Wiedmeyer is Pingree Grove's new leader

If there is someone who knows full well that each vote counts, that's Steve Wiedmeyer, the village president-elect in Pingree Grove.

Wiedmeyer, a trustee for 19 years, received 312 votes, or just two more than incumbent Greg Marston, according to unofficial results for the April 7 election. Two years ago, Wiedmeyer eked out a victory in the trustee race by just one vote.

“It's one more (vote) than we got last time,” Wiedmeyer joked Tuesday. “We keep it close, I guess.”

There are no outstanding absentee ballots for Pingree Grove, where voter turnout was about 21.6 percent, said Kane County Director of Elections Suzanne Fahnestock. Election results are expected to be certified by the state April 28, she said.

In an email to the village board and staff members, Marston said that he was “heartened to know that the village is in the hands of capable leadership.”

“I have had the privilege of serving with Steve for almost eight years, and I have known him to be a tireless and dedicated public servant for the village,” Marston said.

Wiedmeyer, who likely will be sworn in at the first village board meeting in May, said his current focus is on finalizing the village's 2015-16 budget. The village board will hold a special budget meeting Wednesday; the fiscal year starts May 1.

Pingree Grove could face serious financial challenges if Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposed cut to municipalities' share of state income taxes takes effect, Wiedmeyer said.

That would amount to a loss of about $240,000; the village's general fund budget for 2015-16 was estimated at nearly $1.9 million earlier this month before department heads were asked to make cuts ahead of tonight's meeting, Finance Director Tom Walter said.

Fostering economic development is his long-term goal, Wiedmeyer said. The village is in the final stages of selecting an economic development consultant. “We don't need any more plans, ideas or designs,” he said. “We need action.”

One big positive is the Illinois Department of Transportation's ongoing work to improve the intersection of Routes 20, 47 and 72, which includes widening and adding turn lanes, Wiedmeyer said. The $5 million project started in September and is expected to be completed in November, according to IDOT's website. “A developer will look at that intersection much more favorably (after the work is done),” he said.

In the race for three trustee spots in Pingree Grove, incumbents Bernie Thomas, Bob Spieker and Brian Paszkiewicz were re-elected, also according to unofficial election results.