Villa Park working on first impression

Straightening out zoning issues, marketing and luring more business development into Villa Park continue to be among the top priorities for village leaders.

"That all stems from that little cube right next to us," said Village President Joyce Stupegia, pointing to the wall separating the village's cable TV hub from the smaller offices of the Department of Community Development.

With priorities leaning heavily toward bringing in new businesses and tax revenue -- especially as trustees noted in the wake of the closing Friday of Oakfield Ford, which previously brought in roughly $250,000 in tax revenue -- improving how Community Development does its work was one of several topics discussed during a special goal-setting village board meeting Monday.

"If we want to get the complete work out of that department, we have to improve their work conditions, and we have to do that quickly," Stupegia said.

Community Development's office long has been on the second floor of village hall, Village Manager Robert Niemann said.

"But it used to be three people," Niemann said.

Now, the department includes eight full-time employees and two part-time workers.

Cramped conditions in the office place would-be developers into the village's main meeting room during busy periods.

"It doesn't flow at all, and it's not a good image for us," Niemann said.

One possible long-term solution would be to move the community development office to an unmanned former fire station next door, but Niemann said, "We're looking at $300,000 to get this move from there to here." There wasn't a consensus by trustees if shifting office space to the building being used for vehicle storage was the best fix.

Trustee David Hegland asked if the community development could take advantage of available space in the newer public works facility across the street.

Niemann said it's not likely there would be enough space in that building to solve the current problem.

Converting part of the board meeting room to office space also was mentioned.

In the meantime, Stupegia volunteered to have her office, which also is occupied by the village clerk, to be used by the community development director to address privacy needs for meetings.

Though Niemann said he understood that gesture, the village president needs to have an office at village hall.

Still, Stupegia said improving some businesses' first impression of the village and the output of community development, must be a priority.