Daniel John Grecco: 2025 candidate for Lisle village board

Bio

Office sought: Lisle village board (Vote for 3)

City: Lisle

Age: 58

Occupation: Civil engineer

Previous offices held: Lisle village board trustee 2021-25

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?

Vision drift: We need to keep focus on our core principles and services of police, public works, and building/management oversight. That way our municipal taxes can continue to be lowered as it has for the past 7 of the past 8 years.

Sustainable planning for flooding events is part of this function, and I will continue to support those projects that increase our resilience. More on the river levee to follow.

Promote quality development, including the Route 53 and Ogden Ave Corridors. The eyesore at Ogden and Main continues and has gone on too long. We do not own the property, unlike Marquee on Main where the village priorly owned Lisle School property site.

With a TIF agreement worth over $10 million and no requirements for proof of financing and filling the commercial spaces, the developer predictably terminated the redevelopment agreement himself, 2½ years wasted. If we had proceeded with imminent domain as I had originally suggested, we may have well had something accomplished by now.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Currently outstanding and is directly affected by board leadership. I alone cannot take credit. This is a result of initiatives started by Mayor Chris Pecak, enacted by the village board, and carried out by village staff.

Village residents also are a very large part of our successes, especially when shopping locally. Our sales tax used to fluctuate greatly but now it has been stable and steadily climbing. Ultimately the sales tax revenue has doubled, becoming the major source of income for the village above property taxes for the first time. We are envied by our neighboring communities throughout DuPage County.

Our restaurant grants, transparency with our full budget online, and our year after year award winning finance department all deserve credit assisting an abatement on taxes for 3 of 4 years that I served. No other sister Lisle government board can boast any tax rate lowering over the last four years. Who you elect has consequences.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

The river levee along the DuPage River. We are moving ahead with an intergovernmental agreement/grant with the Army Corps of Engineers for the repair of the existing levy. While it will not solve all our flooding problems, it will greatly increase our resiliency.

A new infrastructure project may be within the Oak View subdivision. I believe it to be unavoidable, as Illinois American Water continues unnecessary rate hikes. A 30% increase in their bill this year, on top of last year’s increase, is not sustainable, especially those on a fixed income. I would favor an Special Service Area funded by those directly affected and only oversighted by the village (a design/manage courtesy we should provide for all our citizens). I believe a well-structured SSA will be much less expensive for residents to install water main versus residents to continue to pay exorbitant fee rates.

All our village’s other existing infrastructure is very well maintained, so temporary cuts if an economic emergency could be made.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

We may not always agree, but it is imperative that each and everyone have their opportunity to express their opinions. There are five other trustees on the board, so that means I am actively listening most of the time. There is no right or wrong opinion, only a consensus that ultimately may be agreed upon. Robert’s Rule is the procedural protocol followed by villages for open meetings, per Illinois state statue. Whether a chair or participant, I have utilized these guidelines during other boards that I have belonged to, including those professional and nonprofit organizations.

During my experience as a project manager and professional civil engineer I always had open meetings/design charrettes with citizens. This was all conducted prior to public project advertising and hiring of a contractor, so that any concerns could prior be identified and ultimately addressed. Public communication and engagement to me is important, especially any petition that may be brought to the village.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

My 20-plus years’ experience primarily as a municipal servant and education/experience as a licensed Professional Civil Engineer of Illinois. I primarily served with public works Downers Grove, with opportunities also initiated with the police and building departments.

Prior to being elected a public official, my background included the implementation of G. I. S, creating plats, describing T.I.F. boundaries, serving as commission liaisons, preparing ordinances and budgets, designing and managing water main, sidewalk, stormwater utility installation.

Professionally I have designed and managed the installation of commercial and residential site plans, many with FEMA permitting including helping Lisle Lanes reopen. Born and raised in Lisle, I believe having a respectful demeanor/understanding with other trustees is critical toward our village’s successes. I would be glad to serve another 4 years, and I have greatly appreciated the opportunity Lisle voters have given me previously.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

Aggressive land acquisition along the East Branch of the DuPage River to create a linear park riverwalk. In conjunction with the almost completed pedestrian bridge over the river just south of Warrenville Road, we can now fulfill safe pedestrian connectivity between the Morton Arboretum, Community Park, and the downtown.

Also, during my first term with the village, our staff recently embarked on a rewriting of our zoning code, a first comprehensive rewrite in nearly 50 years. This effort eliminated one-third of the bulk of words to make our code much more efficient and concise. As a result, the village’s code is much friendlier for business and homeowners regarding permit application. 164 businesses opened in Lisle in 2024, with all permits initiated online. As a consideration, I would now gladly side with the repeal of any legacy antibusiness ordinances that may still be in effect. Using an AI search, previous board meeting minutes could identify potential language to be repealed.