Cary's mayor talks state of village

Cary Mayor Tom Kierna painted a grim, but hopeful picture of the village's future.

During his first-ever public address, held Wednesday at Wool Street Grill and Sports Bar before nearly 70 people, Kierna said the board plans on eliminating a part-time position within village hall, a move that would save at least $50,000.

During the current fiscal year, Cary received $3.2 million from the state - it is only expected to get $2.7 next year, Kierna said.

The dip in state funding has forced the board to make this decision and board members have not yet decided which department that staffer will come from.

"The general fund has already been cut to the bare bone," Kierna said. "It's the last resort."

Last year, the village reduced its staff by 12 - from 82 to 70 - and enacted other cost-cutting measures that combined, saved Cary more than $1 million, Kierna said.

They include outsourcing snow removal in the Metra parking lots and eliminating nonessential overtime.

"The only time we'll see overtime now is during a snow event," Kierna said.

Still, the lunch wasn't all doom and gloom.

Although development has all but stalled in the village, Kierna mentioned about a half dozen new businesses that planted their flags in Cary.

As well, a future retail development is planned for the Selcke Property, a pair of local churches are building additions and the Spectrum Retirement Community still plans on building senior housing in the village at Silver Lakes and Three Oaks roads.

Thanks to $5 million bonds from the federal government, Cary for the next few years will also embark on several road improvement projects.

On a more positive note, Kierna singled out the recent achievements at Cary Grove High School with its award-winning chess team and state champion volleyball and football teams that he says have helped improved local morale.

"They have truly energized the community and lifted our spirits during this economy," Kierna said.