Fox Valley mayors look ahead to 2016

From multimillion dollar community improvement projects to knee replacements, mayors in towns within the Fox Valley have plenty to look forward to in 2016. Here's what your town's leader says lies ahead in the new year:

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Carpentersville Village President Ed Ritter

The village of Carpentersville is well positioned to attract and meet the public infrastructure needs for both business and residential development for the foreseeable future. Over the past three years (2013-2015), the village spent about $12.7 million on roadway resurfacing/reconstruction projects - roughly 21 centerline miles of improvements. During this period, the village constructed more than $4 million worth of water and wastewater improvements.

Next spring the village expects to begin a $1 million renovation of Carpenters Park, with a $400,000 assistance from a state of Illinois' Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant. Carpenter's Creek flood control and water quality improvement project at a cost of $1.1 million dollars in conjunction with an Environmental Protection Agency 319 grant of $638,000 will be completed. This project will result in more than 40 properties no longer requiring flood insurance, as well as dramatically improving the water quality by reducing sediments and pollutants to the Fox River.

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Elburn Village President David Anderson

We are looking forward to the completion of a major update to our wastewater treatment plant. This is the first major construction project since the plant was constructed in the mid 1970s. When completed, the modernization will greatly improve safety and operation of the plant. We also are looking forward to growth in our business sector.

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Elgin Mayor David Kaptain

I have three primary goals for Elgin in 2016 to continue moving the city away from its reliance on state revenue sources. This will take years to achieve, but since reducing our city's revenues seems to be a consistent threat by the state, I want to take steps now to ensure we will be able to continue providing our residents with necessary services. Toward that goal, I want to position Elgin as the arts and entertainment center of the region. I want to expand our already amazing slate of entertainment venues, concerts, productions and events to attract a stronger regional audience and further Elgin's economy. The state's funding reductions have also had a devastating effect on human service agencies. I want to look at the funding of these agencies and how the city can help them to continue these critical services, whether it be through city grants or helping develop a centralized, regional office staff that our agencies can tap into to help reduce their employee costs.

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Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns

A successful community is one that is always evolving - responding to market trends in retail, housing, tourism, culture and so on. As Geneva looks ahead to 2016, we do so with passion and purpose for what may be and what we may become. Of particular interest on Geneva's horizon for 2016 will be the mixed-use developments in our downtown, growth along our eastern border, new retail stores, dining establishments and creative ways to fund the perpetuity of open space along our western boundaries. All these issues, and many more, will be discussed, not merely by elected and appointed officials, but by all who are vested in Geneva's future. Geneva is a community that is balanced and seeks to sustain its balance on the fulcrum of engagement with all stakeholders.

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Gilberts Village President Rick Zirk

The village of Gilberts is looking ahead to another year of sustained, manageable growth, reflecting the community's desirability as a place to buy a home, raise a family or start a business. Interstate Partners' Prairie Business Park at the intersection of Higgins and Tyrrell roads continues to develop ahead of schedule. Another industrial building will be completed in 2016 to provide a home for more businesses looking to relocate to or expand in Gilberts. The village also is looking forward to the start of the development's commercial phase, providing new opportunities for retail and service businesses to open in Gilberts. There is renewed interest in the last remaining housing units in Gilberts' successful Town Center development by Ryland Homes, and NVR/Ryan Homes looks to continue to build on a great first year in the resurgent Conservancy development at Galligan and Freeman roads. With a generous riverboat grant from Kane County, the village looks to continue to add amenities to Town Center Park, which has become a favorite destination for the area with its splash pad, playground and soccer and baseball fields.

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Hampshire Village President Jeffrey Magnussen

The village of Hampshire, along with our partner the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, will be focusing on economic development in the I-90/Route 47 and I-90/Route 20 areas. We will work to retain the companies currently located in the village and continue to seek businesses to open new locations in the village. We expect continued development along Route 72.

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Huntley Village President Charles Sass

Looking forward to the opening of Centegra Hospital-Huntley. Another piece in providing our residents with what I like to call a full service community. I need both knees replaced. Who knows? Maybe I'll be the first patient.

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North Aurora Village President Dale Berman

2016 will be an exciting year for North Aurora. New designed street signs, welcome monuments, banners, flags and community information display will be activated. All will include the new village logo. Plans exist for a new hotel, Hardware Restaurant, a 300-unit, gated rental community and a new community of 300, over age 55, homes. Very strong interest in new retail and commercial development continues.

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South Elgin Village President Steve Ward

In the coming year, South Elgin expects to complete major roadway and building projects, including connecting Bowes Road to Route 31, constructing a state-of-the-art public works facility, and beautifying the State Street bridge. Public services will continue to improve with the implementation of new financial software so residents may pay utility bills online and employees can work more efficiently. Exciting things are happening in South Elgin - and on behalf of the trustees I wish all of our residents, employees and businesses a happy and prosperous New Year.

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Sugar Grove Village President Sean Michels

The village is anticipating doing the improvements in the summer of 2016, including applying the final lift on the streets. Dunkin' Donuts, which was to be built on the east side of Route 47, will now find a new home on the west side of Route 47, north of Walgreens. The 6,000-square-foot building should be built the summer of 2016. In addition, we anticipate the 70-unit assisted living facility to begin construction at the corner of Division and Park. This will consist of 53 units for individuals needing assistance taking medication, feeding, and other daily routine items, and 17 units for memory care services. Residents also will notice a 20,000-square-foot addition to a commercial building in the Waubonsee Corporate Center. We may also see a new gas station and sports bar in this area as well. The Interstate 88/Route 47 interchange is slowly moving through the engineering process. This project is still in the phase I, of a three-phase process. Construction is not anticipated for a number of years still.

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West Dundee Mayor Christopher Nelson:

In 2016, the village of West Dundee will be continuing with the $40 million renovation of Spring Hill Mall, complete with a movie theater, new storefronts, and unique restaurants being added. Additionally, the community will be pressing ahead in its execution of the recently adopted Downtown Plan, with several parcels undergoing extensive redevelopment. West Dundee will also see the development or expansion of several office projects, most notably the construction of United Kingdom-based Renishaw's North American headquarters. On the administrative side, the village will continue its efforts toward a functional consolidation with neighboring fire departments in service of improving operational efficiency and enhancing the safety of residents and firefighters alike. We will also be partnering with Carpentersville and Kane County on an important and much-needed reconstruction of Huntley Road from Sleepy Hollow Drive east to Route 31.