Trails committee urges council to pursue 1.81‑mill levy to fund multiuse trail

The Bicycle and Pedestrian committee recommended that South Russell Village Council pursue a 1.81‑mill levy to help pay for a proposed multiuse trail linking Spring Drive to Route 306.

At a special council meeting on May 1, the committee voted to forward the recommendation to full council, recording four ayes and one abstention. Committee members said the levy — modeled as a five‑year measure — would raise roughly $1,000,000 for the village portion of the project if placed before voters and approved. Finance committee representatives described the levy impact as about $28 per $100,000 of assessed value (roughly $100 per average homeowner per year over five years) to generate that sum.

Why it matters: Committee members and finance staff said the total project cost estimates they reviewed ranged from about $1.8 million (a lower bid cited from Danis) up to larger regional figures discussed in planning documents. That leaves a sizable funding gap for the village; the committee framed the levy as one of two parallel tracks — seeking grants and private donations while preparing voter authorization — so the village can show it actively pursued outside funding.

Committee discussion: Finance committee member (speaker 3) told the meeting: "unless somebody brought a really big checkbook this morning, we have to go find a way to finance $1,000,000." Committee speakers also described prior community studies and outreach dating to a 2010 consultant report and noted that local foundations and regional programs (including NOACA and state grant programs such as OPWC) had been identified as possible sources of support, though none had committed to covering the village’s full share.

Timing and process: Village legal staff explained the procedural steps required to put a levy before voters: council must pass an ordinance declaring the levy necessary, then either run three readings or waive readings and certify the measure to the board of elections by the statutory deadline (the solicitor estimated a 90‑day deadline before a November election, citing an Aug. 5 cutoff for a November election). Participants in the meeting referenced different target election years at different times — one speaker mentioned a November 2027 target while later committee motion language referenced the November 2026 ballot — and the committee asked staff to confirm firm dates before the full council vote.

Restrictions on messaging: The village solicitor warned elected officials that once a measure is certified, the village may publish only factual information about the levy and must avoid using village resources to advocate for passage. "You can give facts," the solicitor said, "you cannot publish anything saying that you are in support of the levy." Committee members discussed creating an informational, non‑partisan communications plan and urged any outside advocacy or campaign activity to be handled by private groups or foundations rather than the village itself.

Next steps: The committee’s recommendation will go to full council at the next regular meeting for consideration and ordinance introduction. Committee members said they will continue pursuing grant and foundation opportunities, coordinate limited public education about the project’s scope and timing, and meet with neighboring municipalities and other communities that have pursued similar trail levies to learn from their experiences.

The committee’s motion language specified a 1.81‑mill levy and asked that council consider placing the measure on the November ballot; the full council will set the final election date and certification schedule.