Village Manager's Message

Occasionally I take a look back at the previous year’s Weekly Report to see what was happening a year ago. Well, the opening paragraph was about the groundbreaking for the Villa Park Recreation Center. At the meeting tonight, we will consider whether we want to include the landscaped terrace that would overlook the playground, pickleball, and basketball courts as well as the baseball field at Lions Park. In the next meeting, we will discuss what the rates for the new facility will be.

I hope you had the chance to see the Homecoming Parade on Friday. This is a busy time in the Village. Brewfest will be on Saturday, October 5, the same day District 45 is holding its Strategic Plan workshop, which I plan to attend. Autumn Jubilee and the Fire Department Open House are the following Saturday, October 12.

The agendas have been full as well and several items will concern the construction of The Union. In October we anticipate holding a bond hearing on October 14, an ordinance to authorize the sale of bonds on October 28, and potentially a Redevelopment Agreement at the same meeting. We will also look to cooperate with School Districts D88 and D45 with whom we have had preliminary discussions that would allow the project to move forward without depriving the schools of needed resources. We will also begin the budget process formally with a presentation to the Board of Trustees on October 21.

Last week I met with the following groups: Brian Garber and Jeff Eagan, Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of D45 about the TIF 7 and The Union; Suzanna Strangmeier of ComEd about the same project; and the DMMC Innovation Awards and Business Meeting. I participated in AFSCME classification and compensation work group, the ILCMA Communications Committee Meeting, and met with the Fire Department and Police Department for their Budget Meeting. I attended a meeting about the VPRC budget and also attended a part of Trustee Patrick’s tour of Jefferson Pool. I met with Department heads at the weekly staff meeting. Enjoy the start of fall and the coming of cooler weather next week. Full weekly report here.

Matt Harline

Village Manager