That Was the Year That Was!

At the first board meeting of each calendar year, I present our village trustees with a list of significant accomplishments completed during the previous year. It is a excellent way to communicate and reflect on our progress as a village. It also helps us determine how well we are performing as a municipal government. Since 2004 is the first full year to end since the inception of this web log, I thought it would be interesting to publish the same list here. So here we go. The following projects, not in any special order, were completed by the Village of Elburn in 2004:

1. Completed, Filled and Placed the Blackberry Creek Water Tower Online.
2. Installed 2 Critical Water Pressure Reducing Stations Immediately South of UP Tracks.
3. Acquired Final Piece of Johnson Avenue Right of Way.
4. Completed Comprehensive Sidewalk Study and Awarded Bid for Phase I Repairs.
5. Approved PUD with American Bank and Trust That Will Break Ground in January.
6. Approved Kane County Road Improvement Impact Fee Ordinance.
7. Annexed Patten Industries Caterpillar Dealer on South Main Street.
8. Approved Plans and Annexed 12-Unit Welch Creek Industrial Business Center.
9. Installed New Digital Phone System with Enhanced Voice Mail and E-Mail Features.
10. Acquired and Installed Homeland Security Terminal at Police Department.
11. Hired Full-Time Public Works Employee Jenna Hunter.
12. Installed Fourth Community Tornado Siren in Blackberry Creek Subdivision.
13. Hired Full-Time Police Officer Jeff Herra.
14. Approved Special Use Permit for a 5-Building Prairie Valley North Commercial Center.
15. Approved 8-Unit Prairie Valley North Townhome Project.
16. Completed Comprehensive Traffic Study with Developer Contributions.
17. Negotiated Lease and Installed Cellular Arrays on Prairie Valley North Water Tower.
18. Executed Lease Documents with WRT for Zeolite Radium Removal Solution.
19. Prepared Bid Documents and Opened Bids for Radium Removal Construction Project.
20. Set Money Aside Required for Radium Removal Project in Dedicated Fund.
21. Received and Implemented ICC Railroad Safety Grant with Emphasis on Education.
22. Landscaped Police Firing Range with Eagle Scout Project.
23. Added Enhanced Bench Features to Veterans Memorial with Eagle Scout Project.
24. Equipped and Established Police Bicycle Patrol Program.
25. Hired Part-Time Police Clerk Allison Harding.
26. Researched Similar Communities with "End of the Line" Metra Responsibilities.
27. Approved IGA between Elburn, Kane County and Metra Regarding Anderson Road.
28. Sponsored ULI, CSG, MPC Technical Assistance Panel and Expert Planning Event.
29. Completed 2004 Motor Fuel Tax Funded Street and Sidewalk Repair Project.
30. Razed Small Building to Create Community Park and Garden Opportunity.
31. Added Looped Water Main to Southwest Side through Developer Off-Site Contribution.
32. Authorized Burbach Aquatics to Begin Feasibility Study for Possible Community Pool.
33. Approved Zoning Change and Plans for Amazing Grace Antique Store.
34. Enacted Updated Kaneland School District Impact Fee Model.
35. Held Hearing and Amended Blackberry Creek Annexation Agreement.
36. Sponsored Mars 2000 Aerator Pilot Project in Williams Ridge Retention Pond.
37. Purchased and Stocked Blackberry Creek Subdivision Pond with Hybrid Sunfish.
38. Created "Key to the City" Plaques to Welcome New Businesses to Elburn.
39. Recognized Margaret Ritchie as IHC Studs Terkel Humanitarian.
40. Updated Residential and Commercial Building Codes.
41. Approved Tot Lot on Liberty Street in Blackberry Creek Subdivision.
42. Held Annual Arbor Day Ceremony and Tree Planting at Prairie Park.
43. Worked with Chamber of Commerce to Change Annual Craft Show Format and Location.
44. Repaired First Street Water Tower after Developing Significant Leaks.
45. Installed Waste Water Plant Inflow Meter as Required by IEPA.
46. Approved Downtown Fascade Grant Program and Distributed Promotional Material.
47. Approved Wetland Planting and Restoration of Tributary "D" of Blackberry Creek.
48. Worked with Hughes Creek Homeowners to Accept Streets after Resurfacing Project.
49. Awarded Tree City USA Recognition for Fifth Consecutive Year.
50. Sponsored Second Annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony at Our Tank Memorial.
51. Changed Utility Billing System to Full Sheet Mailings Per Resident Input.
52. Enhanced Village Web Site with New Look, Added Updated Information and Mayor's Blog.

Now, that is quite a list. It represents a significant item of importance being accomplished each and every week at Village Hall. The list also represents a record of community achievement of which we can all be proud. The credit for all of this work belongs to many individuals. It belongs to everyone in Elburn who work together for the benefit of the common good. People working with people to make this community "Better, and not just Bigger." I believe that is what living in Elburn is all about.