Coming To a Town Near You!

Earlier this year, I was interviewed by a bright young lady who had been awarded a one year grant to write a book about urban sprawl. It turns out her book is almost complete. Her name is Gina Olszowski, and you can visit the pre-release website for her new book at http://www.atownnearyou.com/.

She tells me that the people she interviewed and the towns she visited for the book have all been given pseudonyms. She wanted her book to have a universal appeal, rather than focusing on specific people or places.

Well, it will be interesting to see if Gina uses a few quotes from our meeting in her book. I hope the actor who plays me in any future documentary is taller and skinnier.

The Greatest Show on Earth

It won't be long now. Our Elburn Days festival is right around the corner. For three days each summer our dynamic little community feels like the center of the universe.

This event, sponsored by the Elburn Lions Club, is really a tribute to all of our community volunteers. Many dedicated people work hard each year to make Elburn Days into a fun event for the entire family.

If you haven't already, mark the weekend of August 17th, 18th and 19th on your calendars. Come on out to Elburn and experience a bit of Americana that is slowly fading away.

When I look really close at the NASA picture above, I can almost picture the tents going up, and the parade units getting in line. Elburn Days is a fun time for all. Come on out to Elburn and and enjoy the weekend with us.

Rocky Mountain High!

A very nice lady from Australia took this picture of me last summer. I was hanging off the back of a Rocky Mountaineer train meandering somewhere in the Canadian Rockies. I call these "curvy train" shots, because after the photo is cropped it doesn't look like the photographer is actually riding on the train in the picture. Plus, many times you can capture a mirrored reflection of the landscape on the side of the train itself. It is very cool when you get a reflection shot just right.

So much has happened in the last year that it's difficult for me to fathom all the changes. Rest assured, our community has always been in good hands. We have a dedicated village board and an excellent village staff that makes running Elburn a pleasurable experience. I appreciate everyone who has been patient with me as I have adjusted to my new life.

One constant remains. I love our town, and I still want to see it grow "Better and not just Bigger!" If you see something that needs fixin' in Elburn, let me know about it. We'll get right on it. Or, even better, get involved with the solution yourself. That's how we used to do it in the "old days," and that method still works today.

Typically, the mayor gets blamed for most anything anyone doesn't like about Elburn. That's OK with me. Just make sure our trustees and staff get credit for everything that's wonderful about our town. They deserve all the credit. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and see you all at Elburn Days.

Memorial Day in Elburn

It is always an honor to play Taps for our veterans on Memorial Day. I learned to play Taps as a youngster, and continue to do so to this day.

Mary Herra of the Elburn Herald took this picture at the Memorial Day ceremony held at Blackberry Cemetery this year.

The challenge of playing Taps is to pick up the "cold" horn, and play each of the 21 notes of the bugle call perfectly.

It is more difficult to do than one might imagine. I remember as a child that even the bugler at President Kennedy's funeral missed a note.

I would also like to recognize Bruce Conley for his efforts. Bruce just shows up each year to play the "echo" refrain on his trumpet.

Bruce and I have been doing this for so long now, that there is little reason to practice. We both share a sixth sense about the song that is touching.

Thank you to everyone who came to the service this year. It was a wonderful event to honor those who have served. We were also reminded that the freedom we enjoy today was secured by our veterans, many of whom paid the ultimate price.

Spring Has Sprung

From sun-baked bulbs these tulips grew,

Heads tossed by passing breeze.

Fine ladies dancing tall and true,

Doing whatever they please.

When tulips grace our meeting,

We know that spring is here,

And their show however fleeting,

The eye and senses cheer.

From Angie's Tulip Page

Arbor Day in Elburn

Come help celebrate Arbor Day in Elburn on Saturday, April 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial on E. North Street, just east of Village Hall.

The first 150 attendees will receive a seedling tree to plant in your own yard, and you can help the Village finish planting a few more trees at the Veteran’s Memorial.

A guest speaker from the U of I Extension Office will be on hand to talk about the Emerald Ash Borer that has now invaded our community. We encourage the public of all ages to come out and enjoy this fun event.

The Village of Elburn is a Tree City USA community and this is the eighth consecutive year we have proudly been certified for this award.

However, be advised that we won't be planting any palm trees in Elburn,.. yet!

Commuting on the Village of Elburn

Commuting on the Village of Elburn, Union Pacific, early morning ride.

Fifteen cars and a hundred and fifty riders.

Three conductors, coffee, Tribunes and Sun-Times.

All along its eastbound trip, the train pulls out at a decent clip.

Rolls along past houses, stores and fields.

Passing towns with suburban names, distribution yards full of Toyota dreams.

And folks who should have parked more carefully.

Good morning America, how are you?

Don't you know me, I'm your Metra son.

I'm the train they call the Village of Elburn.

I'll be gone forty-four miles when the trip is done.

(With apologies to Steve Goodman and Arlo Guthrie)

You Never Leave Any Wider

Fisherman's Inn looked particularly charming last Tuesday morning just before our CMAP workshop, and after a 2-inch snowfall had fallen the previous evening.

OK, so the story goes like this. The food at Fisherman's Inn is specially formulated to stack vertically as you eat. So, eat all you want when you visit. You may leave a little taller, but you won't leave any wider.

I've heard that story told many times at Fisherman's Inn. I was asked to repeat it for our CMAP guests. I don't think they believed me, but it was worth all the groans.

Participants Map Elburn's Future

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning held a second successful workshop yesterday at Fisherman's Inn. This week the emphasis was on mapping, and our local participants were challenged to design their own Elburn of the future. At the end of the 3-hour exercise, scores were calculated that represented the relative value of each team's planning efforts.

Each planning team made their Elburn "bigger," but some future Elburns scored "better" than others. That seems to be the challenge. We know Elburn is going to grow in the future, but can we make it a "better" town when we get there. The destination of future growth should be worth the effort.

In the photo above, Darlene Marcusson, Tom Runty, Jeff Pelock and Gary Augustine draw out their ideas on paper maps, before converting them to the computer design program.

Once again, the CMAP facilitators were well-prepared and did an excellent job. And, I believe our "citizen planners" truly enjoyed mapping out our future success.

Listen Up, Community Planners!

CMAP Planning Director Ty Warner keeps the fresh ideas flowing, as he facilitates his table of Elburn notables. Ty is in the center with the laptop. To his left are Kaneland School Board President Lisa Wiet, Elburn Village Administrator David Morrison, Elburn Trustee Gordon Diershaw, and those wireless voting hands belong to Elburn Village Attorney Bob Britz.

Actually, I'd bet this table of participants gave Ty a run for his money, because any one of the individuals mentioned above could facilitate their own Elburn planning table.

CMAP put on a great event for Elburn. Many of the attendees told me they really enjoyed the day, and couldn't wait for our next session. CMAP Community Planning Redux, let's redo it!

CMAP Workshop a Visionary Experience!

Elburn Trustee Bill Grabarek gets ready to vote with his wireless keypad at Elburn's recent CMAP Planning Workshop. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning staff of high-tech facilitators guided over 5o participants in a truly interesting community visioning exercise yesterday at Fisherman's Inn.

Who knew community planning could be this fun?

Our participants selected aesthetic design, housing variety, and the opportunity for transit-oriented design as top priorities for future Elburn.

Using the keypads, audience preferences were tallied in a matter of seconds.

Next Tuesday, CMAP returns to Elburn for a follow-up workshop. So, that means even more sophisticated planning technology is on its way to Elburn. We'll be there, and thanks CMAP!

And A Happy New Year!

Well, it's a good thing this little penquin doesn't live in Elburn, because his feet wouldn't be that "happy." His feet would be downright "toasty" with the balmy snow-free weather we have been experiencing in Elburn.

The year 2006 was a good year in Elburn, and many things were accomplished by your village government. Here's a short list:

• Our Metra commuter service started last January.
• Our two WRT trace radium removal facilities went online.
• We began a stormwater infiltration and inflow study.
• We studied several pedestrian overpass options.
• A new building commissioner was hired.
• Structural ditch repairs were completed at our WWTP.
• We helped negotiate Kaneland impact fees for a small corner of future LaFox.
• We received a $16,200 railroad safety grant from the ICC.
• A national night out against crime cookout was held.
• A special census set our population at 4721.
• Our Building and Zoning Department moved downtown.
• Meadows Phase 2 senior condominiums were approved.
• New motor controls were installed at the WWTP.
• New magna rotors and scum skimmers were installed at the WWTP.
• $175,000 of sidewalk repairs were completed.
• Our two Prairie Valley North water towers were cleaned and coated with mold inhibitor.
• A Kenmar Woods annexation agreement was approved.
• A new community service officer was hired.
• A new administrative assitant was hired.
• Jewel began construction on their new store.
• We purchased two squad cars and one "very sharp" police pickup.
• We purchased three small pickups for our building department.
• And, our Metra station building was completed.

I am very proud of the accomplishments of our village staff. I am also truly humbled to serve with an exceptional village board. Our village board consistently takes the needs and wants of our entire community to heart. They set the broader goals, and let the village staff do the work.

It sounds so simple, but in reality it's a political rarity. We all owe our village board a debt of gratitude.

Merry Christmas!!

Here's a photo from the Hancock Building train set. That's Hermey the dentist on the right. I watched the claymation "Rudolph" again this year, and his name is definitely "Hermey," not "Herbie." Hermey must be a life member of the ADA by now. I'll have to check with the membership department after the holidays.

"Blogger" has been going through some beta testing and conversions, and I haven't been able to blog any pictures for the past month. Today, the software seems to have healed itself, so I may be back in business. Thanks for your patience.

Let's hope we get some "flurries" today in Elburn, because I do miss the snow on Christmas. I don't miss the plowing operations, but a little snow would definitely make it feel more like Christmas in Elburn!

Elburn Remembers Akron

Last night our Elburn Village Board paid its respect to Akron, our one and only police dog, who recently died. Akron retired in 2005 after 6 years of faithful service to our community.

Akron's partner/trainer Brian Schopp was presented with a commemorative plaque, and a duplicate plaque will be displayed at our police department.

Mike Anderson, Dave Gualdoni and some of their friends, who remember Akron fondly, also attended our presentation.

My favorite story about Akron was the time when his barking into a police radio actually convinced a hiding suspect to come out of a corn field.

I also witnessed several demonstrations where Akron could detect and identify specific odors coming from what appeared to be sealed containers.

These dogs are truly amazing animals. Akron will be missed in Elburn.

Magna Rotors Are Rooting

Over the past year, 4 new magna-rotors have been installed at the Village of Elburn waste water treatment plant. It isn't glamorous work, but the replacement of these vital components were necessary to keep our plant operating at peak efficiencies.

The village board has been very serious about our commitment to keeping our treatment plant in good shape.

Our Public Works Superintendent Art Sanchez has been in charge of the repairs at the plant, and our new operators from Baxter-Woodman have really been helping us understand how to best tweak and configure our plant for the future.

Processing waste water is a village function we all take for granted, that is, until there is a problem. More repairs and refurbishments are coming. Fortunately, our village board has supported our staff efforts to take good care of our plant.