S. Elgin's new logo, slogan ready to go

After a yearlong contest, South Elgin leaders have a new logo and slogan for the village.

The earliest it will be revealed is at a June 2 village board meeting.

"We've chosen one and were in the process of getting one made that will be installed on the front of the dais for an unveiling," said Village Clerk Margo Gray, part of a six-member committee to evaluate designs.

Gray said 17 people submitted entries and several entered more than one option.

Most ideas were from South Elgin residents, but one even came from a woman who grew up in South Elgin and now lives in Wisconsin.

Gray said many new designs were very creative, but would be difficult to reproduce in a small image.

Gray said the new logo and slogan are more modern than the current montage of a trolley, fisherman and mill.

"It's way more contemporary. It was truly a cooperative effort," Gray said, noting committee members moved a few elements of the artist's original design. "I think the seal logo, although it depicts South Elgin, is old-fashioned looking. The new one is more modern and a look to the future logo."

After the unveiling, the logo will begin to appear on village business cards, water bills, village-issued checks and other items in the coming months.

Gray declined to identify the winners, but noted the logo design came from a South Elgin man and the motto came from a South Elgin woman.

Both will receive a $100 prize.

When the covering concealing the logo is pulled back, there shouldn't be any bad reactions from trustees or Village President Jim Hansen.

They were shown the design and logo months ago as a courtesy and they are OK with it, Gray said.

"It's very nice. I look forward to seeing it," Hansen said. "I like how the process was worked out, where it was citizens involved, some from other towns but mostly South Elgin residents, and using the talent we have in town."