DEPUE — Though Princeton voters may still be discussing the pros and cons of home rule status for their city, one Bureau County village has been a home rule community for nearly four years, and things are going well, according to the village's mayor.

DePue Mayor Eric Bryant Sr. said DePue became a home rule community in November 2008 as a means to have "more clout" in the village's lawsuits against Exxon/Mobile and Viacom International /CBS for their lack of clean-up efforts at the old New Jersey smelting plant in DePue.

At that time, the judge told village officials DePue was at a disadvantage because it was not a home rule community, Bryant said. With the judge's comments and a recommendation from village attorneys in mind, the village council decided to put a home rule referendum on the November 2008 ballot. The DePue residents approved the referendum on a 400 to 128 vote.