Addison mayor praises village’s belt-tightening

Tough belt-tightening helped spur economic development in Addison over the past year, Village President Larry Hartwig said Thursday.

Hartwig delivered his State of the Village address to the Addison Chamber of Commerce, following a similar speech for residents Wednesday at village hall.

Outlining cutbacks Addison made to fill last year’s $2 million budget deficit and late revenue payments from the state, he also shared how those reductions aided progress.

Addison enacted a hiring freeze in recent years, leaving positions open that resulted from attrition and early retirement programs. It also cut several events, including the July 4 fireworks show.

“We were forced to make pretty tough decisions to balance the budget and live within those revenues,” Hartwig said.

But the community benefited as a result, he said, with no new taxes, a high bond rating for the village and a well-maintained infrastructure.

Last year, workers replaced a large 83-year-old water main near Army Trail and Mill roads for $3.8 million (with nearly half funded by a grant) and resurfaced roads in the Friar’s Cove and Golden Gate neighborhoods for $1 million.

This year, major widening and improvements are scheduled on Rohlwing Road north of Army Trail.

“We’re trying not to just kick the can down the road and leave (projects) to somebody when they really get bad,” Hartwig said.

He also hailed several intergovernmental agreements that created new community assets, such as Addison’s $2.9 million purchase of the former Driscoll Catholic High School site that will now become athletic fields for Addison Trail High School. DuPage High School District 88 maintains the property in return for use.

A similar deal includes District 88 agreeing to house the Addison Center for the Arts at Addison Trail, as the district finished its $115 million renovations program.

Hartwig also noted Addison School District 4 struck an accord with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare to share Indian Trail School’s water retention in exchange for improving the area for school activities. The hospital’s $27 million health care center will open this year.

“I think (these are) examples of how we have to do business, sitting down and working together,” Hartwig said.

Other community improvements last year included investments by commercial businesses to upgrade their stores, including a $2 million renovation of the Jewel on Lake Street and a $3.6 million expansion of Walmart on Rohlwing.

Hartwig also noted Addison is working with developers to fill vacant sites like the former Denny’s, Fuddruckers and Dominick’s, although no solid offers have been made.

Addison’s long-running Town Center plan is being amended this year, too.

“We have to re-evaluate the plan because the economy dictated it,” Hartwig said. “It was originally designed around condo development and higher-density housing. But there is still an over supply of condos in the area, and not just in Addison.”

But as part of the project, a 210-unit senior housing development is in the works on four acres on Addison’s northeast side, which will provide supportive care and independent living.

To keep Addison moving ahead and responsive to changing demographics, the village is launching a new Unity Task Force, Hartwig said. The program will offer presentations to schools, English classes and more. He added that current census results are expected to reveal Addison’s population is 35 percent to 40 percent Hispanic.

“We need to find ways to integrate them into the life of our community ... and help people recognize the value of a diverse community,” Hartwig said. “If we’re going to move forward, we’re going to move forward together.”