Janet Burson: 2023 candidate for Campton Hills Village Board

Bio

Town: Campton Hills

Age on Election Day: 62

Occupation: Business owner, manager

Employer: Self

Previous offices held: None

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 of Campton Hills was founded less than two decades ago and still faces challenges from conflicting expectations. We have yet to establish a well-defined plan to reconcile our rural heritage and our location with 21st-century suburban standards. A new zoning ordinance wasn't the answer.

Over the years, our community has learned how varying perspectives can coexist harmoniously, from residents with multi-acre lots to our large HOAs. We have come to appreciate the unique character of our town.

Despite this, the current village administration continues to pass more stringent rules, regulations, and enforcement measures affecting all of our residents and HOAs. The recent zoning ordinance is the latest example of our incumbent trustees voting against the interests and desires of our residents.

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

A: The current village administration claims that our financial situation is favorable. Our balance sheet appears robust. However, it is crucial to consider the presence or absence of future liabilities, their extent, and the incomplete disclosure of financial risks. For instance, we are aware that road maintenance was deferred over decades.

Recent attempts to begin to close this gap were postponed and should resume this year. The extent and rate per year of required maintenance will increase. Additionally, some of our future funding sources are uncertain. So, if we compare future road maintenance expenses with future revenues, we will likely face a deficit. If so, I will vote to address that at the earliest opportunity.

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

A: Village roads, which I discuss in more detail in reply to some of the other questions.

Stormwater remediation in the village is an issue that doesn't seem necessary until the rain falls. Multiple areas of the village are vulnerable. This should be assessed and remediated without delay.

The village should support and facilitate the activities of Campton Township Open Space whenever possible.

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

A: Campton Hills has a limited mandate and a modest budget, typically avoiding unnecessary expenses. However, the current trustees recently spent over $1 million on renovating their village hall, a small building located in a local strip mall, without even altering its exterior.

Although some funds came from designated grants, it's much easier to comprehend the need when residents have input.

This project has been completed, but future spending that is not directly connected to our mandate should be eliminated. We are responsible for roads, permitting, planning, code enforcement and funding our excellent police department. Sadly, we must also clean up a mess of a zoning ordinance.

Forays into spending in other categories must be minimized. No one wants unfunded mandates - one of the challenges with the SAFE-T Act. Expanding the role of the village will result in the need for local taxes. Campton Hills is blessed not to have any local taxes. I will vote to keep it that way.

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: It comes down to roads. It's the responsibility of the village to maintain roads in our jurisdiction, including subdivision roads. Yet, most haven't been repaved since before the creation of the Village.

Road maintenance is funded primarily by the Motor Fuel Tax (MFT), Road and Bridge Tax and various grants. MFT is the largest component and is distributed based on population. Our HOA communities contribute more per road mile than residents in our picturesque rural areas.

To repave their roads, some of our HOAs must make their curbs ADA-compliant. The village should work with subdivisions like Fox Mill and Fox Creek to obtain grants and other funding while reducing permitting requirements.

The current administration has neglected roads while dedicating a huge effort to renovating Village Hall and a new Zoning Ordinance. The validity of that Zoning Ordinance is in question. We should suspend enforcement by our police officers and reallocate those resources to crime prevention.

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: Professionally, I've seen that collaboration often leads to a concrete results in the form of documents such as contracts or a consensus reached on technology, marketing, or acquisition plans.

I founded and operated successful small businesses in fields as diverse as telecommunications and manufacturing to health care. Some deals were large enough to get to the IPO stage. I've often dealt with very exacting requirements - from national electric utilities to celebrity entertainers. I've always been flexible and tried to understand my most effective, appropriate role on any team.

Serving on any type of board is a team sport.

A leader who can effectively bring a team together is also crucial. I am confident our new president, Barb Wojnicki, will excel at this. As trustee, I must listen to the needs and concerns of residents, advocate on their behalf, and work with other trustees to get things done.

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

A: I am fully committed to balancing the diverse interests of our residents. It is challenging to fully hear residents in a golf course quality suburb while remaining mindful of those who love open spaces with few restrictions.

The three incumbent trustees that are running this year have failed the village. I am running alongside trustee candidates Nic Boatner and Tim Morgan to guarantee that Campton Hills residents' opinions are heard and that future changes stem from the community level.

While our current administration creates its own agenda, I am fully committed to serving the actual needs of our residents. It is the most crucial factor in this election.

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

A: There are alternatives to conventional subdivisions. I envision the development of new 2-5 acre homesteads and horse farms that embody the semirural lifestyle. Many residents do not want further development in our village. Besides, with few large parcels available and various other obstacles, we need to consider alternative solutions.

The village boundaries are not set in stone, and I've observed that other neighboring municipalities are still growing through annexation. Some are even open to annexing from other municipalities.

The development path from here leads west. Dense subdivisions require roads, water, sewer infrastructure and more.

Instead, we can meet the need for additional housing with less impact, allowing individual properties to be more self-sufficient and integrate better with the existing environment.