Sound off on streets in need of repair

Fiscal woes came to a head in Lake Zurich during 2008. Due to lack of sufficient funds, the village canceled the 2008 Street Maintenance Program. Like the economy, our village streets continue to deteriorate, many beyond their useful life.

Fortunately, President Obama's economic stimulus package provides the opportunity for local government to invest in infrastructure, including road improvements. However, local municipalities need to have ready-to-go, on-the-shelf projects in order to qualify for the federal funds.

Unfortunately, as indicated at Monday's Lake Zurich village board committee meeting, the only project closely resembling a ready-to-go, on-the-shelf program, is the tabled 2008 Street Maintenance Program. The village needs your help!

Please take the opportunity to contact the Village Administrator Bob Vitas and Public Works Director Dave Heyden with your ideas for road, sewer and water improvements in Lake Zurich.

To start the list, conversations with neighbors and residents have indicated the addition of curbs, storm sewers and roadway surface improvements in the Zurich Heights and Oakwood neighborhoods are a much-needed improvement for some of Lake Zurich's oldest neighborhoods.

We must act quickly to communicate these important projects to village staff for consideration with our federal officials. Furthermore, the speed required to qualify for these crucial federal funds demonstrates the need for a comprehensive, prioritized infrastructure improvement program for Lake Zurich.

With resident input, a strong, well-planned infrastructure program will serve to maintain and improve our community. Let's start with your ideas to improve our village infrastructure. With your input, I'm confident we can bring the economic stimulus package home!

Jonathan Sprawka

Lake Zurich