Lake Zurich touts strategic plan accomplishments
Lake Zurich's to-do list got a bit smaller after several goals were accomplished in the first year of a five-year strategic plan, according to report presented to the village board.
Assistant Village Manager Roy Witherow provided the five-year plan update to elected officials at a meeting Monday. Increased government transparency, boosting downtown and finding new revenue sources are among the first-year goals that have been accomplished in the strategic plan for 2014-19, Witherow said.
The village's attempt to boost online transparency was confirmed last month after it received a Sunshine Award from the Illinois Policy Institute, which requires a website audit score of 80 percent or higher for the kudos, he said. Lake Zurich now has "radical transparency" for public records, employee salaries, audits and expenditures, he said.
In an effort to collect more money, the village last year allowed eligible businesses to offer video gambling to patrons and increased ambulance fees by 25 percent for residents and 28½ percent for nonresidents. The village also resumed a 2.5 percent tax on monthly electric and natural gas bills starting in May 2014, that escalated to 5 percent in November.
Revitalizing downtown is among the development goals set by the village and significant steps were taken in the first year of the 2014-19 strategic plan, Witherow said.
Foxford Communities will produce a specific redevelopment plan for nearly 1½ acres owned by the village fronting Lake Zurich. Foxford tentatively wants to build 26 townhouses adjacent to a similar multifamily project northwest of Old Rand Road and Main Street.
In addition, Toll Brothers Inc. intends to submit a detailed plan to possibly construct a four-story building with condominiums and retail on another 2 acres owned by the village near Main and Old Rand.
"There's some exciting things going on (downtown)," Witherow said. "I think we see more energy and synergy there than we've seen in several years."
Not every first-year goal set by Lake Zurich's top administrators was accomplished. For example, the effort to gain home-rule status - something that would have allowed the village to impose new taxes and fees - was soundly rejected by voters in November.
Trustee Jeffrey Halen complimented the report presented by Witherow. He said he hopes such an update can be done twice a year.
"I think it was very impactful to see the report as one report, where you could go down and understand all of the accomplishments that we've really done in the past year," Halen said.