Huntley trustees vote against permanent picnic tables in the Village Square

HUNTLEY – At the April 8 Board of Trustees meeting, Village Manager Dave Johnson presented to the Board a proposal to include permanent and removable picnic table sites in the downtown Square area.

The idea came after some discussion at the Feb. 25 Village meeting regarding having tables in various quantities and configurations, given the positive feedback received and witnessed during the height of the pandemic in the summer of 2020, after tables were provided in support of local businesses.

According to Johnson, there were three primary hybrid options presented and discussed on Feb. 25, for design and configurations utilizing a total of 12 tables in locations similar to what was used in the Square during the statewide shutdown.

Having taken some of the Board’s direction from that meeting, Johnson presented the trustees two new options into how the plan would move forward if approved.

Both options included four permanent table sites with each site having two 10-by-10-feet tables adjacent to Woodstock Street and Main Street. There would also be eight additional portable tables in each location. The only difference among the two plans were the table shape, with option one including both round and square tables and option two having all round tables.

Both options were compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) to include one ADA accessible round table per site.

Johnson stated that the total cost of the project would amount to $18,800. The plan had been reviewed by the Public Works and Engineering Department to move forward with the consideration to approve of a proposal from William Ruth Landscape for the project. Additionally, the tables would have to be purchased separately by the Village.

After the presentation, the trustees were given the opportunity to speak, in which Trustee John Piwko made a comment regarding his thoughts on the project.

“I just reiterate what I’ve been saying all along. We don’t need these tables down there. Especially now with the state opening up to the restaurants for more indoor seating and everything. So, I would save the $18,000 than put anything out there,” Piwko said.

Village President Chuck Sass followed up Piwko’s statement by explaining that the nicer weather makes the permanent tables a great option for Huntley residents visiting the Square, whereas non-permanent tables would not always be present for residents to use.

Trustees JR Westberg and Tim Hoeft both agreed that the tables were a good addition to the downtown area. Both stated it was a better option than having to sit in the grass.

Trustee Harry Leopold stated that he respected everyone’s opinions though he was against the picnic table project. He agreed with Piwko in that he believed that the $18,000 should be saved.

Trustee Ronda Goldman commented that she has always been opposed to the idea and was still opposed to it.

Trustee Niko Kanakaris was not present at the meeting.

Trustees Leopold, Piwko, and Goldman voted against the permanent picnic table plan, outnumbering the two votes for approval cast by Trustees Hoeft and Westberg.

The motion for the approval of permanent picnic tables in the downtown Huntley area, failed to pass at the April 8 meeting.