Kristy Grau: 2025 candidate for Lisle village board

Bio

Office Sought: Lisle village board (Vote for 3)

City: Lisle

Age: 47

Occupation: Elementary school teacher

Previous offices held: Lisle Village Clerk (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?

The most serious issue that the village of Lisle faces is the lack of development in our downtown. The blighted strip mall on the corner of Ogden and Main is a daily reminder of our failure to get development going and attract visitors to our village. The people of Lisle are fed up. It is the number one issue that I hear about. The board must work together to get some momentum and movement on this site. Unnecessary vetoes by the current mayor, only cause delays and deter future developers from building in Lisle.

Another serious issue is the lack of a permanent chief of police. It has been over one year since we have had a permanent chief leading our police department and over six months since we have been down a deputy chief. This is unacceptable. The village conducted an extensive search to recruit and interview highly qualified candidates and still came up short. The men and women of the Lisle Police Department deserve proper leadership and higher morale within the department.

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?

The state of finances in the village of Lisle continues to be strong. Our public works department should continue to deliver excellent municipal services that residents have come to expect such as branch and leaf pick up. Also, making sure our police department is supported and fully staffed is a priority to me. This is a safety issue and affects all residents of Lisle.

We should continue to invest in our stormwater master plan making improvements where necessary. And investing in our downtown is paramount to fostering the growth that we need and desire as a community.

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 need for reconstruction of Burlington Avenue between Yackley and Route 53 has been an area identified by our public works department. This project will include street resurfacing, concrete curb installation, water main, storm sewer, and sidewalk improvements and installation on both sides of the street. This project will be paid for in part with a federal Surface Transportation Program grant.

This project will not only increase pedestrian safety along this highly traveled road, but will also include storm sewer improvements to better address the needs of the flood plain located in this area. It will also act as an improved gateway into our downtown.

In addition to this project, the village entered into a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Lisle Levee Elevation Project. Under the PPA, the Army Corps of Engineers will pay 65% of the project costs. This project is long overdue and I will work to see it come to fruition.

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.

Throughout my professional life, I have worked across many different fields: from a researcher for a television show, to a criminal intelligence analyst for the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), to an elementary school teacher. I am also a mother, wife, neighbor, and elected official.

Effective communication and collaboration is key no matter what role you are serving in. One thing I have learned is that no matter who you are communicating with, be it a celebrity, police officer, first-grader or a constituent, is that the other person must feel heard and validated in their communication. Once you bring an approach of collaboration and understanding to the communication, compromises and action plans more easily follow.

I believe in a marketplace of ideas, where all voices are heard before consensus and direction are given. It is through listening and discussion that we can understand different perspectives and come up with the best policy to move our community forward.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Back on April 18, 2013, my family, including two toddlers and a puppy, were rescued by boat from our home as a result of the 100-year flood that happened that day. We were displaced from our home for the next six weeks and unsure of what our losses were. As a result of that event, I have spent the past 12 years invested in Lisle government, be it as a concerned citizen or elected village clerk.

Flooding in Lisle was the main issue that drove me early on. But as I continued to learn about the village and how it operates, I started to see how lack of development is hindering us and making us less competitive with the surrounding communities.

Property taxes are high, and we need to offset those with successful development. I have the drive and temperament to work with others to get the job done. We need leaders who are pro development, pro safety and pro community in order to create a thriving village. I am that leader and would value the opportunity to serve you as a village trustee.

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

Community events! While I may not be the only one talking about this, Lisle desperately needs more community events. The yearly Eyes to the Skies festival that was held in Lisle disbanded several years ago leaving a huge hole in our summer calendars. We need something to bring community members together to gather and celebrate much like Eyes to the Skies did.

These types of events cater to Lisle’s small town charm, bringing people together for fun community building. Whether it be a carnival, concerts, art exhibits or community projects, Lisle is missing out on opportunities for community members to connect with one another.