Kathleen Mahony: 2023 candidate for East Dundee Village Board, 4-year term

Bio

Town: East Dundee

Age on Election Day: 61

Occupation: Senior director of product development - Seasonal Home Decor

Employer: Dyno Llc

Previous offices held: East Dundee Village Board Trustee since 2019; East Dundee Planning & Zoning Commissioner

Q&A

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

A: The village board is focused on maintaining the trajectory of growth and diversification of income streams in our current uncertain macroeconomic landscape. Conservative spending, realistic fiscal control and realizing the full potential of key properties that need to be rehabilitated is a key serious issue. There are several blighted or underutilized properties in or near our newly vibrant depot district that are within a TIF incentive area which is halfway through its life.

Attracting the right development while there is enough runway in the TIF and potential tax sharing benefits to make the investment attractive to developers is key to growth. Realizing the full potential of these properties will benefit the residents, businesses and developers.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: The villages finances are stable and continuing to improve. The village emerged from the COVID-19 shutdown financial challenges in respectable shape by drastically cutting expenses in the spring of 2020 and by anticipating the worst-case scenario at the beginning of the outbreak. Village income streams continue to diversify with new development and businesses choosing to come to the village. The new overnight semi-truck parking tax has provided the newest income stream with little if any direct economic impact to the residents.

We are committed to maintaining a contingency fund to weather unexpected setbacks and react to unforeseen opportunities. I am proud to say as a trustee and resident that the Village of East Dundee adds $0 to my fellow resident's property tax because of our commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: The first priority is funding the police pension up to the standards required by the state. Prior to this year the pension was funded only through property tax revenues, and this year the village general fund will contribute a portion to reach the total amount recommended by our pension financial board and to decrease the practice of funding only through property tax.

The second is continuing to make the village an attractive place to make investment in businesses and development. Actively managing the transfer and development of blighted properties with unrealized potential that will benefit our residents, businesses and visitors.

The third is connecting the recreational gifts of the Fox River bike path and the depot district with its town center and its unique small business to the Fox River riverfront. We are exploring how to best add infrastructure and amenities to the riverfront to bring improvements that will benefit all who enjoy living, doing business and visiting our village.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: I believe the village has been fiscally responsible after making major cuts in the budgets during the worst COVID -19 shutdowns and learned to live without some of those expenditures that were curtailed during this period.

Q: 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?

A: The village has dramatically improved the funding and planning for major capital and maintenance improvements in our existing water, sewer funds. This infrastructure is unusual for a village of our size but is also a revenue generator as capacity is used by our neighboring village of West Dundee. Street infrastructure maintenance is assessed based on usage and condition and prioritized based on safety with those streets of lower priority being differed to the next year if the budget doesn't not allow for all projects.

The riverfront project for recreational and flood control and mitigation will be a multistage multiyear project that will be managed in smaller projects to realize the completed improvement. This is the type of project we are already seeking grants to help fund through various regional state and federal programs.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

A: I am a habitual student and do the homework which includes reviewing board briefs, online research, site visits and more. I work to understand the issue from multiple points of view, from village staff and fellow trustees, as well as residents, businesses and stakeholders. While I may have an initial gut reaction to an issue, my due diligence ensures that I am a part of crafting policy that is going to have the most benefit to the village as a whole. This work is accomplished through communicating a vision, fostering collaboration and execution of the details to an end product.

We currently have a wonderfully collaborative and highly engaged board contributing to some of the best work I have experienced as a board member or resident. I have and will challenge the status quo if it doesn't make sense for our future, with the goal of continual improvement to our process or policies. I would continue to bring this style of leadership to the board and our residents.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I chose to live in the East Dundee 22 years ago, because of its proximity to I-90 and the Fox River, the historic downtown center, and the recreational opportunities the area provides. I bring a perspective from living in other communities for what is possible for the future while preserving or improving on what is unique and special to East Dundee. My record of committing time, skills and energy into my community is varied and long.

East Dundee planning and zoning commissioner for 2 years; three short terms as an appointed East Dundee village trustee by three different mayors totaling 4 years; board member of the Township Visitors Center (aka The Depot) for 6 years and most recently as an elected village trustee in 2019. There is a learning curve in understanding how to most effectively work with the board, staff and stakeholders within the legislative process. My experience and knowledge from my past roles will continue to serve the residents well.

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

A: Transforming the depot into the physical 365/24/7 information hub for residents and visitors enjoying the bike path, downtown restaurants and shops, one or more of our community events. The depot visitors center is currently open for a few hours during day light and some weekends. We will employ technology and marketing tools to educate all who interact in more ways they can experience all East Dundee has to offer in food, recreation, services and entertainment beyond what they already enjoy.