No one shows up for public hearing

Our view: Keep tabs on this project as it develops

The city of Glencoe is looking at nearly $20 million of improvements to its wastewater treatment plant.
That figure was reported nearly a month ago, but sticker shock on the price tag apparently wasn’t enough to impel anyone to attend a public hearing on the proposal Monday night. Not one person showed up to find out for themselves why the city is looking to spend millions of dollars on its wastewater plant. Hopefully, the city will qualify for about $5 million grants, which will pare the cost to about $15 million, but still that is a hefty price tag.
We suspect that people didn’t show up because they don’t dispute the need to upgrade the facility, just as many didn’t show up for Glencoe-Silver Lake’s informational meetings on its proposed building project.
When people do show up, though, is when the talk turns to how to pay for these projects — in particular, how it hits each person’s pocketbook.
Figuring out the financing for major projects takes some finesse — stretch the payments out too long, and you’re paying more interest than makes fiscal sense. Try to pay the project off on a short-term note to save interest, and you may be hitting your constituents hard with increased property taxes and utility rates.
The city has employees with great expertise in financial matters and also has its engineering firm to help come with some equitable financing plans for the wastewater treatment plant improvements.
We encourage residents to keep an eye on this proposal as it moves forward, not just because of its potential impact on your pocketbook, but because of the potential impact on your quality of life. Both are important.
— L.C.