemont voted to join the Will Electric Aggregation Group (WEAG), allowing the community to contract with an energy supplier to lower electricity costs for its residents.

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While many other communities supported similar measures, some towns, including Barrington Hills, Chicago Heights, Dolton, Elmwood Park, Lynwood, Matteson, Midlothian, Richton Park and Riverdale, rejected them.  But in every case, it was left to the voters to decide.  It was not the decision of a handful of local officials.

And as with the electric service issue, the decision to assume $40 million in debt to erect a rental sports complex should also be left to the voters.  Such a monumental decision demands and deserves to represent the will of the people; a real choice and not an ultimatum forced down our throats.


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