Lake Zurich invites residents to State of the Village evening
Lake Zurich Mayor Thomas Poynton will headline a second annual informational evening for residents and businesses next week.
What's formally called the "2016 State of the Village Address: A Conversation With the Community" will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, at Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich.
About 60 spectators filled the library's meeting room for the inaugural State of the Village program in March 2015. Poynton and former Village Manager Jason Slowinski were the main presenters and answered questions from the crowd.
"I think it went very well," Poynton said of last year's debut. "I think we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish."
At next week's State of the Village program, plans call for a look back at Lake Zurich government highlights from 2015 and a peek at what's expected for the rest of this year.
Some of the village's accomplishments, as listed in the 2015 annual report, include 26 businesses opening in the Rand Road and Route 22 corridors and completing the removal of about 2,700 dying public trees infected by the emerald ash borer well ahead of the mid-to-late 2016 target date to alleviate safety concerns.
In the look to the future, visitors can expect to learn about Lake Zurich's five-year strategic plan that includes financial sustainability, development, infrastructure improvements and civic engagement.
New Village Manager Ray Keller will be introduced to the crowd. Keller, who worked nine years as village administrator for Gilberts, started with Lake Zurich this month.
"I hope that attendees will find the review of last year's accomplishments and the outlook for the next year informative," Keller said. "I'm looking forward to introducing myself to the community and listening to what is on people's minds, particularly from any questions that they may ask."