Northwest suburban mayors look ahead to 2016
From new places to eat and shop to community anniversaries, infrastructure upgrades and a new sports franchise, there's a lot to look forward in 2016 for the leaders of Northwest suburban communities. We asked your mayors to look into their crystal balls and tell us what they see in the year ahead.
Thomas Hayes, Arlington Heights
In 2016, we look forward to working together with all of our community partners to further enhance the quality of life we enjoy in Arlington Heights. A major focus of the village board and staff will be long-term infrastructure investment highlighted by a 47 percent increase in road improvement funding, the completion of villagewide flood control studies and recommendations, and continued progress toward the construction of a new police station that will meet the needs of both our police department and our community for many decades to come.
Karen Darch, Barrington
Some needed infrastructure improvements and perennial attention to legislation will keep Barrington busy as we begin our next 150 years. On a more exciting note, Barrington should continue to see more new business in town as well as new residential development. Our busy event calendar will expand even further as the new Barrington White House cultural venue enjoys greater use. All of this will be keeping Barrington a great place to live, work and play in 2016!
Martin J. McLaughlin, Barrington Hills
Looking forward to 2016, I am excited about the additional efficiencies that we will be able to implement in our local government to the benefit of our residents and taxpayers. I am also looking forward to continuing to highlight the unique benefits, freedoms, and opportunities that open space, country living affords Barrington Hills residents and future residents who might be considering moving to our community.
Kevin Wallace, Bartlett
In 2016, I am looking forward to determining the long-term potable water supply for the community. This is a decision that will impact our community and its residents for decades.
Beverly Sussman, Buffalo Grove
2016 is fast approaching. It is important to advance our economic development through the pursuit of new businesses and developments, diversifying our revenue streams and seeing growth in our sales tax revenue. Hopefully, when the state budget is passed, there will be no revenue cuts to the municipalities. We will launch the Lake-Cook Road corridor study and issue bonds to complete the resurfacing/reconstruction of nine-plus miles of streets. The Buffalo Grove Days Festival will be moving to Mike Rylko Park. It will be exciting to see the changes and experience this signature event in 2016.
Matt Bogusz, Des Plaines
Families throughout the Northwest suburbs face rising costs at every turn. Our city is no different, but we've taken steps to dramatically reduce our city's overhead while alleviating the burden placed on Des Plaines families. For the last two years, we have worked to architect a long-term deal to draw water from an alternative water source made possible by the Northwest Water Commission. This strategic initiative will allow Des Plaines to avoid the crushing water rate increases passed on from the city of Chicago. Once complete in 2016, we project Des Plaines residents and businesses will save approximately $10,000 in water costs per day, or $3.6 million annually. This landmark deal is just plain common sense and is the definition of intergovernmental cooperation.
Craig Johnson, Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year. We have some really fun things planned, such as a Birthday Celebration concert featuring Foreigner along with a special family-oriented birthday celebration with the Library and Park District, both taking place on July 17, 2016. Castle Chevrolet has donated a 2016 Camaro to be raffled off, with the funds raised going to Elk Grove Village-based service groups, and in September we will host an Oktoberfest. Aside from the village's birthday celebration, we are also looking forward to the completion of several large developments. Atlas Toyota Material Handling, which sells Bobcats and Toyota forklifts, will be the first business to open that was able to take advantage of the Busse/Elmhurst TIF District. In addition, we are looking forward to MC Machinery Systems (Mitsubishi Corporation) opening their new North American corporate headquarters and showroom.
Rod Craig, Hanover Park
Coming in 2016, the village of Hanover Park will be bringing web-based access to water bills online. The added service will allow residents and businesses access to their current and past water bills, view water consumption, and pay their bill conveniently through the same village website. Our fleet services will be putting into service a new rehab vehicle and a new fire pumper this coming calendar year. These investments will improve our fire department's operation and provide assistance to the MABAS Division. The rehab of Hanover Square will continue to evolve into an intergovernmental relationship, while we are hopeful to get an application for a senior housing development coming soon to the old Menards site on Irving Park Road. Finally, we expect completion of the road study to assist the village decision making process as we prioritize replacements.
Bill McLeod, Hoffman Estates
Next year, the Sears Centre will focus its attention upon welcoming the Chicago Bulls to our community and prepare for family-friendly games as we watch future NBA players compete. The village's 59-90 Entertainment District continues to develop with Main Event, a family entertainment center, and the first ground-up Duluth Trading Company store - both across the street from the Sears Centre Arena and Cabela's. These new regional attractions join our other options for entertainment, retail and hospitality adjacent to the Route 59/Jane Addams Tollway interchange. The entertainment district website (www.59-90.com) has details about its many shopping, dining and entertainment options.
Kevin Richardson, Lake Barrington
2016 will see the construction of a new Speedway Service Station on Route 14. In addition, the village will construct a sidewalk along Pepper Road to serve residents and businesses and encourage continued retail and commercial development. Successful residential development is expected following the recent purchase of the Tallgrass housing development by Taylor Morison Homes, a national homebuilding company. Similarly, we expect continued growth in the Enclave subdivision. The village will also begin an effort to update our Comprehensive Plan during 2016.
Angie Underwood, Long Grove
In 2016, I am most looking forward to accomplishing an update to our village's comprehensive plan, which has not been done since 2000. This process will take the better part of the year and will engage the community in a series of open houses and stakeholder sessions to gather residents' opinions on how Long Grove should best plan for the years ahead. We will be reviewing residential zoning, commercial and economic development opportunities, and the potential changes that controversial issues such as multifamily housing, covered bridge replacement, and the Route 53 extension may bring to our community. We have taken the first step in this process by conducting a villagewide survey this past summer, and have hired a consulting firm to guide us through this major update.
Arlene Juracek, Mount Prospect
The challenge for 2016 will be the uncertainty created by the gridlock in Springfield that threatens to hold village funds hostage. For that reason, we have adopted a five-step contingency plan that will assist in adapting to potential outcomes in Springfield. Bolstered by the robust business outlook in the village, I am looking forward to building on the strong foundation we have created in our budgeting and planning process to meet our residents' service needs in a fiscally responsible way. On a lighter note, we will begin our Centennial Celebration in mid-2016, and I invite everyone to join in the fun as we approach our 100th birthday on Feb. 3, 2017!
Jim Schwantz, Palatine
The village of Palatine is excited to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2016, and we will be working with several community groups and other governmental agencies to celebrate our history. In addition, the renovated village hall is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2016. When completed, the variety of improvements to the village hall will not only provide for more efficient operations, but will optimally serve our residents, businesses and customers.
Tom Rooney, Rolling Meadows
In 2016, we're looking forward to the work of new owners at the Wal-Mart/Sam's property and the old Dominick's, as well as the openings of Bull Dog Ale House and Comet's.
Bradley Stephens, Rosemont
The village of Rosemont is anxious to begin another great development project in the Balmoral and I-294 area of our community. There will be spring groundbreakings on a 150-room hotel, and a new 45,000-square-foot headquarters office building for Koch Foods. Additionally, Buddy Valastro, the famed “Cake Boss,” will break ground on an exciting new restaurant and bakery, while we are working to finalize two more restaurant/retail buildings and an additional 60,000-square-foot office building. Projected opening is summer of 2017 for the entire development.
Al Larson, Schaumburg
I look forward to a 2016 filled with bird song and the cheers of grateful baseball fans celebrating the Cubs as they win the pennant and triumph in the World Series.
Paula McCombie, South Barrington
Our major goals for 2016 are to complete the update on our Comprehensive Plan, finish our Emergency Management Plan, and reduce village real estate taxes.
Dean Argiris, Wheeling
What I'm most looking forward to in 2016 is making more headway on the transformation of the Dundee Road corridor, which will include major improvements to key intersections, the addition of new streetlights, and significant progress toward breaking ground on the transit-oriented mixed-use development at Wheeling Town Center. Our village is fortunate to have a dedicated board of trustees committed to guiding growth and making policy in a manner that serves the long-term interests of the entire community, and I look forward to continuing to work with them and other local and regional stakeholders to make Wheeling the best it can be.