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Board signals end to road-privatization push but agrees to explore opt‑in snow‑plow/landscaping program
Summary
After a lengthy debate and public input, the board said it would not pursue privatizing village streets. Trustees agreed to allow further review of a separate proposal — an optional villagewide program residents could opt into for snow removal and right‑of‑way landscaping — subject to a future staff consultation and possible board agenda item.
The Village of Riverwoods Board of Trustees closed debate March 4 on proposals to privatize public residential streets, but agreed to pursue a separate, narrower idea raised by Trustee Mike Clayton: exploring a voluntary, villagewide opt‑in program for snow‑plowing and landscaping services.
Mayor Ford said the legal report prepared for an earlier workshop established litigation and policy risks associated with street vacation and privatization and indicated there was no board appetite to continue pursuing street privatization unless a majority of trustees formally requested it. "Unless a majority of the trustees tonight step forward to state their desire to keep this alive as an agenda item, we will not retain this item as unfinished business and will consider this investigation closed," she said.
Trustee Clayton said he did not seek to reopen privatization but asked to explore mechanisms to allow groups of residents to opt into village‑administered services (snow‑plowing and right‑of‑way landscaping) on a programmatic basis. He described an opt‑in model intended to avoid differential taxation and special‑assessment legal exposure by offering a village program available to all residents that groups could elect to join. He asked for time to consult with the village attorney and return with a proposed program.
Trustees and members of the public weighed in. Some trustees said they agreed privatization presented unacceptable legal risk and reputational harm; others said programmatic options for service recapture deserved study. Multiple residents spoke during public comment opposing privatization and urging the board not to pursue making public streets private.
No final policy action was taken at the meeting. Trustee Clayton said he would meet with the village attorney to evaluate legal options for an opt‑in program and return with a proposal; the mayor said trustees were free to consult counsel individually as well. Clayton attempted to make a formal motion to place opt‑in recapture options on the next agenda but later withdrew it; trustees agreed to allow Clayton to meet with counsel and bring any viable proposal back for consideration.
Ending: The board declared the street‑privatization question closed unless a future majority votes to reopen it, and permitted further staff/counsel review of an opt‑in service program that would be available to any village resident or group that wishes to participate.
