Gurnee's 'listening to you'

Similar to how businesses seek consumer opinions on products, a focus group assembles today in Gurnee so residents can tell decision-makers what's important to them in the village.

The session runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KeyLime Cove Water Resort's conference center, just northeast of the Tri-State Tollway and Grand Avenue. It'll be the second such event in the past month.

Mayor Kristina Kovarik said she views residents as stockholders and customers, which is why their opinions and ideas are needed as the village forms a five-year strategic plan. She said her business experience fed her desire for the focus groups.

"Everybody says, 'Government doesn't listen to us,' " Kovarik said Friday. "Well, we're listening to you."

Last month's event attracted 50 or so residents to KeyLime Cove. Kovarik said ideas, such as village government becoming more environmentally conscious and creation of a viable downtown area, surfaced at the session moderated by an outside company.

Aurora-based Sikich LLP, an accounting and marketing firm, was hired by Gurnee to lead the focus group activity.

Sikich's director of governmental strategic planning and performance measures, Larry Maholland, and management analyst Megan Pierce will lead today's Gurnee event. Maholland is West suburban St. Charles' former city administrator; Pierce once coordinated that town's strategic planning process.

Kovarik said she expects residents' suggestions to become part of Gurnee's new strategic plan. She said ideas will be prioritized, with annual progress updates.