Special Meeting Tuesday December 3 at 5:30 PM Mark your calendars!

The Village is having its Committee of the Whole Meeting Tuesday, December 3rd at 5:30. I can only assume that they chose the earlier time so that the working tax paying residents cannot attend the meeting.   On the Agenda is the discussion for the Don Morris 906 unit apartment complex that wants to go up on Orchard Road just north of Mill Street.  The Village is recommending a reduction in the school fees in order to make this project happen.  The Village has demanded 15 acres to be donated by Don Morris, the owner of the property,  to build a Metra station and in return, will give this developer the break in fees they are requesting putting all of that cost on the current tax payers.  The Village Administrator and the Community Development Director want to give this development lower fees.   Since the School Board voted 2x against reducing the school impact fees, the Village is now going to reduce the value of the land so that Don Morris and the developer still gets the break they are seeking. According to the Village Administrator, the village demanded this as part of the deal.  I have an email from him that states this.  This is a shake down.   Closed door meetings have got to stop.  Don Morris and West Suburban Bank paid for a report on this 906 unit complex that told the Village that this 906 unit apartment complex will only generate 60 kids to the school.  It is obvious to the average person, this is a falsehood that has been paid for by the people trying to push through the project.  The School Board recognized it and voted twice not to reduce the fees. The Village also recognizes it but again, does not care.  They want their metra station.  The cost to educate the hundreds of students that will flood the district will not be covered by the development, again leaving the tax payer to foot the bill.  Dr. Wendt, the D308 superintendent has stated that the cost to educate a regular child in Oswego has gone up. With the current influx of Title 1 students, Dr. Wendt has estimated the cost to educate a child has gone up and can be from $25,000-$50,000 depending on the student. It used to be $7500.  It is only going to get more expensive.  I am disgusted the Village is even considering this.  When our property value goes down,  the School District raises the tax levy applied to the lower property value so that the School District gets the same if not more in taxes. I have attended school board meetings and have heard this repeatedly.  Why would the Village give this new rental development a tax break that those of us who live here now cannot have.  I would think if the value of the land is lowered, we should actually RAISE the school impact fees so that the same amount of money is generated to the School District. Again, why would the new development get a break on bringing 906 rental apartments to Oswego but the thousands of people who own homes here do not get the same consideration. Please show up tomorrow and be ready to speak your mind.