The Aurora City Council is set to vote on a deal for a new sound fence along Orchard Road.
The upgraded fence has been “a decade in the making,” according to Ian Wade, of the city’s engineering division. During that time, the bustling Orchard Road, on the far West Side, has become busier — particularly with more truck traffic.
The Finance Committee recently recommended the new agreement between the city and the county, and aldermen meeting as a Committee of the Whole last week placed the item on the agenda the regular City Council meeting Tuesday where there could be more discussion about it.
Wade has described the fence as being something in between the type of wooden fence that is there now, and the full Illinois Department of Transportation sound wall used along expressways and interstate roadways.
The idea was to get something that would be significantly better for tamping down the sound along Orchard Road, but would be affordable, Wade has said.
Funding for the fence would come from several sources. Ald. Carl Franco has accumulated $500,000 in ward funds over a number of years to put toward the project. Orchard Road is in his 5th Ward.
Wade said the city has gotten four separate state grants to help fund the project.
Franco said last week he plans to put another $75,000 in ward funds toward the cost in the coming year.
Whatever is left of the cost would be paid by the 74 homeowners whose property is along Orchard Road, according to officials, which is estimated to be several hundred dollars a year.
By using a special service area, the cost can be spread over years and collected along with other regular property tax payments, officials explained.
Franco supports the idea of putting together an agreement where residents pay some of the cost, and where the city and county share costs. He said if residents do not want to pay over time, they would be given the option to make a one-time payment.
One resident, Peter Andrews, told aldermen homeowners would be asked to pay $3,176 each to help complete the project, and that it would be more if collected over time.
While he said the noise from Orchard Road is so loud he “can’t carry on a conversation” in his back yard, he objects to the special service area.
slord@tribpub.com