The McLean County election ballot includes referenda in several communities. (Photo by Eric Stock/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

Several McLean County communities will be considering local ballot issues on Nov. 6.

Bellflower

Voters in Bellflower Township will decide whether to double their property tax rate to the maximum 33 percent to pay for road maintenance. Highway Commissioner Marion Shelton said if approved, the tax would generate about $59,000 for the township's road and bridge fund. It collected about $26,000 this year.

"The cost of everything since I started 20 years ago in 1993 has gone up at least times what it was then. For example, it cost $3,000 to oil and chip one mile of road and last year it was like $13,000 to $14,000," Shelton said.

Shelton said the tax rate hasn't changed in that time. He said township farmers who will end of paying a bulk of the increase, are largely supportive of the plan.

"They said we were wondering when you were going to do this. It should have been done before now," Shelton said.

Bellflower Township has nearly 70 miles of roads to maintain.

Stanford

Stanford voters are being asked if they would like to start a village-wide recycling program.

The advisory referendum proposes the village consider contracting for recycling services. Village Acting President John Owen said Stanford currently uses two contractors for trash removal, Neville Trucking of Mackinaw and Allied Waste.

Owen said the village could look to see if those companies would be able to handle the recycling too, or whether the village should bid separately for that work.

Owen said currently, Stanford residents that wish to recycle must take their materials into Bloomington-Normal.

Towanda

Voters in Towanda will decide whether to change the way the village elects its board.

Currently, board candidates are placed on the ballot if they are appointed via non-partisan caucus system. Under the plan that voters will consider, candidates would have to obtain the required minimum of signatures to run starting in the April, 2013 election.

Mayor Doug Porter said one board member suggested the move, considering the caucus format to be outdated.

The Towanda Village Board is comprised of six members plus the mayor. The mayor's position and two board members are up for election in April.

Heyworth, Normal and Randolph Township will also be voting on a proposal to join in the consortium of Central Illinois communities that are participating in municipal aggregation.

Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.