Elgin voters may be asked to weigh in on whether the Kimball Street dam on the Fox River should be removed, as recommended by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
After an intense debate and split vote, the Elgin City Council Wednesday tentatively approved placing a nonbinding advisory referendum on the November election ballot in which residents will vote on whether the dam should be pulled out — an action that will help the environmental quality of the waterway but also will substantially lower the water level.
“This is to me, having lived here all my life, this is probably the most significant decision this community has had … it deserves the highest standard of participation,” said Mayor Dave Kaptain, who asked the council to consider the referendum idea.
Although the council will make the final decision, knowing where the public stands will help guide council members, Kaptain said.
“Democracy doesn’t get any better (than) creating an advisory referendum,” he said.
The Kimball Street dam is one of nine along the Fox River being considered for removal at the recommendation of the Army Corps of Engineers, which is allowing communities to make the final call. Removing the structure will restore the river to its natural flow and encourage the return of animal and fish habitats.
Federal funds would be used to pay for the removal work.
Of the nine communities with dams, Elgin is the only one that takes its drinking water from the Fox River. Lowering the water level may impact that ability, requiring the city to relocate its pumping station or find another solution for obtaining the water supply.
An advisory referendum would not be binding and the council not be obligated to act on upon the results. The deadline to place the question on the Nov. 5 ballot is Aug. 19.
The council council clearly was divided on the issue Wednesday, voting 5-4 in favor of the ordinance.
Council members Rose Martinez, Steve Thoren, Anthony Ortiz and John Steffen joined Kaptain in voting yes on the referendum. Council members Justin Good, Tish Powell, Carol Rauschenberger and Corey Dixon voted against it.
That could change when the council takes a final vote in a few weeks. The city attorney will come up the wording for the referendum question for council review and if it is approved, the city may hire consultants to help educate voters on the issue.
Discussion of the issue was at times heated as council members debated the pros and cons of seeking public input at the polling place.
“This is a decision for those of us sitting here on this dais,” Powell said. “This is not a decision for the voters. This is what we were elected to do. We are here to make sound decisions for the community. Facts and science should guide our decision regarding the dam. Period.”
A referendum politicizes an “issue that is complex, scientific and very critical to the people of this community,” she said. “It gives our residents a false sense … (that) they have the final say in this when they really don’t.”
Dixon agreed, saying “I’m all for community engagement, but that’s not what is happening (with this).”
“I mean this with the utmost respect and concern for the community, but this is foolish,” he said. “This is not a simple topic to understand. Most of us up here don’t understand. This is complex.”
Some voters will gather information before making a decision, but “the majority won’t,” Dixon said. “We’re going to take a technical subject and let voters decide.”
Martinez said she believed the public should have a chance to weigh in.
“I do because this would allow us to hear the residents of Elgin in a nonbinding way,” she said. “It would allow everyone to voice their opinions on the issue. … I think this process will ensure the decision about the dam will be made with the input of the community.”
Tia Aagesen, who ran for city council a few years ago, told the council that the referendum discussion troubled her.
“If this is advisory, then what is the point?” she asked. “Are we really committed to listening to what people have to say, and then doing what we want anyway? If so, why spend the money, time and resources on garnering this feedback?
“That isn’t democracy. It’s a wasted exercise and performative political art at best and lazy can-kicking to create a scapegoat for an uncomfortable choice later at worst,” Aagesen said.
While no vote has been taken on which way council members are leaning on the dam issue, Good, Rauschenberger and Powell said right now they support removing it.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.