Village Manager's Message

If you have not yet had a chance to look at the Comprehensive Plan, please take the opportunity to view it on the Village website. There is a link from the Village’s home page. The public’s best chance to make comments in person will be this Wednesday at the VRPC Multipurpose room from 5:30 - 8:00 pm. The Comprehensive Plan is the single most important planning document for land use and future development. Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1920s that zoning is constitutional, provided that it is conducted in a planned way that is not arbitrary, the need for a comprehensive plan has walked hand in hand with zoning. Illinois law requires to have one as well. Our last plan was adopted in 2009, so it is appropriate to update it now.

The Village continues to implement our new ERP software. There are always a few hiccups in such a major change. Several residents have had problems working through the online signup. I spoke with a man last week who could not sign up on his phone, and was not able to pay by check on his phone the way he wanted to do it, and had been able to pay previously. We are continuing to work with the software vendor for fixes where possible, and workarounds for the other issues. Overall, however, the advantages are already clear. Online permit applications are available in addition to the utility billing. Payroll is operational and the last run went smoothly. Other features will become fully operational soon.

Several major infrastructure projects have begun for the year. The final phase of the Jackson Pond Area Improvement Project will begin next week. Madison Street from Addison Avenue to Michigan Avenue will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning tentatively on Monday, March 3, although residents should have access to their driveways. In the next month, we will be approving the engineer for a parking lot redesign by the Historical Museum and the engineer for the Phase I Engineering of a Grade Separation project on Ardmore. We are also looking to release the specifications for the fire station improvements and the renovation of the Iowa Community Center as a temporary fire station.

Last week I met with the July 4th Parade Committee at the VFW. The VFW has made the operation smooth enough that we should be sending out a request for sponsors soon. I met with the Director of Public Works, Assistant Village Manager, Suzanne McVey, and the leadership of AFSCME for a labor-management meeting. I toured the Post Office, Library, and Metra Station with Chief Rivas. I also met with the Chief and both Deputy Police Chiefs (McCann and Kubish) and Assistant Village Manager, McVey in preparation for meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police for the patrol unit this week. I also met with department heads in the regular Tuesday meeting, and individually.

View the full report here. To see our January 2024 monthly report, click here. All weekly reports can be found in our Document Center under Village Manager.

Matt Harline

Village Manager