Algonquin gets clean, green bill of health

Nice, clean and green were the buzz words at Algonquin's Committee of the Whole Meeting Tuesday Night.

A presentation from Auditors McGladrey and Pullen revealed another clean audit for the village.

"A clean audit is the best type of audit you can get," said

Linda Abernathy, spokesman for the firm. Algonquin's net assets increased by $1.9 million during the fiscal year ending April 30, 2007. Additionally, the village spent approximately $1 million less than was budgeted. "This means the budget was three times what you expected it to be," Abernathy told trustees.

Village Manager William Ganek noted that in the last three years, the village's audit has been given a certificate of achievement for excellence by the Government Finance Officers Association.

"We expect (another clean audit) will recognize us for a fourth year," he said.

The committee also made a motion to consider a resolution endorsing the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Greenest Region Compact. The program encourages recycling, water and energy conservation in Algonquin and its surrounding communities.

"This is not something we have to gear up for -- many of the initiatives called for we're already doing," Ganek said, noting Algonquin's many green-minded efforts such as tree planting programs, the use of biofuels and alternative energy sources.

"We're hoping to take the lead, and possibly use our public works facilities to store compact fluorescent bulbs, which would be a distribution site for communities in the area."