February, was “never to have the city take it over simply for the sake of taking it over,” Coyne said.

“The point of it was to reduce the size of government and save money,” he said.

Officials say the consolidation would achieve savings by codifying an agreement the road districts formed in August. Stan Wojtasiak, Naperville Township highway commissioner, says the idea is “a no-brainer” based on economics of a potentially lower tax levy.

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” he said. “I’m very supportive of it.”

For $275,000 over a 10½-month period, the Lisle Township road district has been conducting brush and leaf collection, tree treatments, mowing, mosquito abatement, storm sewer and road maintenance, and snow plowing for both road districts, covering roughly 70 miles. Two equipment operators formerly employed by the Naperville road district have begun reporting to work at the Lisle Township garage. Wojtasiak said that would continue if the two districts were to merge.

Questions about how such a consolidation would work have Lisle Township Supervisor Rick Tarulis “not getting on board yet.” He said he questions whether there would be savings for all taxpayers in both townships, or if some would see a higher rate. He also questions how the consolidated road district would be governed, who would handle its finances and its caucuses to choose future candidates, and who would pay the combined road district’s highway commissioner.

“I’m not objecting and not supporting,” Tarulis said. “I just don’t know enough.”

Wojtasiak acknowledged there will be plenty of details to sort through but said none of them are deal-breakers.

The move to let voters decide the fate of the road districts took a step forward when Ossyra and Coyne presented 220 signatures on petitions to get the consolidation question on the April ballot. Their attorney, Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, said only 50 signatures are required by law.

Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, DuPage County Board member and former Naperville Township Trustee Janice Anderson, Aurora Alderman Rick Mervine, state Rep. Grant Wehrli of Naperville and state Sen. Michael Connelly of Lisle helped circulate petitions.

A hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 9 in courtroom 2007 to hear any potential objections to the placement of the consolidation question on the ballot. The hearing comes before the Jan. 26 deadline for referendums to be certified.

“It’s a great step forward,” Ossyra said, “to try to bring these two road districts together in what will be a multiyear process.”