East Dundee considering special census

In hopes of capturing the money that comes with new growth, East Dundee leaders are looking into ordering a special census at a pair of new developments.

Both Gardiner Place, a rental community for seniors, and River Haven Place, which gives veterans first opportunities at the rental houses there, opened earlier this year on Route 25 just north of Route 72.

Officials estimate that between 325 and 350 people live in both developments.

At $136 per head from the state, that would translate into between $44,200 and $47,600 in annual income for the village of nearly 3,000.

“We didn’t want to do a special census until everybody actually moved into Gardiner Place and River Haven — that took almost, like, nine months for that to happen,” Economic Development Director Doug Bergren said. “Personally, I just wanted to get things settled down until people were settled in there.”

Officials submitted documents about a month ago to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In a special census, a community can opt to have the whole town recounted or just a certain section.

Officials say there was no other growth in town besides the two developments.

“With our new River Haven subdivision and the midrise at Gardiner Place going on, we’d like to find out what that population is,” Village Administrator Bob Skurla said.

The village is asking that the bureau complete the count by May 1, the start of East Dundee’s fiscal year, Bergren said.

Illinois would award the additional money based on the census’ final count. East Dundee would use that money for its general fund.

The village will make a decision on whether to have the census once it hears back from the bureau on the cost.

If the count is too costly, officials are willing to wait until the 2020 census, Skurla said.