Village board reviews draft referendum question, timeline and legal limits for public safety facility

The village board on Tuesday discussed a draft ordinance to place a public safety facility referendum before voters and reviewed the schedule, limits on official advocacy and wording problems in the draft question.

Manager Frances summarized the history of the facilities evaluation and told trustees that an open house will be held May 19 at "station one" and that the engagement cycle will run through April 2027. "We cannot advocate. We can only educate," Manager Frances said, explaining that staff will prepare a landing page and FAQs to help residents understand what would be asked in next year’s referendum.

Village counsel, Attorney Pickrell, outlined the calendar trustees will need to meet if they want the question on the April 6, 2027 ballot. He said the board would need to adopt a resolution by Jan. 15, 2027 (79 days before the election) and certify the question to the county within 10 days, after which the county must carry out further notice and posting steps. "You start on that date, you work backwards to establish all the deadlines," Attorney Pickrell said.

Pickrell also warned trustees about the legal limits on using village resources. "Government money and government resources cannot be used to promote a yes or a no on a referendum," he said, adding that trustees retain personal First Amendment rights but must avoid using village computers, email accounts or speaking from the dais in an official capacity when advocating.

A trustee asked whether trustees may speak about the referendum to outside groups such as the Chamber of Commerce. Attorney Pickrell said that as individuals they may do so, provided they make clear they are not speaking as trustees and do not use village resources.

Trustees and counsel reviewed the draft ballot and bond language and flagged awkward phrasing and apparent typos. One trustee read the draft aloud and noted repeated phrasing such as "shall bonds in the amount of," which counsel said reflects required statutory formats that may look like legalese but must be handled carefully. The draft includes a financing figure tied to a roughly $29.9 million proposal; counsel and trustees discussed wording that would allow the board flexibility to issue a smaller bond amount or apply grant funding to related elements such as a river-path connector that is currently estimated at about $3 million but excluded from the core scope.

No formal vote was taken. Manager Frances told the board it will have multiple opportunities to refine the question and that staff will bring back revised language and materials for review before the January 2027 deadline. The board also confirmed the May 19 open house date.