Not without a boundary

ELBURN -- If Elburn officials decide to support a full interchange at Interstate 88 and Route 47, they would like a boundary agreement from Sugar Grove first.

That was the consensus from trustees at Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting. The village of Sugar Grove asked Elburn for a letter giving its approval to a full interchange on I-88 at Route 47, according to Elburn Village Administrator David Morrison. Part of the process for Sugar Grove to obtain the interchange is for the village to solicit letters from neighboring communities, Morrison said.
"It's just smart politics," Morrison said. "They are just trying to see if there are any objections." However, the Elburn Committee of the Whole agreed that it would like to see a boundary agreement in place before it can support such an effort, according to several members at Monday's meeting.

Trustee Jeff Humm said that it might be in Elburn's interest to use this issue to negotiate a boundary agreement. This comment spurred a discussion from other trustees. "Maybe we should talk with them more seriously about boundary agreements," said trustee Bill Grabarek, who was elected temporary chairman to fill in for Village President Jim Willey.

However, Grabarek said he had mixed feelings about the interchange to begin with. It will spur development, which means much more traffic, he said. "Just look at what happened on Orchard Road," Grabarek said. Grabarek referred to several businesses that poppued up after a full interchange was created at that exit. Grabarek also noted that the interchange would be of added convenience to drivers in the area. Waubonsee Community College came out in support of the interchange because of its location, Grabarek noted.

However, the increase in traffic will be difficult for Elburn to deal with, Grabarek said. "It probably will be more to Sugar Grove's advantage than Elburn's advantage," he said. Currently, drivers can go west on I-88 from Route 47, but cannot go east. Drivers can exit Route 47 to the east (in Sugar Grove) but not to the west. The full interchange would open Route 47 up from all directions.

Trustee Jeff Metcalf said it was important for Elburn to make known that it wants a boundary agreement, but he said he does not know if holding out for a boundary agreement during the interchange negotiations will be productive. "this (the interchange) is going ot happen no matter what," Metcalf said after the meeting. "I just don't see us having a lot of leverage here."