Committee moves to restart public notice process for boundary agreement with Machesney Park

The Committee of the Whole reviewed a proposed 20-year renewal of a voluntary boundary agreement with the Village of Machesney Park and recommended initiating the state-required public-notice process prior to formal Board approval.

Staff explained the boundary (a legal description in the packet) has been in place for roughly two decades and that the proposed renewal would re-establish the same legal description for another 20 years. Under state law, staff noted, the municipality must publish notice within a window not less than 30 days and not more than 120 days prior to formal approval and must use two forms of notice, including a publication in a newspaper and a posted notice not less than 15 days prior to final Board action.

Because Machesney Park’s earlier notice window had lapsed, staff recommended re-initiating the public-notice process and indicated it would prepare the required postings and publications before returning to the Board. Trustees asked staff to proceed with the public-notice steps so the renewal could move through the required statutory timeline.

Why it matters: Boundary agreements establish mutual understandings between neighboring municipalities about likely limits of future annexation or service areas. Renewing the agreement maintains the long-standing line between Roscoe and Machesney Park for planning clarity.

What’s next: Staff will post and publish required notices under state law and return the matter to the Board for action within the statutorily required notice window.