Voters To Weigh In On White Pines Sale

BENSENVILLE, IL — The Bensenville Park District board on Wednesday approved an advisory referendum on the sale of nearly half of White Pines Golf Club.

The club, which contains two 18-hole courses, is a few blocks north of Elmhurst's city limit.

Some opponents of the sale took the opportunity to voice their opposition during the public comment portion at the beginning of the meeting.

Resident Chuck Rizzo asked the district if it had done its due diligence in considering the negative impacts on the community the sale would have if the land was turned into an industrial park

Another resident, Bill Hibner, told the board that residents enjoy playing golf on the course and that it makes a profit for the park district. He then asked the board why it wanted to destroy that.

“We need to preserve the local history of over a hundred-year-old golf course and not destroy it for money,” Hibner told the board.

Hibner also showed the board current images of White Pines as well as renderings of how it would look like as an industrial park and told them to notice the differences.

Former board President John Wassinger urged the park district to make the referendum binding.

“Why take responsibility in making this decision?” Wassinger said. “Cut yourself some slack.”

Park district attorney Mary Dickson said the referendum could not be binding. Wassinger then questioned why.

After a moment of discussion, Wassinger proceeded to walk out of the meeting. He could be heard saying "b-------" as he was walking out. A park board member asked Wassinger to repeat what he said, which he did, joined by some opponents of the sale.

Dickson said after the meeting that in her legal opinion, the state election code only allows binding referendums for specific questions, such as for bonds and constitutional amendments. She believes the question of the sale is not specific enough.

The board voted unanimously to approve the advisory referendum, with Commissioner Greg Linder absent from the meeting. The board will still need to approve the wording of the referendum question.

Opponents of the sale also held a "Save White Pines" meeting on Wednesday at the Hideaway Café and Lounge, where residents had the chance to sign a petition urging the park district to hold a binding referendum.