Loss of current Hubble building would be costly

It is time to vote Feb. 5 on the School District 200 $58 million tax increase to raze Hubble Middle School and relocate it to Warrenville. This is perhaps the most important question posed to every School District 200 taxpayer, specifically the Wheaton taxpayers. The school has been a priceless piece of the fabric of Wheaton’s community for more than 82 years.

Hubble has provided thousands of children an excellent education along with recreational activities establishing a community asset for generations and stability to the residential tax base community for decades. Equally, for decades, Wheaton faces the constant challenge of filling abundant empty retail and office space throughout Wheaton.

Does it make sense to potentially bring more retail or condos to replace Hubble when Wheaton hasn’t filled what we now have? Today’s overall economy is significantly ailing. Can any taxpayer afford to risk stability and be fiscally wasteful?

The district is promoting the new relocated Hubble cost at $58 million and renovating the existing Hubble with additional 8,500 square feet cost at $61 million. The district’s architects stated that renovating the existing Hubble without the added square footage would cost $49 million, per the district Web site. Why isn’t the district promoting the $49 million renovation cost instead of the inflated $61 million renovation cost?

Do you think if the existing Hubble were redeveloped it would generate millions of dollars to Wheaton’s tax rolls?  The existing Hubble stands more than 65,000 square feet larger and more than 4 acres larger than the potential new $58 million Hubble. The districts square foot price for the new school equates to more than a $20 million structural asset loss and multimillion dollar land asset loss to the taxpayers. It would take more than 20 years for Wheaton to recover those asset losses in estimated Hubble redevelopment tax dollars.

Further concerns for the taxpayers and children if the existing Hubble were razed and relocated are as follows; while the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency deemed the dirt of the potential new site safe, the reality remains of potential lawsuit risks related to the close proximity to the BP Amoco PetroChemical Research facility, longer bus rides for Wheaton and special needs children, fewer classrooms, lost green space/ball fields, lost gym and auditorium space, lost outdoor track, lost community space, losing a school and losing a Wheaton historic landmark forever.

Vote no Feb. 5 for the $58 million tax increase.

Michelle Senatore, Wheaton

Relocating Hubble School is the right decision

I am writing this on behalf of Friends of the Schools, a volunteer organization comprised of concerned community members, taxpayers, homeowners, parents and others who support the District 200 referendum to build a new Hubble Middle School. The district is asking for $58 million to cover the building, land, construction and equipment.

Over the past 10 years, the Board of Education has studied what to do about Hubble Middle School. The current building was designed as a high school, not a middle school, is more than 80 years old, has limited handicapped accessibility and is more costly to heat/cool than Wheaton North High School or Wheaton Warrenville South High School, which are almost twice the size. Renovating the current Hubble would cost more than building a new school.

The board considered renovating the building, building a new facility on the current site or building a new facility on a new site. Members have listened to the community, consulted with professionals and weighed the various options.
The board has decided that the best, most taxpayer- and student-friendly option is to build a new school on a new site and sell the property on which the current Hubble stands. There are three basic reasons that this is a good decision.

First, Hubble is not located within its own attendance boundaries and is not a building designed for the students it serves. Only four students of about 850 who attend Hubble qualify to walk to school. The new Hubble middle school will be located within its attendance boundaries.

Second, this proposal is the best for the taxpayers of District 200. The proposed referendum does not increase our tax rate, and the Board of Education has committed to sell the current site following the successful referendum. Members have also committed to use the proceeds from that sale to pay down the highest interest bond indebtedness that District 200 has, thus decreasing our tax burden.

Finally, selling the land on which Hubble sits will also help address the long-standing problem of flooding along Main Street. Since much of the current site is in a flood plain, that issue is paramount. Additionally, recreational facilities could be incorporated into the flood control efforts.

This referendum is a win-win situation. The students and families who attend Hubble win because the school will be located within its attendance boundaries and will be designed as a middle school, not a high school. The taxpayer wins with the sale of the current property and land added to the tax rolls. The community wins with economic development at the entrance to downtown Wheaton, flood control and possible recreational facilities along Main Street.

It should be noted that if this referendum does not pass, the Hubble problem does not go away. The Hubble question must be answered with referendum dollars whether it is this February or in the future. It is my opinion that now is the time to end the debate on the Hubble issue and pass the District 200 referendum on Feb. 5. Vote yes on Feb. 5 for a new Hubble Middle School.

Ralph Heatherington, chairman, Friends of the Schools, Wheaton

John Demling best choice for judge

In the contested race for Circuit Court judge, Kenneth Moy vacancy, for the 18th Judicial District in DuPage, one candidate stands out: John Demling. John has been an associate judge for 11 years, during which time he has consistently been rated at a very high level by the Illinois State Bar Association for his legal ability, fairness and integrity.

In the most recent poll, he was the highest rated of all current candidates at 90 percent, while his opponents were rated only at 85 percent and 70 percent. John has done this despite serving in the Domestic Relations Division, where cases are often emotionally charged and difficult. His integrity and concern for people has enabled him to make a difference for families in DuPage, and he intends to continue his service in this calling.

Prior to his time on the court, John practiced law in Glen Ellyn and also for Fireman’s Fund. He has been active in the community, and served as trustee and as president for the village of Glen Ellyn. In 1997 John was named Glen Ellyn’s Citizen of the Year and in 2007 the DuPage County Bar’s Lawyer of the Year.

We have known John, his wife, Mary, and his family for 30 years and are honored to be among his friends and supporters. He is a person of highest integrity, intelligence and work ethic.

John is exactly the type of person we need to have serving as a judge in our courtrooms. While the race for president gets most of the press coverage, local races are more likely to influence our lives here in DuPage County. Please join us in our decision to pick up a Republican ballot, and vote for John Demling for Circuit Court judge.

Larry and Sarah Peck, Glen Ellyn

Voters are urged to support Debra Olson

I urge voters of District 4 to vote for Debra Olson. We need her voice of reason and independence on the DuPage County Board.

Now serving her second term on the County Board, she is experienced, responsible and accountable.

Her long list of accomplishments include serving as the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and chair of the Cost-Cutting and Efficiency Subcommittee. Not only is she forward-thinking but she can adapt to what is needed at the time and all the while doing what is best for the people she represents.

She has led the fight against pay raises and bloated pensions. In all of her efforts, she has put the people, not herself or the system, first.

Debra has been very active in the community, volunteering and demonstrating care and concern.

Let’s keep Debra Olson on the County Board, fighting for the what is right and good for the voters of District 4.

C. James Carr, Wheaton

Signs should not be posted in Forest Preserve

As the general election nears, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County would like to remind candidates and their supporters that its General Use Regulation Ordinance prohibits displaying, posting or distributing signs or promotional materials of any kind on district property without the written permission of its executive director, who, due to fairness issues and district policy, cannot authorize the placement of political signs.

Forest Preserve District employees are removing political materials and unauthorized signs from district property as part of their routine daily operations; however, because the district owns and manages almost 25,000 acres, it simply does not have the resources to ensure that all unauthorized materials will be removed.

With this in mind, any signs that remain on Forest Preserve District property in no way imply any favoritism toward any candidate. The district asks that candidates and their supporters help its efforts to maintain the county’s natural open spaces by observing its regulations. The cooperation of campaign staffs, political supporters and citizens is appreciated.

Duilio “Dewey” Pierotti Jr., president, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Voters should support District 89 referendum

“Shall the Board of Education of Community Consolidated School District 89 … issue bonds in the amount of $24,800,000 …” These are the opening and closing lines of the question that we as voters are being asked to answer on Tuesday, Feb. 5. I am voting yes, and my name is Andy Keil.

The specific schools in District 89 are Arbor View, Briar Glen, Park View and Westfield Elementary Schools and Glen Crest Middle School. We as a unified community have a great opportunity.

We have an opportunity to replace an expiring capital improvement bond that was approved and issued in 1997. This replacement bond will be repaid at the same tax assessment rate that we have twice before approved and has been part of our taxes for 21-plus years.

I think this is a huge testament to our school district being responsible with our tax dollars over a long period of time. In fact, District 89 citizens pay the lowest overall tax rate in the Glenbard feeder system while managing to produce highly educated children who perform in the top 5 percent of all Illinois schools.

This bond issue is for the sole purpose of capital improvement items such as roof repair, boiler and HVAC replacement, security and asbestos abatement. This bond will also help us vastly improve our students’ access to modern technology in renovated class rooms.

Fast approval of this referendum will allow for work to begin this summer. Delaying these projects won’t make them go away but will only add to the cost of addressing them in the future.

Now is the time to economically move this project forward. I urge all voters to access the information available from the school district or at the Secure89.org Web site and support a yes vote on this bond question.

Andy Keil, Secure89.org