West Dundee cancels Night Out event

The financial impact of the closure of West Dundee’s Best Buy has trickled down to the police department, which due to budget cuts will cancel this year’s Night Out Against Crime event.

The annual National Night Out Against Crime is the first Tuesday of August each year. Its goal is to reduce crime and promote a police and community partnership. West Dundee has held festivities for the past five years.

The West Dundee event cost $8,000 and only lasted two hours, Sgt. Steve Fletter said. “That was a one-day event but it took a lot of planning,” he said.

The National Night Out program is a free program, but communities try to bring in extra activities to attract more people to the event.

After the Best Buy closed, the village had to amend the budget to cover losses in sales taxes. It was the village’s largest sales tax producer.

The police department’s budget decreased nearly $30,000.

West Dundee provided entertainment, such as a petting zoo and disc jockey, to amp up the fun, but it was time to prioritize where limited funding would go, Fletter said.

Department leaders felt it would be better to focus on the other events held for the community, Fletter said. “We’re still doing more, just with less,” he said. Members of the force raise funds and volunteer for the Special Olympics each year and stand outside the Jewel store to collect change, Fletter said. Fletter’s favorite is the Shop with a Cop event.

Last year, West Dundee and five other towns took 110 kids shopping with a $75 check. “That one is really near and dear to my heart,” Fletter said.

As for the Night Out event, Fletter thinks it will come back in the future when it is more cost efficient.