Blame the Mayor!

The following poem was given to me by Marilyn Robinson. Marilyn is the author of The Sidewalks of Elburn, our new local history book due to be released sometime next month. She found this poem on a microfilm copy of a February 1913 edition of the Batavia Herald. The poet's name was illegible, but whoever it was must have had some personal insight into how it feels to be a local mayor. The poem is called "Blame the Mayor," and it goes like this:

If your hens refuse to lay,

And, you fail to draw your pay.

Blame the Mayor!

If your false teeth break in two,

And, your food you cannot chew.

Blame the Mayor!

(Hey, how'd they know this mayor is a dentist?)

When the water main runs dry,

Or, if someone blacks your eye.

Blame the Mayor!

If your sewer is not laid,

And, your taxes are not paid.

Blame the Mayor!

If the weeds grow on your lawn,

And, your summer cash is gone.

Blame the Mayor!

If you have no overcoat,

And, old winter's got your goat.

Blame the Mayor!

If there's no coal in your box,

And, you catch the smallest pox.

Blame the Mayor!

If your Jersey cow dries up,

And, you lose your pointer pup.

Blame the Mayor!

If your taxes are too big,

And, your neighbor keeps a pig.

Blame the Mayor!

If your street lights do not light,

And, your crossing is a fright.

Blame the Mayor!

If the trains too fast do speed,

As the ordinance they exceed.

Blame the Mayor!

If the engineers are fined,

And, the trains are all behind.

Blame the Mayor!

If you're sore at all mankind,

'Cause your pants are patched behind,

If he doesn't trade with you,

Roast him till he's black and blue,

Give him thunder,

That's his due.

Blame the Mayor!

For me, this poem represents one of the perpetual challenges of public service. How does a local leader stay positive about the future when he or she is surrounded with mostly negative criticism about the past?

I think it is interesting to note that several of the complaints mentioned in the 1913 poem about sewers, street lights, taxes, trains, water mains and weeds are as applicable today, as they were back then. On behalf of my fellow mayors serving in Kane County 92 years later, I have penned this additional updated verse:

If your cable's on the ground,

And, your internet is down.

Blame the Mayor!

If the plows have snowed you in,

Or, the ice is getting thin.

Blame the Mayor!

If your permit's been delayed,

And, there's traffic in your way.

Blame the Mayor!

If he doesn't wave at you,

When his car is passing through,

You can tell him what to do!

It won't be very comical,

Just call Sound-Off in the Chronicle!

Blame the Mayor!

My son Andrew is a Classics major at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. I asked him if he had learned of any ancient wisdom concerning our human tendency to always blame others. He told me of the Greek philoshopher Epictetus who said, "When we meet with difficulties, become anxious or troubled, let us not blame others, but rather ourselves, that is, our own ideas about the nature of things."

Epictetus then said, "Common people blame others, people of little wisdom blame themselves, people of much wisdom, blame no one."

My brother Larry is an executive at the Q Center in St. Charles. He keeps a sign in his office that reads: " That still doesn't solve the problem, all it does is place the blame."

Finally, my good friend Steve Gliddon printed a t-shirt for me to wear as mayor that read, "It's all my fault! So what do we do now?

I have never really thought of Andrew, Larry or Steve as modern stoic philosophers, yet they each have discovered something on their own that Epictetus tried to tell us years ago. We always get to make a choice between blaming others and solving problems.

The next time you are inclined to blame someone like a local mayor for a problem, ask yourself what problem do you think this person has actually caused? But then go one step further and consider, what could you do to help solve the problem? I assure you that being solution-oriented rather than blame-oriented is an entirely different perspective. And, one that has been worthy of consideration for oh,...the last two thousand years.

The "T" in TOD Stands for "Transit"

Last Friday, Village Administrator David Morrison and I met with Mr. Philip Pagano, who is the Executive Director of Metra. We looked at a preliminary budget for a temporary alternative commuter access route. And, we also got a peek at the latest architectural line drawings of the proposed Elburn train station. This summer in Elburn is going to be very interesting with the construction of both the American Bank building and our Metra train station at the same time.

Now that the train station itself seems to be back "on track," it is time to rethink how we want the land around our future Metra facility developed. Over he past few years there have been many developers and several concept plans proposed for the area that would make up our transit-oriented development (TOD). Too many of those concept plans have been of the "plain vanilla" variety, with very little thought to the incredible synergistic potential of transit-oriented design.

In fact, one of those conceptual plans was so unimaginative and boring, we thought perhaps the developer had confused the "T" in TOD to stand for "townhomes," instead of "transit." Their concept plan looked like someone had ink stamped the area around the station with multiple footprints of the exact same townhouse. I'm sorry, but that plan was going nowhere.

Throughout this entire process, Elburn has had one message for developers interested in building around our future Metra facility. We have said repeatedly that we are looking for a "creative" project that has the potential to become a destination, as well as a home for Metra commuters. We want to build a TOD in Elburn so special and irresistible that people will want to invest here, live here, shop here, walk here, bike here, and visit here again and again.

And, in exchange for the freedom to plan "creatively," we are willing to set aside the contentious housing "density" issue, at least in the beginning. I guess we must be asking a lot, because as yet, no one has come close to proposing an inviting TOD concept plan.

Interestingly enough, as in my last blog, the Urban Land Institute has just published an illuminating report that addresses the challenge of planning for TODs. It's called "Ten Principles for Successful Development Around Transit." Here's what the ULI looks for in a successful TOD:

1. Make it better with a flexible realistic vision. (Hmmm,...I like the "better, not just bigger" part already.)
2. Apply the power of public and private partnerships.
3. Think development when thinking about transit.
4. Get the parking right.
5. Build a great community place, not a project.
6. Make retail development market driven, not transit driven.
7. Mix uses, but not necessarily in the same place.
8. Make bus travel more appealing.
9. Encourage every price point to live around transit.
10. Engage corporate attention to locate close to transit.

I understand that there is new player looking to acquire and develop Elburn's TOD property. If they are serious, I hope they can bring some of their most "creative" development ideas to the planning table. I also hope they understand that the "T" in TOD stands for "transit," and not just more townhomes.

The Devil's on the Fringe

How do we counter the negative effects of sprawl, yet accomodate the rapid increase in population growth expected in western Kane County over the next 20 years? It turns out the Urban Land Institute has recently released through its bookstore a 24-page booklet titled "Ten Principles for Smart Growth on the Fringe." Here are summaries of the ten principles featured in their report:

1. Create a shared vision for the future...and stick to it.
2. Identify and sustain green infrastructure.
3. Remember that the right design in the wrong place is not smart growth.
4. Protect environmental systems and conserve resources.
5. Provide diverse housing types and opportunities.
6. Build centers of concentrated mixed uses.
7. Use multiple connections to enhance traffic mobility and circulation.
8. Deliver a range of transportation options from the start.
9. Change regulations and zoning to make it easy to do the right thing.
10. Preserve the essential character of the community.

Now that looks like a simple list of things to monitor while growing our communities. And yet, I will tell you it is not easy to hit all of those planning marks. Under each of the smart growth principles is a myriad of growth-related details. As they say, "The devil's in the details." So it goes with managing growth and controlling sprawl on the fringe.

You can also find a worthy variation of these ten Smart Growth principles featured on page 8 of the affirmation document of the Kane County 2030 Conceptual Land Use Plan.

If you are really interested in learning more about smart growth, there is new CD-ROM available called Smart Growth Shareware. It features over 100 smart growth publications. Look for it under "Just out!" at the Smart Growth America homepage. "It's free, I tells ya!" And, only one click away.

They Still Have "Sound Off"

To tell you the truth I have always disliked the "Sound Off" section of the Kane County Chronicle. Face it, people print things anonymously in "Sound Off" that they would never put in a signed letter to the editor.

Last December 25th, someone said in "Sound Off" that I should be thrown in a pool. They were apparently expressing their unhappiness with the fact that the trustees of the Village of Elburn had voted unanimously to proceed with a feasibility study for a community pool. Although I missed reading the comment myself, I found out later that my mother was quite upset that day. She thought it was a unnecessary remark for an individual to make, and for the Chronicle to publish, especially on Christmas Day. Sometimes the people we hurt with our political attacks, are not the actual people we intend to hurt.

I was originally hoping that this mayor's web log could be used more like an internet bulletin board. I thought people would respond to my blogs, ask me questions, and then I would get back to them with answers about our village. In the best case scenario, I envisioned this blog becoming sort of "Insider's Guide to Elburn." I tried to write essays that would be read by interested community leaders who desired to learn more about building a "better" community, managing growth and controlling sprawl. As yet, the blog has not accomplished what I had hoped for it.

Many people warned me that allowing the anonymous posting of comments would never work out. They said if people were offered covert access to the blog, the disparaging type of remarks would get worse and worse. I had honestly hoped that wouldn't be the case, but now it seems that the conventional wisdom was right.

This past week a comment was posted to the blog that I thought was particularly offensive and demeaning. It is ironic that the remark wasn't even directed at me, who is the most obvious and convenient target on the site. Regardless, after much thought and careful consideration, I've decided to turn off the anonymous feature of the web log.

There are several reasons for doing this. First, I am unable to monitor the blog 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I do not have time to read, edit and sort the nasty comments from the legitimate ones. Second, I know first hand how it feels to be on the receiving end of public nastiness, and I do not want this blog used as an internet conduit for "cheap shots." Finally, the web log itself actually works more like I originally intended with the anonymous comments section turned off.

I think the third reason mentioned is perhaps the best. People who are interested can still read the blogs, and if they like, they can e-mail me with their comments, questions and suggestions. If something noteworthy comes up in that identified exchange, I can write another blog about what we have have found out, and share that information with everyone else.

In Abraham Lincoln's "First Inaugural Address" he stated, "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bands of affection." We must be touched by the "better angels of our nature." I admit I am passionate about managing growth and controlling sprawl, but not to the point that I want this blog to alienate everyone who doesn't agree with me.

So, for the time being, the mayor's blog is configured for input in a slightly revised fashion. Unfortunately, a few insensitive individuals have ruined the anonymous feature for everyone. But, don't feel sorry for them, they still have "Sound Off."

A Flock of Eagles

It was my pleasure today to attend Alex Miller's Eagle Scout Court of Honor at our very own Community Congregational Church. Alex is a member of Elburn's Boy Scout Troop 7 that has been developing and honoring Eagle Scouts in Elburn for 81 years. This troop tradition has continued to thrive, along with the support of the Congregational Church as Troop 7's sole continuous sponsor. That's quite a record of accomplishment for everyone connected with Troop 7 including the church, the adult leaders, the boy scouts themselves and their parents.

Alex Miller's Eagle Scout project was a substantial one. He and his team of adults and younger scouts installed four park benches onto concrete pads at Elburn's M60-A3 Battle Tank Veterans Memorial. Two decisions related to his project were particularly worrisome. What was the best color to choose for the benches so that they would complement the memorial? Also, where were the exact locations for the benches to be installed that would enhance the memorial's appearance? The solutions chosen after careful consideration of both of these dilemmas turned out great. The benches absolutely do enhance the memorial's design, as we had all hoped that they would.

The Village of Elburn has had so many excellent Eagle Scout projects over the years that it is a challenge to recall them all. Our village has seen landscape, prairies and trees planted, welcome signs enhanced, wooden bridges water-proofed, flag poles and fences painted, blood drives conducted, and brick pavers installed. And, these are just the projects completed on behalf of our village. Other organizations that have benefited from Troop 7 Eagle Scout projects include our Town & Country Library, the Fox Valley Wildlife Center, and Waubonsee Community College to name a few.

Additionally, I believe there is an Eagle Scout project idea being considered right now that involves Keslinger Road and Elburn's historic connection to the Lincoln Highway. I don't want to give the project idea away yet, but it has all the makings of another super Eagle Scout project for Elburn.

At one of our recent committee meetings Trustee Craig Swan remarked that "Our village has never had a bad Eagle Scout project. They have all represented positive additions to our community." I agree with Craig. I believe that every dollar we invest in these projects as a village is a dollar well spent on the youth of our community. These young men are destined to become our future leaders, and they will remember for the rest of their lives the community that helped them along their path to Eagle Scout. As the saying goes, the trail to Eagle never ends, and we expect great things from these top notch scouts in the future.

It almost goes without saying that Elburn Troop 7 is one of our finer community instituitions. As we honor Eagle Scout Alex Miller, let us continue to support the Boy Scouts of America, the Fox Valley's Three Fires Council and all they do building "better" young citizens for a "Better, not just Bigger" Elburn.

To conclude, I remember that when camping at the Mississippi Palisades State Park, our young scout patrols would usually spot a bald eagle circling alone in the sky. In the Village of Elburn, we are spoiled to find flocks of Eagle Scouts, and that is exactly the way we like it.

Also, for those of you prematurely signing me up for politically correct sensitivity training, I whole-heartedly support the Gold Award Program of the Girl Scouts of America.

Here's Where You Can Go...

... for the best information about sensible growth on the internet. The first website to visit if you are seriously interested in topics about building a better community and managing growth belongs to the Campaign for Sensible Growth. You will notice immediately that the Village of Elburn is featured in an article on CSG home page. It was no small task to be featured on this website.

Campaign manager Ellen Schubart, and a panel of design, development and planning experts gave Elburn a community "CAT scan" last fall. Participating in this dynamic process was fascinating, and we are awaiting publication of a final written report from the expert panel this spring.

After you bookmark this site, be sure to sign up for the CSG's super sharp e-mail listserv. It will show automatically up in your inbox each week. I guarantee it will keep you following links and reading about community growth and sprawl related issues until your next listserv arrives.

The second site I want to showcase for interested Elburn bloggers to explore is the website at Smart Growth America. This is a national site with a "boat load" of information about smart growth principles and topics. I prefer using the term "sensible growth" rather than "smart growth," but I guess that is just a personal bias. You should also try the free newsletter on this site. I subscribe to this too, but I like the CSG's listserv better because it has more links to local updates and information.

Then I suggest you take a look at the Building Better Communities Network. I especially like this site because,...well,...it's "Better, not Bigger." "BnB" is Elburn's motto respectfully borrowed from growth expert Eben Fodor. There is a free newsletter to subscribe to here also, and an interesting section filled with recent NIMBY reports. But, while checking out their homepage, I want to point you towards two other very interesting community planning links on the BBCN site. The first link to look for is the PlannersWeb Key Sites for Citizen Planners. Click on the Michigan Land Use Institute link under "An Eclectic Mix." The MLI just came out with a report in January, 2005 called "Follow the Money, Uncovering and Reforming Michigan's Sprawl Subsidies." Here is one of its interesting conclusions. With suburban sprawl we all need wheels to get around, so "Sprawl Disables Everyone." They are really on the mark with that slogan.

The last "monster" resource link to check out is Planetizen's Top 50 Websites. Don't worry, I don't know how to say their name either. It is supposed to be some kind of crazy contraction between plan, net and citizen. I guess that makes "Planetizen" a resource site for "internet planning citizens" of the future. Boy, somebody really popped a gasket coming up with that. Now the organization is stuck with a name that nobody can pronounce. Be sure to bookmark this site because you'll never be able to find it again phonetically. Regardless, Planetizen has created an exhaustive list of planning links on just about any topic.

There you have it. I've told you where to go. So have great time surfing these excellent planning websites. Remember "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." There are generous resources and solid research documents out there to help us make the decisions facing Elburn in the future. We have to work a little to dig them out, but it is well worth it.