Mayor Pecak says Lisle facing 'great future'

Since becoming mayor of Lisle less than a year ago, Christopher Pecak says the village has held the line on property taxes, improved transparency and positioned itself for redevelopment.

"We have a great future ahead of us," Pecak said Thursday after his first State of the Village address. "There's a lot of opportunity out there."

Pecak last April defeated longtime incumbent Joe Broda to become mayor. Last month, village trustees helped Pecak follow through on one of his campaign promises.

For the first time in Lisle's history, the board approved a flat property tax levy. The roughly $4.9 million levy is the same as it was the prior year.

An additional payment of $300,000 also will be made to the police pension fund to stabilize future levy amounts needed to finance the fund, officials said.

"We hear residents' concerns," Pecak said during Thursday's 43-minute speech. "We want you to know that we're acting upon them."

The new tax rate for the village will be available in the spring. Currently, the owner of a $300,000 house pays about $484 to the village.

"The village of Lisle is doing its part to hold the line on spending," Pecak said. "We hope our actions set an example for other taxing bodies to strive to be fiscally responsible with taxpayers' hard-earned money."

Lisle has maintained a bond rating of Aa1 - just one step below the highest grade - from Moody's Investors Service. Pecak said that's a reflection of the village's "sound finances," including six months of operating funds in reserve.

In terms of development, the village is continuing to work on a new downtown master plan.

Meanwhile, Naperville-based Marquette Companies is building a $50 million development with upscale apartments, restaurants and retail at Main Street and Burlington Avenue. The two multistory buildings are expected to be completed in summer 2019.

Pecak talked about the construction of Science of Spirituality Meditation Center's new facility along Naperville Road. He also highlighted the Ashton Place development that will bring 14 duplexes, 12 townhouses and a 3-acre park to Warrenville Road and Leask Lane.

"Permits have been issued for 17 of the ultimate 26 units," he said.

Pecak said prime sites for redevelopment include a shopping center at Main Street and Ogden Avenue and the former Lockformer plant at 711 Ogden Ave., which is clean after a lengthy environmental remediation.

He also announced that Volvo of Lisle has decided to remain in the village, which he called "a big win" for the town. The business is planning to remodel a former Infiniti car dealership near Route 53 and Warrenville Road and use it as a showroom, according to Pecak.

The mayor said a variety of new restaurants have opened in Lisle, including Apolis Greek Street Food, Art of Good Eating, Euro-Crepes, Next Whiskey Bar and Gran Agave, an upscale Mexican restaurant.

Lisle also welcomed several corporations, including Amita Health, which plans to bring 1,100 employees to the Navistar office campus along Warrenville Road.

To improve transparency, Pecak said the village board is streaming more meetings live on TV. Sessions are rebroadcast on a local access cable station at various times during the week.

"Becoming mayor has given me the great opportunity of actually trying to make a difference and give back," he said.