Lake County leaders look back at 2017

It's become an annual New Year's tradition at the Daily Herald to ask our community's mayors and village presidents to share their thoughts on their towns' successes of the past year. Here's what Lake County leaders had to say about 2017.

Larry Hanson, Antioch

We are very proud to have celebrated Antioch's 125th anniversary with a new street clock, including improved landscaping and hardscape at the northeast and southwest corners of Main and Orchard streets. We also had several new projects and businesses, including Lovin Ovens Cakery, and assisted with the publication of a commemorative book, "Past & Present" produced by the Lakes Region Historical Society for sale at village hall.

Karen Darch, Barrington

One particular success of 2017 which makes us proud to be in Barrington is the intergovernmental cooperative spirit in working for the public good exhibited in the village of Barrington and the Barrington Park District's "land swap" of Miller Park and Meinhard Park allowing the village to further address stormwater management issues and the park district to continue to provide excellent recreational opportunities for residents.

Beverly Sussman, Buffalo Grove

The village of Buffalo Grove experienced a tremendous 2017 with the groundbreaking for the new 242,000-square-foot Woodman's grocery store at Milwaukee and Deerfield, the grand opening of ThermFlo/Zonatherm Products and Knipex Tools, and expansions of existing businesses such as Connection and Burdeen's Jewelry. Buffalo Grove continues to strengthen its position as an economic hub in the Northwest suburbs with more than $62 million in new construction in 2017. We also focused on building our community for the future, embarking on the Lake-Cook Road Corridor Plan and Market Study. Working together, this project will result in a thoughtful and deliberate plan to benefit all of the residents of our community and develop our potential for a central gathering place. We celebrated building additions at several community facilities including additions to Aptakisic-Tripp Junior High School, additions to Stevenson High School and the stunning renovation of the Indian Trails Public Library.

Donny Schmit, Fox Lake

Here are some of our accomplishments in 2017: Implemented a five-year strategic plan, with more than 15 projects completed for 2017; established two business development districts for implementation beginning in January 2018; enhanced communication by establishing and implementing a new Village E-newsletter with more than 700 individuals signed up within the first six months; another successful growing season at the village of Fox Lake Community Garden with 10 additional beds for grant recipients through a partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank; five new police officers hired; joined the Way Out Program, and have had more than 10 individuals participate; provided more than 30 events and programs for the community; received the GFOA Budget Award for the fifth year in a row.

Rhett Taylor, Grayslake

In 2017, the village completed numerous projects, including adding curb and gutter to neighborhoods near the downtown, Grayslake Central and Woodview school. We also added parking to our downtown to support the growing businesses. The downtown area also saw continued work on cleaning the old gelatin factory site. The southern part of the town welcomed Okabe. They are an auto parts manufacturer and will open in 2018. Butera moved into the eastern part of town and partnered with the village to refurbish an old shopping center. The Washington Street underpass project was completed and the village added bike paths along Washington to further connect the eastern and western parts of town. We obtained a federal grant of $1.35 million for additional improvements to Lake Street.

Bernard Wysocki, Green Oaks

The two most decorated 2017 accomplishments The village of Green Oaks is most proud of are our two completed and now open senior living communities. The Sheridan at Green Oaks Senior Living located at the southwest corner of Waukegan and Atkinson roads, formerly known as the Hilltop property, in addition to The Green Oaks Commons Commercial Center, also located on the property of The Sheridan at Green Oaks Senior Living. The Green Oaks Senior Living located 14595 West Rockland Road at Route 176 and the tollway, formerly known as Jamaican Gardens.

Kevin Richardson, Lake Barrington

The year 2017 saw four important accomplishments in Lake Barrington. First, the recent opening of the new Speedway Café at the corner of Route 14 and Kelsey Road represents an important economic addition to our community. This wonderful new facility will provide a variety of valuable services and amenities to our residents and those of nearby communities. In addition, it will provide a substantial economic contribution to both the village of Lake Barrington and to area schools through its generation of significant new levels of sales and property taxes. Second, and for the fourth year in a row, we passed an annual tax levy ordinance that reflects a freeze in the village's property tax levy while simultaneously continuing to successfully provide the important day-to-day services that our residents deserve. Third, the plan commission and board of trustees completed the update of our Comprehensive Plan. We look forward to having the board officially approve the new comp plan at our February 2018 regular meeting. Finally, we successfully recruited a new village administrator with deep roots in the community and exceptional professional experience in key areas of municipal management.

Jim McDonald, Lake Villa

The village of Lake Villa recently initiated a Tax Increment Financing district to stimulate economic development in and around the village's business district. In 2017, the village began to see progress in the business district. First, the village, using local funds and grant funds, began the streetscape project on Cedar Avenue. These improvements cover around 30 percent of the total improvements necessary for the entire area. The village also initiated its first TIF agreement to bring Timothy O'Tooles restaurant to Lake Villa. There are several other developments in the planning stages for 2018.

Tom Poynton, Lake Zurich

Over the past year, the village of Lake Zurich has made substantial progress in the implementation of its strategic plan. We have been able to keep municipal services high, boost general fund financial reserves, make smarter plans for long-term capital infrastructure funding and increased the organizational efficiency of local government. All of this while maintaining a AAA long-term bond rating, something that is achieved by less than 3 percent of Illinois municipal governments.

Terry Weppler, Libertyville

Libertyville has a lot to be proud of for our accomplishments during 2017. Our new parking garage opened this summer, providing parking for everyone coming to the vibrant downtown. New businesses opened throughout the village in 2017, including Mainstreet Social joining the diverse choice of restaurants in the downtown. The village appointed the first Fine Arts Commission this past year to promote the performing and visual arts throughout the community. The new hockey rink has also officially opened this year. I'm also very proud of the way our village residents and employees reacted to the flooding in July and August to help our residents recover as quickly as possible. The flooding was devastating to a number of our residents, but our residents and employees did a great job of helping get the community back to normal in a short period of time.

Liz Brandt, Lincolnshire

I am most proud of Lincolnshire's strong financial condition, which includes a balanced budget, maintaining three-fourths of a year's operating expenses on hand, little to no debt and completing/paying for all scheduled capital improvement projects. Additionally, we have kept our relatively low 2.41 percent property tax rate the same for the past six years which is collected solely for public safety/police pensions that are funded at almost 90 percent. This is a significant achievement when compared to most other municipalities and the dire fiscal situation of the state of Illinois.

Dominic Marturano, Lindenhurst

Easy - completion of our Lake Michigan water project! We began receiving Lake Michigan water on Nov. 28. Many years of analysis, planning, and construction to make this happen - ahead of schedule and under budget. Lindenhurst now has a sustainable, high-quality water source for many years to come.

Casey Urlacher, Mettawa

I am proud of a several accomplishments for 2017. We maintained our corporate tax levy in the same amount for the 19th consecutive year. Our Zoning Commission completed a yearlong study of the entire zoning ordinance and made many important recommendations.

Steve Lentz, Mundelein

The village of Mundelein continues to be focused on economic development initiatives and pursuing downtown redevelopment opportunities. As such, Mundelein adopted its Downtown North Implementation Plan - a strategic document that addresses the unique opportunities within the area described in the document as "Downtown North." Additionally, Mundelein launched its North Lake Enhancement Project to enhance the Lake Street corridor in the downtown area. There are 10 parcels and 10 property owners in the project area, most of whom have expressed interest in implementing the projects outlined in the plan. In terms of increasing density, we're very proud of several new housing developments including: Maple Hill-63 units; Lake Ridge Townhomes - 50 total, 33 remaining acquired by DR Horton to construct; Orchard Meadows - 3 of 77 homes left to sell; Proposed Cardinal Square D1 and D2 (90 units-each building).

Dan MacGillis, Round Lake

In 2017, the village completed a staffing analysis study to review how services were deployed in the community. In order to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of municipal services, the village restructured several positions and approved a new director of economic and community development. I'm also very proud of our community outreach efforts. In the last year, subscription to the village newsletter has increased 50 percent, with an average open rate of 70 percent.

Richard Hill, Round Lake Beach

In 2017, we aggressively went after dilapidated homes with grant funding. We purchased them and demolished them. This took many eyesores out of our neighborhoods.

Linda Lucassen, Round Lake Park

This was the third year of Round Lake Park's Building & Zoning Department's annual rental inspection program and it was the best year to date in terms of owner/tenant participation. Added to the program was the Crime Free Exemption, which rewards owners who have been in good standing for two consecutive years, and this too was very well received with high participation.

Gary Beggan, Third Lake

The village began construction of the Third Lake Dam replacement, which will help control water levels on both Third Lake and Druce Lake. The new dam will use new improved mechanisms that will provide increased control over high water events. The increased control will avoid and/or minimize shoreline erosion caused by high water situations and fluctuating water lines in Third and Druce lakes.

Roger Byrne, Vernon Hills

We had the groundbreaking and build out of the Menard's site. We began work on the Melody Farm project and that's going to be completed next year.