Riverside is working to finalize a referendum question for next April’s municipal election that, if voters approve, would enable the village to fund its project to rebuild the combined home of its police and fire departments next to township hall.
Right now, according to village materials, the question that Riverside is considering proposing reads as follows: “Shall bonds in the amount of not to exceed $29,990,000 be issued by the Village of Riverside for the purpose of financing the development of a new public safety facility (including without limitation demolition and construction relating thereto, and the acquisition of equipment and furnishings therefor), bearing interest at the rate of not to exceed 9%?”
If voters say ‘yes,’ Riverside would be able to issue bonds equal to or less than $29,990,000 with a maximum interest rate of 9% to go toward the demolition, construction and furnishing of the new building that would house the village’s public safety workers.
“It is worded, in consultation with attorney [Bob] Pickrell, in a very flexible manner. If certain surpluses are derived, or things come in under budget, then we can accomplish other things that were beyond that $29.9 million proposal,” Village Manager Jessica Frances said. “The river path, if you recall, the part that actually comes out of the back of the building is included in the scope, but the connecting path from the swinging bridge to Swan Pond is not, and that was estimated to be around $3 million.”
Frances said some amenities may require staff to seek grant funding beyond the bonds the village is proposing if the community would like to see them.
An open house is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at fire station number one, adjacent to township hall, where representatives from Williams Architects, which has led the project through its design phase, will seek feedback from residents on the proposals. Williams will present the feedback it receives to members of the village board at a meeting in June.
“When you have a referendum you want to appear at an election — we’re targeting the April 6, 2027, election — you start on that date, and you work backwards to establish all the deadlines. The most important deadline for the village board is Jan. 15, 2027. By that date, we would have to pass this resolution or another version that the board agrees to,” Pickrell said, in reference to a draft ordinance contained in agenda materials from the April 16 meeting.
“Within 10 days after that, we have to certify it and send it over to the county. Then, there’s a series of deadlines that follow, in which the county provides notice. We also have to provide notice and post it on the wall in village hall and take a series of other steps,” Pickrell added.
He told trustees that, under the law, village resources “cannot be used to promote a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ [vote] on a referendum,” and neither can village officials or staff advocate either way in the course of their public duty.
“We can offer information, factual information, but we cannot advocate,” he said. “The fact that you are legislators and members of [the board of] trustees does not mean that you have lost your First Amendment rights. You, as individuals, can advocate one way or the other; you just cannot do so on company time or using company resources, as it were.”
