Brainerd Meeting Draws Large Crowd, Skepticism

The first of three town-hall style meetings to discuss the fate of Libertyville's historic Brainerd building drew a crowd of about 150 people, many of them skeptical of the plan to issue bonds to pay to renovate the building into a community space, according to the Daily Herald.

On March 18, residents will get to formally cast their votes in a referendum that could result in the issuance of $11.5 million in bonds—and a 21.84 percent increase in the village's tax rate—to renovate the Brainerd building. Monday's meeting was a way to educate people about the proposal and for the village board, which is not taking an official stance on the referendum, to hear residents' opinions.

According to the Herald, more than two dozen people spoke at the meeting to express concerns about the financial viability of the project and its need in town. Patch readers have likewise been expressing their thoughts in this comment thread.

The other two meetings will be held Feb. 12 and March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Libertyville Civic Center.

More information about the proposal is available on the village website.
You can read the full Daily Herald story here.

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