Denice Bocek: 2025 candidate for Buffalo Grove village board

Bio

Office Sought: Buffalo Grove village board (Vote for 3)

City: Buffalo Grove

Age: No answer given

Occupation: Real estate development/project management

Previous offices held: Buffalo Grove Trustee (2023-25)

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

The village of Buffalo Grove, like many communities nationwide, is grappling with rising costs. Addressing this challenge requires a focus on maintaining critical infrastructure and ensuring sustainable funding. Prioritizing capital investments is essential to meet ongoing infrastructure needs.

To achieve this, Buffalo Grove must continue diversifying revenue streams through economic development, efficient spending, securing grants, intergovernmental collaboration, and leveraging technology effectively.

For example, the Infrastructure Modernization Program (IMP) has been a cornerstone of the village’s strategy.

Additionally, measures like the approved water/sewer rate increases aim to fund long-term improvements without increasing property taxes. These strategies will help Buffalo Grove maintain and enhance service levels while navigating financial pressures.

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 village of Buffalo Grove has a AAA Bond rating (S&P) and a strong fiscal standing. The village has been awarded for excellence in financial reporting for the annual financial audit by the Government Finance Officers Association. Buffalo Grove has received this honor for 42 consecutive years.

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 village hall and police facility require urgent upgrades to meet the growing needs of our community. These aging structures are outdated, inefficient, and inadequate for current staffing and operational demands.

Village hall, built over 50 years ago, suffers from a poorly designed layout, chronic maintenance issues, and insufficient space for staff and community use. As the village grows, these shortcomings hinder our ability to deliver the high-quality services our residents expect and deserve. Addressing these deficiencies is essential for long-term sustainability and operational efficiency.

Similarly, the police headquarters, constructed in the late 1980s with no expansions since 1997, is now undersized by approximately 40% based on current needs. This space constraint affects the police department's ability to maintain its high standard of service. Additionally, there are concerns about the building's physical condition and security.

Resolving these infrastructure challenges is a top priority to ensure safety, efficiency, and excellent service for our community in the years ahead.

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.

The best ideas and results come from collaboration. As a part of my real estate development experience, I was asked to fill a role as community liaison for a high profile mixed use development in Chicago where I successfully lead all collaboration, communication and relationship management with the members of the community.

I strive to understand various perspectives and I am confident I will hit the ground running and continue to be a very productive and effective trustee.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I bring 30-plus years of expertise in real estate development and construction to the village board, which makes me uniquely qualified to be a trustee. Also, I recently made the introduction of Rivian to the Buffalo Grove team.

I will continue to use my contacts and push forward our economic development priorities.

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

I would like to see various housing types for seniors/retirees who are not able to maintain their property or do not want to continue to pay the costs and taxes involved with a single family home.

Our seniors have no options and move to the communities adjacent to Buffalo Grove. The options might include a Del Webb maintenance-free living single family, single story townhouse and/or over 55 apartments.