Sheridan Road, taxes and Wendy’s.
Those topics, in that order, were among the issues discussed at the first “Ask the Aldermen” event Thursday night.
Alds. Cheryl Wollin (1st) and Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th) spent more than an hour fielding questions from 18 Northwestern students at the forum, sponsored by the Associated Student Government and intended to recur quarterly. Wollin’s ward includes the southern and western parts of NU’s campus, while Tisdahl, a candidate to replace retiring Mayor Lorraine Morton, represents the area east of Sheridan Road. Ald. Delores Holmes (5th), who also represents an area where NU students live, could not attend.
Students spent most of the session asking what work is being done to upgrade Sheridan Road and how to improve relations between the city and university.
The aldermen promised improvements to Sheridan Road are coming soon.
“We have a final draft proposal for change,” said Wollin, who said the proposal included two new traffic lights and a plan to widen the sidewalk on the street’s west side.
All of the road’s traffic signals will be equipped with countdown timers by next summer, Wollin said, adding that officials were also considering putting pavement lights on the crosswalks.
Last August, the city gained control of the road, previously managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation. A meeting to discuss the proposal is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.
On the controversial topic of town-gown relations, the aldermen asked students to help persuade the university to aid the city in its budget crisis.
“We like the students a lot,” said Tisdahl, referencing what she called the “100-year War” between the city and university. “When we pay our property taxes, we’re not as fond of the administration.”
Both aldermen acknowledged that NU contributes culturally to the city, but said it was time for a financial contribution.
“Northwestern has been wonderful with intellectual capital,” Tisdahl said. “But we need cold hard cash.”
A property tax payment could help fund the city’s $140 million debt to the police and fire pension funds, which may lead to budget cuts this year.
Students also questioned the aldermen on the status of the proposed tower at 708 Church St., efforts to reduce crime and the possibility of bringing a Best Buy, Target or Wendy’s to Evanston.
The forum was a positive event, Wollin said.
“Any kind of communication is good,” she said. “It’s good to get questions answered.”
