By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
When the public hearing for the proposed Aurora facility on Spring Valley Road in Burlington opened Tuesday night, the City of Burlington Common Council was, to say the least, surprised.
Residents of Spring Valley Road, a number of whom were also at last week’s Plan Commission meeting, left after the planned Aurora-related items were discussed in the Committee of the Whole – in spite of being told they could also comment during the public hearing later in the evening.
“What did we do to scare them away?” asked Alderman Jon Schultz.
While the question was raised if the residents had mistakenly thought the public hearing was another night, Alderman Peter Hintz had a simpler explanation.
“I think that they left because nothing has changed,” Hintz said.
Mayor Bob Miller had offered to let the residents comment during the Committee of the Whole meeting, but also said a presentation and time to comment would be allowed at the public hearing. It was clarified at the meeting that the public hearing was Tuesday night, with the items to be voted on Dec. 2.
Council members had a few questions during the public hearing – mostly ones that had been answered at the Plan Commission meeting last week that not all the council members attended.
The facility will feature two separate buildings, as well as two separate parking areas, entrances and exits off Spring Valley Road – and one entrance and exit off Highway 36.
When residents asked last week if another entry and exit could be created off Highway 36, the process of deed restriction was discussed.
That was clarified Tuesday night. While that portion of the highway was signed off to the Town of Lyons when the bypass was completed, the deed restrictions still need to go through the Department of Transportation.
Even if the engineers could get another access point – which everyone at both meetings felt was doubtful – Miller said the cost would be prohibitive.
“There’s a significant price tag paid to the DOT,” Miller explained.
Also discussed during the Committee of the Whole meeting was contingency plans if property taxes were somehow eliminated – an item that has been brought up at the state level.
City Attorney John Bjelajac clarified that no matter what, wording would be built into the contract that requires Aurora to pay back the $5 million worth of work being done in what will be a new TIF district.
“(At the) end of the day, Aurora’s responsible for paying back the amount,” Bjelajac said.
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