Mt. Prospect lays out next year's to-do list

The Mount Prospect board on Tuesday night outlined goals for the village in the coming year in a special workshop at village hall.

Wariness over the economy was a recurrent theme at the meeting, even though the village's fiscal state continues to be strong and the budget is balanced, village officials said.

"Unlike some other towns, we aren't in a mess - like TIF districts in the red," said Village Manager Michael Janonis.

The redevelopment of Randhurst Shopping Center was near the top of the list.

The project appears to be on track. With the redevelopment of the shopping center by Casto Lifestyle Properties into a lifestyle center with retail, restaurants, a hotel and theater, the board wants to keep a watchful eye on it.

"Everyone at Casto has been very positive and I'm hopeful on a tenant announcement soon, but that said, it hasn't happened yet," said Bill Cooney, the village's director of economic development.

Emergency preparedness was also on the list as the village hopes to build an emergency operating center. Crime and gang mitigation was listed an ongoing goal.

Another goal was to review the downtown development options. As the economy has struggled, financing for a project has been difficult to secure, officials said.

The board also wants to open a neighborhood resource center on the south side of the village this year.

The construction of Levy 37 along the Des Plaines River was another project on the to-do list. Village officials said the levy would protect 600 residents in Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect from flooding.

Additionally at the meeting, officials said it was unlikely the board would again consider red-light cameras this year. Last year, the board made the decision not put in cameras at red lights to catch violators like some towns have done.

"It's not the kind of thing to do when people are under stress (with the economy), so it was a good decision," Janonis said.