Trustees appoint bike committee

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Updated: November 2, 2011 1:06AM

When Barrington village officials held meetings with the community last summer to discuss the village’s comprehensive plan, the message from residents was loud and clear: more bike paths and pedestrian sidewalks to connect the village.

In May the Village Board established a Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and on Monday night the board appointed 11 members to the committee. The committee will make recommendations to village officials regarding where additional bike and pedestrian thoroughfares are needed, explore potential grant or funding options and perform other tasks associated with promoting more bicycle and pedestrian traffic in Barrington.

“Since I’ve been on the board there’s been a lot of continuing and escalating interest in the bike and pedestrian committee,” said Trustee Beth Raseman. “I was really glad to see that this finally came to fruition.”

The 11 committee members appointed include: Chairman Joel Gray, Vice Chairman Robert Colvin, Matt Blue, Bob Lee, Scott Magnum, David DeGrazia, Richard Ehrle, Ted Thome, Ann Behling, Gerry Sansone and Joe Eborhardt.

“We’re thankful for those who stepped forward and are grateful for those who want to serve,” said Village President Karen Darch.

Village Board members interviewed residents interested in being committee members on June 27. In addition to the 11 committee members will be two non-voting positions for a representative from the Barrington Park District and Barrington Community Unit School District 220, according to village documents.

Also, the Village Board approved a lease with Verizon Wireless to allow the data company to place a cellular antenna on the Manchester Water Tower.

The 10-year lease would include a $40,000 initial payment from Verizon and would net the village $63,900 per year through November 2013, $73,800 per year through November 2018, and the lease payments would continue to increase every five years should the lease be renewed. The lease payments would also increase if additional cell phone carriers lease space on the Verizon antenna.

Verizon would also undertake the expense of making several improvements to the water tower, according to village documents.