Antioch seeks public input on vision for community

There have been focus groups and committee meetings but Antioch residents can have their say today on a vision for the future.

A community vision workshop beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Antioch High School, 1133 Main St., is the first public open house in a process that began several months ago.

“It's an opportunity for the community to tell us what aspect of the community is important. What increases your quality of life — or doesn't?” Village Administrator James Keim said.

The village board last year approved a strategic plan for Antioch. Deriving a community vision was among the initiatives. An ad hoc committee comprised of Keim and other village staff and community members has been brainstorming ideas and trying to narrow the focus.

At the workshop, visitors will break into groups to discuss various aspects of the potential vision, such as how natural resources fit into the bigger, long-range picture, for example.

“We take that data, compile it and look for common things,” said Cheryl Henning, a local Realtor and resident who heads committee. “The most important thing is we give the community a chance to be heard.”

Quality of life, safety, economic development are expected to be some of the topics. Keim said organizers hope for good participation.

“We're crafting a process to devise the vision from the community. We're not dictating the vision,” he said.

Public participation is a key step, according to Henning.

“It's not designed to be a complaining session. It's about what is the vision, what direction do we see them going on the next few years,” she said.

A public survey in February will give those who can't attend the vision session another opportunity to comment.

Keim said the goal is to have a vision document available by late winter for village board review. The vision also is intended to serve as a framework for village officials for future decisions.

“We want a vision that's unique to Antioch but also has action items,” he said.