Will You Vote for Kenilworth to Become a Home Rule Community?

Village hopes becoming a home-rule community could help finance a long-term infrastructure plan, which is projected to cost between $17 to $20 million over 10 years.

UPDATE: Kenilworth Home Rule Referendum Fails When Kenilworth residents head to the polls tomorrow, they will be asked to vote on whether the village should shift some decision-making abilities from the state to the local level by becoming a “home rule unit”. Kenilworth Village President Fred G. Steingraber said in August that the village needs to improve its infrastructure but currently lacks the funds. 78 percent of sewers, 81 percent of water mains and 55 percent of fire hydrants in the village are more than 100 years old, Steingraber said. Home rule allows communities a broad range of powers, such as taxing, zoning and licensing, unless exempted by the State.  “We’ve concluded the best starting point for [financing a long-term …

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Kenilworth Home Rule Referendum on Nov. 6 Ballot

Village hopes becoming a home-rule community could help finance a long-term infrastructure plan, which is projected to cost between $17 to $20 million over 10 years

Kenilworth Puts Home Rule Referendum on Nov. 6 Ballot

Village hopes becoming a home-rule community could help finance a long-term infrastructure plan, which is projected to cost between $17 to $20 million over 10 years.

Facing the need to improve Kenilworth’s infrastructure but lacking the funds, Kenilworth trustees approved putting a referendum on the upcoming election ballot that asks voters if they would give the village greater decision-making powers.  “We’ve concluded the best starting point for [financing a long-term infrastructure plan] is to go into Home Rule for this community,” said Fred G. Steingraber, village president, during the Aug. 20 village board meeting. “The long-term infrastructure plan is going require $17 to $20 million of capital over 10 years.”  When Kenilworth voters head to the polls on November 6, they will be asked whether they approve shifting decision-making abilities from the state level to the local level.  Home rule …

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Kenilworth Appoints New Village Manager

Patrick M. Brennan, the former Highland Park deputy city manager, started working in the Village of Kenilworth on Aug. 21.

Kenilworth trustees appointed Patrick M. Brennan as the new village manager during a board meeting Monday.  “Patrick has got a tremendous background,” said Kenilworth Village President Fred G. Steingraber. “He’s got all sorts of qualities that the village needs right now.”  Steingraber cited the 45-year-old’s experience working on capital-intensive projects including infrastructure, intergovernmental contracting partnerships, expense reduction projects, improvement of revenue, attracting federal aid funds and managing budgets and cost control among others.  Kenilworth's former village manager Brad Burke's last day was Aug. 10. After working in the village for six years, Burke accepted a new position in Lincolnshire. Check back on Patch …

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