Sidewalks In Forest Hills Neighborhood?

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — A Western Springs trustee is suggesting that the issue of sidewalks in the Forest Hills neighborhood be placed on the November ballot as an advisory referendum.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, Trustee Al Fink said the public works committee has discussed the issue of getting sidewalks for Forest Hills residents. Residents have been asking for them for more than two decades, he said.

Some residents want to develop a special assessment district to pay for sidewalks in the neighborhood, Fink said. But he said the costs of the sidewalks would likely be split between Forest Hills residents and the village government, impacting all local taxpayers.

Last year, a survey of residents was conducted, showing about half really wanting sidewalks and the other half against, Fink said.

The village can place three advisory referendum questions on the ballot to gauge residents' views about issues. One will likely be on whether to allow recreational marijuana stores, but trustees are discussing what the other two will be about.