Will the Memorial Lights Referendum Cost Taxpayers Extra?

There's a good chance the outcome of installing stadium lights at Memorial Field will be decided before residents can cast their votes in the advisory referendum.

But will this addition to the primary ballot come at an extra cost to taxpayers? Bob Saar, executive director of the DuPage County Election Commission, says the cost for adding the question is so minute. 

"I couldn't even begin to put a number on it," Saar said. 

Saar explained that since this is a "full-blown" election all the polls will be open and fully staffed on Tuesday, March 20. No extra steps will be taken just because of the referendum question. Everything will operate as planned, even if the question were not on the ballot. 

Although some have urged village officials to wait on the outcome of the referendum results, some trustees have expressed they will not wait until March to make a final decision. According to an earlier village statement, the final vote for deciding the lights is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30.

Village Attorney Stuart Diamond said this case is about zoning laws and if Glenbard Township High School District 87's request "passes the rules that in fact relate to zoning." 

Diamond said the school district variance requests should be treated like any other request from a private citizen. Since waiting on the outcome of an advisory referendum is not customary for deciding zoning matters, Diamond said it could open the village to a potential lawsuit from the school district. However, Diamond said if the school district stepped forward and asked the village to wait on the results it would be a different story. 

According to Peg Mannion, Glenbard Township High School District 87 community relations coordinator, the school board has not discussed the relevance of the referendum. Mannion added that only registered voters living in Glen Ellyn will get a chance to vote when Glenbard West serves families from Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, Lombard and Wheaton. Mannion said the referendum would also render unreliable results because of the "inaccurate and misleading language of the ballot question." 

The village board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.