Message from the Mayor, November 6, 2023

As you all know, on November 7th the people of Maywood Park will vote on Ballot Measure 26-242. In the simplest terms, the purpose of this vote is to learn whether our residents would like to pursue connecting the City of Maywood Park to public sewer, or to continue with the status quo.

In this vote, a "yes" indicates you're in favor of pursuing connecting to sewer. If the "yes" vote is in the majority, the city will begin pursuing funding for the sewer project, and the city would in turn solicit bids for a contractor to take on the job. A "no" vote indicates you're not in favor of connecting to public sewer at this time, and the City of Maywood Park will continue using systems that are already in place. 

But this vote did not happen in a vacuum. It's the culmination of a great deal of work. We commissioned Abraham Consulting LLC in 2006, and  PACE Engineering in 2017 to tell us what this project might look like if implemented, what it might cost, and what we can expect if we choose to take no action.

It was my decision to bring this issue to the taxpayers of Maywood Park. Along the way, I've worked hard to ensure a transparent and thorough process. We accomplished this by making information and materials available on the city's website, as well as sharing that information on the City of Maywood Park Facebook page, while sending it through email and the physical mail. Throughout this process, it has been the City's stance, and my personal position, to be impartial. My goal and intention has been to give you what you need to make an informed decision.

One of the challenges of this process are the unknowns. Despite the extensive research studies that have been performed, we won't know the true cost of connecting to sewer or maintaining the status quo until either scenario plays out. For this reason, our City has experienced some understandable friction.

That friction has manifested in a few different ways. I've received phone calls with questions and concerns, folks have made comments online expressing their confusion or their anger, the Maywood Park Community Association, which I'd like to add is not affiliated with the city government, even sent out a pamphlet sharing their views on this vote. 

The unknowns make your decision particularly challenging. For example, residents who have a cesspool have expressed concern that their house could be condemned if their cesspool fails. I understand that concern, and it has even been mentioned in recent media articles about this vote. However, when I spoke to the county sanitarian about this question, she underscored that condemning a house with a failed cesspool is extremely rare —  No home in Maywood Park has ever been condemned due to its wastewater system. 

But it is because of these concerns, and potential confusion, that we at the City have worked to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information available. If you're ever confused about this issue, or any other, I'd like to encourage you to visit the City of Maywood Park website.

This process has been a challenging one for many in our City. After all, this is a big decision. But I'd like to be clear. Your voice matters. If our residents vote in favor, the city will begin securing funding while also holding a bidding process to find a contractor that will take on the job. If our Residents vote this measure down, the City of Maywood Park will continue to leave waste water disposal to individual homeowners.

But the outcome depends on each of you. What matters most is your voice. Your informed decision. 

Thank you for participating in this important process.