Carpentersville candidates differ on economic development

Is Carpentersville a business-friendly town?

The answer depends on who you ask. Or more specifically, to which candidate for Carpentersville village president you pose the question.

While two of the three candidates say the village has had great success in attracting new businesses to town, challenger Jim Krenz argues otherwise.

Krenz, a Carpentersville business owner, said potential businesses have faltered because the village is slow and difficult to work with. A major fast-food chain pulled out of Carpentersville because of delays and roadblock, he said.

"One of my main challenges is to bring efficient and streamlined business-friendly processes with order and respect," Krenz said. "Because of the lack of cooperation, Carpentersville does not have a Burger King. It took 12 years to get Walgreens out on Randall Road. We need a business-friendly government."

Incumbent Village President Bill Sarto and Trustee Ed Ritter both say the village board and staff have worked in recent years to ease economic development processes.

For example, the village overhauled its building and zoning codes, as well as codes related to planned unit development, all designed to make moving a business into Carpentersville simpler, the candidates say.

"There are things here that businesses should look toward," Ritter said. "We are streamlining and have added some amazing business."

Those new businesses include Woodman's, Home Depot and the Fresh Market. Tractor Supply Co., is set to move into Meadowdale Mall.

While Sarto acknowledges previous missteps, he says recent changes and additions have benefitted the village.

"We now have two village planners and a community development director," Sarto said. "We have had problems in the past, but we have added productive staff and have made progress. We continue to make progress and the best is still ahead of us."