Barrington leaders: Infrastructure key to attracting business

Barrington area leaders discussed efforts to maintain and improve municipal infrastructure as a way to attract businesses to their communities during the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Economic Summit on Wednesday.

Deer Park Village President Bob Kellerman said the village has had an infrastructure plan in place to respond quickly when a business expresses interest coming to town.

"We wanted to develop a program to meet developers head on," Kellerman said.

Part of that program has included a recent deal with neighboring Palatine to provide water for new Deer Park businesses. Kellerman said the village also has worked with developers to approve new roads.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch said the town repaired over 1.3 miles of municipal road last year and worked with local contractors to replace an water main first installed in 1898.

Chris Martin, the village administrator of Lake Barrington, said among their infrastructure improvements in 2013 was a federally-funded project to build a new bridge over Flint Creek on Woodland drive.

"We got federal funds so I want to say thank you to the folks in Pennsylvania for helping build a bridge in Lake Barrington," Martin said.

North Barrington Village Trustee Pete Boland noted that with uncertainty regarding the state income tax and the amount municipalities receive from motor fuel taxes, local communities in coming years may have less money to maintain and improve their roads.

The Daily Herald Media Group was among the sponsors of the event.