Huntley village board candidates talk growth
Growing Huntley's tax base and attracting new businesses to the Route 47 corridor are among the goals outlined by four candidates vying for three seats on the Huntley village board.
On April 7, incumbents Niko Kanakaris and Harry Leopold will face challengers Darci Chandler and Tim Hoeft. “We need to look at corporations that are looking to expand,” said Chandler, 41, a political newcomer.
She said village officials should work to get a Holiday Inn-style hotel built to attract more companies.
“For the most part, Huntley kind of sells itself. Corporations see the value of moving here,” she added.
Officials in Huntley and neighboring Lake in the Hills already are courting hotel developers because of a growing demand from local businesses and new developments in the region.
Huntley has seen increased interest from hotel developers since completion of the Route 47/Interstate 90 full interchange, and work on the Centegra hospital and Weber Grills' distribution plant began.
Leopold, 78, who has served on the board for 12 years, said with the I-90/Route 47 interchange completed, it will serve as a natural draw for businesses to that area. With continued growth, Leopold said it is time for another special census to determine if the population has surpassed 25,000 residents, so that the village can get home-rule authority, which gives municipalities great taxing and lawmaking powers.
The last population count showed Huntley with 24,391 residents.
“There is a possibility of (establishing) utility tax,” he said, should the village become home rule. “We've had some pit bull dog attacks. When we are home rule, we can pass an ordinance against that.”
Leopold added one of his goals is to pursue getting Metra train service to town, now that Amtrak passenger rail service from Chicago to Rockford is expected to resume this fall with a stop in downtown Huntley.
Hoeft, 35, who served on the village zoning board and is a current planning commissioner, said there are vacant lots, such as a former driving range on the north side of town that has been closed for many years, that need to be filled.
“We still need that something special, besides our small town country (charm), that makes Huntley a destination,” he said. “You've got to make Huntley a place to live, work and play.”
Hoeft said residents would appreciate having a movie theater in town. Chandler added, she would like to see a video arcade and bowling alley as well. Kanakaris, 39, a trustee since 2007, said the village can increase the incentives it already offers companies for relocating to Huntley.
“(For) Wal-Mart, we rebated 50 percent of the sales tax,” he said. “We need to be different from neighboring communities.” All four candidates said they would consider working with neighboring communities to develop a regional comprehensive plan for zoning along the Route 47 corridor. “Change is going to come. Growth is going to come. We've got to make sure that we are controlling it,” Chandler said.