Lake Zurich trustee hopes to get more residents to volunteer talent to village
Pointing to the solid start of a new farmers market organized by volunteers, Lake Zurich Trustee Jim Beaudoin says he wants to make a push to tap into other residents willing to share their talents with the village.
Beaudoin said he wants to expand the opportunities for residents who want to share their talents in an effort to improve Lake Zurich.
Under his proposal, there would be creation of a youth advisory board, an industrial revitalization committee with downtown redevelopment as part of its work, and a special events committee. He said the proposed new panels are in the planning stage and he’d need support from his village board colleagues.
“It is my belief that the addition of these (advisory committees) will help our village to continue our quest to move forward and help to motivate residents to find something they have a passion for and get involved,” said Beaudoin, who championed the need for community involvement when he ran for the village board in April.
Lake Zurich already has announced it seeks residents interested volunteering to fill potential openings on current groups such as the plan commission, firefighters pension board, tree commission, zoning board of appeals and the community-police advisory committee.
A detailed appointment application is available on the village’s website.
Mayor Thomas Poynton gave a thumbs-up to the weekly Lake Zurich farmers market, which launched June 14 and runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays at Paulus Park through Sept. 27. Volunteers organized the new market, which Poynton said had a stellar first day with some vendors selling out of food.
In addition, the village stayed local when it sponsored a contest that solicited farmers market logo designs from Lake Zurich High School students. At a recent village board meeting, Poynton presented a certificate of appreciation and a $100 check to logo contest winner Melissa Uhl of Hawthorn Woods.
“Miss Uhl’s creativity and artistic energy has resulted in a fresh brand for a revamped village farmers market,” Poynton said while reading the appreciation certificate.
Beaudoin said the farmers market is an example of how “great things can happen” with more resident involvement.
If created, the industrial revitalization committee’s work would include recommendations to elected officials regarding Lake Zurich’s master plan and budget parameters for suggested improvements. Adults and young residents would be on the youth committee and charged with tasks such as coming up with awards or scholarships for outstanding community service or leadership.
Beaudoin said he’d want the volunteer special events committee to meet once a month, or more frequently if necessary. It would focus on planning, organizing, coordinating, assisting and promoting current and future village gatherings.
“I do not want to just wait for opportunities to come to us,” he said. “We have to go out every day and make things happen. Getting involved residents allows us to help do just that.”