Candidates at odds over economic plans

The candidates in Winfield's village president race Tuesday outlined differing plans for jump-starting economic development in the community.

Responding to a question asked during a Candidate's Night event, incumbent village President Rudy Czech and his three opponents in April 7 election - trustees Deborah Birutis and Angel Oakley and Community High School District 94 school board President Tony Reyes - all agreed Winfield has fallen behind when it comes to development.

"I do think that we have fallen behind," Oakley said. "I don't know that I would necessarily characterize it as good or bad."

Czech said part of the reason Winfield has lagged behind is because it hasn't been proactive. He said the village should hire a consultant or a new staff member to evaluate the development potential of unincorporated land near Winfield.

Meanwhile, Birutis said the focus should be trying to reverse the trend that's caused Winfield to lose businesses in its town center.

For years, the village has struggled to find a way to attract more retail projects or tenants into that area along Winfield Road. And a tax increment financing district has done little to spur more building projects.

Still, Birutis said she believes the town center project can be successful. She said the village needs to work to attract developers and help assemble properties that could be redeveloped.

However, Reyes got the biggest round of applause of the night from the crowd of more than 100 people when he said village leaders need to stop talking about the downtown and act.

"It's time to do something," he said after Tuesday's event, which was hosted by the Winfield Junior Woman's Club. "You've got to give developers a reason to come here."

Specifically, Reyes said he would seek to lower the impact fees he claims are keeping developers away from Winfield.

Reyes also said he believes in land owners having the right to sell their properties - even if it results in more commercial development along Winfield's stretch of Roosevelt Road, which is mostly lined with houses and trees.

"If property owners along Roosevelt want to commercialize, I'm going to back them," he said.

However, Czech and Birutis point out that too much commercial development would contradict what's outlined in the village's comprehensive plan.

Oakley said she's keeping an open mind when it comes development along Roosevelt Road. Still, she stressed getting more businesses in Winfield is a vital step to creating additional dollars for road repairs.

Currently, Winfield only earmarks about $150,000 a year for street repairs. Officials say the town would need to raise an estimated $850,000 annually to resurface all of its roads on a desired 15-year cycle.

So far, all the candidates agree Winfield should pursue state and federal grant money, including cash from the economic stimulus package.

When asked if the city could find money in its existing budget for roadwork, Birutis and Czech said there wasn't any "fat" in the spending plan. Previously, Reyes has said the village should try to find extra road money within its budget and draft a capital spending plan.