Elgin's mayor is responsive

I recently had a pleasant experience with Elgin City government. My street, Wing Park Boulevard, is being renovated. Part of the renovation is the addition of an island parkway. The original plan presented to residents showed the island extending all the way to the intersection of Wing Park and Lawrence. It was on that basis that I voted yes to the project.

When construction of the island began, I noticed that the contractor had ended the island some 118 feet short of the intersection. This was definitely not per the original plan and also did not enhance the parkway appearance as much as the original plan did.

I wrote a letter to Mayor Shock explaining my dismay and suggested that the island be extended to within 68 feet of the intersection. I even included drawings to illustrate my point. The suggested change would look much better and would still allow sufficient space for snow plows and U turns.

I fully expected to hear nothing in response to my letter. Imagine my pleasant surprise when four days later, the mayor himself called me and said that my suggestion might be workable and thanked me for calling it to his attention.

The very next day the construction crew reappeared and modified the island, extending the island excavation exactly as I had suggested. I am now looking forward to the completion of the project.

I thank Mayor Shock for his quick response and for giving serious consideration to my suggestion. The lesson here is that if you have a suggestion that improves things, the mayor will listen and will take appropriate action.

Ernest B. Branch

Elgin