St. Charles looking to win municipal beauty contest

St. Charles officials will hold a mirror up to the city this July and ask who is the fairest one of all. Winning that title would mean delivering a poison apple to the current, four-time winner of a contest for cities of between 24,001 and 50,000 residents.

Alderman Maureen Lewis and Mayor Ray Rogina's wife, Diane, announced plans Monday night to enter a contest sponsored and judged by America in Bloom, an Ohio-based not-for profit that promotes community beautification and involvement by awarding communities for their use of flowers, plants, trees, art projects and other enhancements.

Holland, Michigan, is the reigning champion for cities in the population category St. Charles falls in. It has won the title for the past four years and is the host city for the 2015 awards.

Diane Rogina told aldermen the contest involves forming a community group to gather information for a submission packet. It would contain information about and pictures of all the city's special offerings, community gatherings, history and natural areas.

Then a team of two judges will come to the city for a tour of highlighted areas in July. It will cost $1,099 to register the city for the contest.

Lewis said local organizations, such as the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, convention and visitors bureau and park district, are already on board.

“We've got 100 percent enthusiasm for wanting to participate in this,” Lewis said. “We're not asking anyone to do anything new. We're just asking them to give us information about what they already have in place. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I don't know where you can get consultants to come in for a thousand dollars to say what looks good and what needs improvement.”

Mayor Rogina said that's the most appealing aspect of participating in the contest.

“It gives us an opportunity to evaluate ourselves against towns of like size,” Rogina said. “We all think this city has a lot to show off.”

The city also has a secret weapon. Sue Amantangelo is a longtime member of the city's plan commission. She's also served as a judge for the competition in the past, Rogina said. Officials may need her input.