Homer Township Drops Lawsuit Against Village Over Road District

HOMER GLEN, IL — The Homer Township Board has decided to drop their lawsuit against the Village of Homer Glen regarding the transfer of property from the Homer Township Road District.

The decision was made at Monday's township board meeting, and Township Supervisor Steve Balich told Patch that the board is pleased the lawsuit has come to an end.

"Mayor [George] Yukich, Road Commissioner [Brent] Porfilio and myself believe this understanding is the start of a relationship based on what is best for all the people," he said.

The previous township board had moved forward with an appeal to an April 7 decision that allowed for the transfer of road district property to the Village of Homer Glen. Previous Township Supervisor Pam Meyers had said at the time that the appeal would provide an opportunity for the new board to get more information and decide how to proceed.

Balich said the cost of the lawsuit was not needed, "especially when an understanding was achieved between the Village and township to move in a direction that benefits all the taxpayers and allows for all the district work to be done the same as it was done over the years."

In July 2020, the Village of Homer Glen announced a plan to transfer stewardship of the road district to the village.

The dispute between the township and the village first began after a failed township referendum in November in which residents indicated they did not want the road district to be abolished or the property to be assumed by the township.

The township subsequently filed a lawsuit in December against the Village of Homer Glen to stop the transfer of the road district, but an April 7 ruling allowed for the transfer of road district property to the village.