The Elmhurst Public Affairs and Safety Committee has voted to recommend that the city pay an extra $22,000 in dues to the Suburban O’Hare Commission.
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“Some people say that this dues increase is coming close behind the last increase, but I think that’s because SOC waited a very long time before increasing its dues the first time, and then they didn’t increase the dues enough to cover their costs,” said Mayor Thomas Marcucci in defense of the proposed increase. “We’re up against some very deep pockets in the fight against O’Hare. Not only is Chicago 50 times bigger than we are, but most of their pro-expansion program is being paid for by United and American Airlines.”
Under the proposal, Elmhurst would pay $1.70 per resident per year to stay in SOC, up 50 cents from $1.20 per resident per year. The city’s total membership bill would rise to about $74,800 per year.
The nearly finished switch to quieter, so-called Stage 3 airplanes has not made O’Hare air traffic easier for its neighbors to bear, Marcucci said.
“Sure, the planes are a little quieter now,” he said. “But quieter planes going over our houses 11/2 times as often is still a bad thing. And they’re still dumping fuel on us and spreading diesel fumes in our air. It’s an air-pollution issue and a safety issue, not just a noise issue.”
The City Council is to vote on the increase Monday.