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.