That Was the Year That Was!

The year 2005 has gone by "fast and furious." Here is a list of highlights accomplished by our village government in the past twelve months:

1. Awarded contracts to construct our trace radium removal facilities at Wells #3 and #4.
2. Received official notice of $475,100 EPA grant award.
3. B and B agreed to build 2 new ballfields in Blackberry Creek subdivision at no additional cost to village.
4. Mayor elected NIPC Commissioner representing Kane County municipalities.
5. Purchased Ing-Dodson commercial lot on E. North Street.
6. Signed 3-year contracts for future audits and mosquito control.
7. Signed 1-year contract with Tri-City Family Services for employee assistance programs.
8. Received tobacco enforcement grant to conduct underage cigarette checks.
9. Published local history book "Sidewalks of Elburn" by Marilyn Robinson.
10. Increased water rates to pay for mandated trace radium removal commitments.
11. Joined new Metro-West Council of Governments.
12. Fred Tichenor selected Kane County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
13. Police canine officer Brian Schopp and partner Akron retired from police department and recognized for years of service.
14. Held multi-day Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) planning workshop.
15. Officer Jeff Herra received award from the Alliance Against Intoicated Motorists.
16. Approved new GASB-34 Capital Assets Policy.
17. Fred Tichenor honored as Red Cross Hometown Hero finalist.
18. Village of Elburn nominated for a Red Cross Hometown Hero category.
19. John Krukoff and Cathleen Weiland appointed to Planning Commisssion.
20. Mayor's blog recognized by National League of Cities.
21. Made critical Metra temporary access decision with significant concerned citizen input.
22. Planted trees and held Arbor Day ceremony.
23. Modified itinerant merchants ordinance.
24. Repealed massage ordinance to comply with new state law.
25. Adopted water conservation ordinance with year-round, odd-even lawn watering enforcement.
26. Approved outdoor police shooting range agreements with neighboring departments.
27. Police department raised significant "loose change" contributions for Special Olympics.
28. Paved Johnson Street extension south to Keslinger Road.
29. Completed first $100,000 sidewalk replacement project focusing on bus stops, missing links, and southeast side.
30. Authorized purchase of two new Ford Crown Victoria squad cars.
31. Acquired future shallow well site within unincorporated Blackberry Ridge development.
32. Police Commander Steve Smith hired and sworn in.
33. Approved operations and maintainence agreement with Metra for commuter parking lot.
34. Agreed to contribute and approved Metra station upgrades to go to bid.
35. Solved shooting incident within 72 hours with help from major crimes task force.
36. Managed severe drought throughout summer sometimes operating on one village deep well at a time.
37. Celebrated opening of new American Bank and Trust building on Main Street.
38. Elburn Leos group selected for international recognition for service project.
39. Federal TEA-LU bill containing $7.6 million for future Elburn bridge signed by President Bush in Montgomery.
40. Compton and Polivka "greenbelt" farms purchased by Kane County for future forest preserves.
41. Changed utility billing from quarterly to monthly based on resident feedback.
42. Managed Elburn Days Parade as a village function for the first time.
43. Completed community pool feasibilty study.
44. Completed Well #4 installation with new higher capacity well pump and motor.
45. Approved contracts with US Census Bureau for special census in early 2006.
46. Offered and agreed to sponsor Lt. Governor Quinn's "Walk Across Illinois" program.
47. Awarded solid waste haulers 3-year contract to Waste Management holding the same price for next year with no stickers.
48. Mentored Philip Peterson's Eagle Scout "Victory Garden" project.
49. Replaced roof on Well House #3.
50. Replaced chemical scales at both Well #3 and #4.
51. Expressed displeasure with Campton Hills incorporation initiative that has the potential to seriously threaten our long-standing planning area.
52. Awarded Community Water System Vulnerablity Analysis study to Rempe-Sharpe.
53. Completed second $80,000 sidewalk replacement program because weather cooperated and funds were available.
54. Ordered 2 new snow plows for the public works department replacing "Old Green" for the third time.
55. Awarded SCADA design contract to Rempe-Sharpe.
56. Approved Jewel redesigned architectural upgrades as a minor PUD change with high hopes for store opening in late 2006.
57. Approved and began WWTP west ditch, clarifier and sludge holding tank diffuser repairs.
58. Mayors' blog included in Harvard's "Government Innovators" network.
59. Approved new Resident Parking Protection District on southeast side.
60. Urban Land magazine published article recognizing Elburn for using transit oriented and conservation oriented development to control growth.
61. Held joint Veterans Day parade and ceremony with our American Legion Post.
62. Conditionally approved Kirk Homes "Welch Fields" concept plan on northwest side.
63. CNN/Money magazine designated Elburn as "best residential bet" in "Great Lakes Horseshoe" megapolitan region.
64. Completed 10,510 lineal feet of street asphalt crack sealing.
65. Celebrated "Bucky Beaver" while he was with us, and told the truth of his demise.
66. Approved and awarded first village fascade grants to Express Evaluations for window and awning improvements.
67. Approved change in Meadows Phase 2 senior housing from apartments to condominiums.
68. Approved proposal to excavate Prairie Park pond that dried out during summer drought.
69. Approved 3-year lease with our American Legion Post to rent office space for special census and future office space needs.
70. Amended holiday schedule to provide 12 holidays for village employees.
71. Replaced 209 MXU batteries for radio remote water meter reading.
72. Completed conversion to GASB-34 audit standards requiring complete statement of assets in place, including 14.4 miles of water mains, 13.1 miles of streets, 17.3 miles of sanitary sewers, 13.8 miles of storm sewers, and 19.6 miles of sidewalks. These figures do not include any new infrastructure added in the Blackberry Creek subdivision.

I could go on, but let's just stop there. This list represents more than one significant accomplishment each week in 2005. All of this happens because many fine people work together to get things done in Elburn.

I am thankful for the efforts of all our department heads and employees. I am especially thankful for the dedication of our village trustees who represent and support the efforts of this wonderful organization and community.

The year 2006 will be filled with opportunity, challenge and promise. It will be a very interesting year in Elburn. Happy New Year, everyone!

Metra Getting Ready to Really Fly!

The Metra Board of Directors has announced that commuter passenger service will return to Elburn beginning on Monday, January 23, 2006 after a 50-year hiatus. It is my understanding the US Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta have both been invited to attend Elburn's opening ceremony.

Ceremony details will be available after the new year, as will an updated train schedule for both the Elburn and Lafox station additions to the UP West Line.

Our ceremony will likely include a press conference and speeches at Village Hall, followed by a bus tour of the new Metra facilities. I intend to lobby for a short train ride as well. These are exciting times for Elburn, as Metra's $134 million "new start" extension culminates over 16 years of planning process and railroad construction within the Village of Elburn.

You Gotta Climb!

To get to the top, you gotta climb from the bottom. Here's the "early" line on Elburn's priority goals for 2006.

First, we have to shift our focus from water to waste water. Our waste water treatment plant was an award winning facility when it was first constructed. In 2006, our treatment plant needs a little "love." We have begun some of our work there already, but next year we really need to commit to return our waste water treatment plant to "tip-top" shape.

Second, we must begin to address our municipal space problems. Soon, our village board will vote on a lease agreement to rent the main floor of the American Legion Community Center for the next three years. This is a great fit for both organizations. The Legion has been gracious with their lease terms, and we greatly appreciate their willingness to create a new synergy on Main Street. We initially intend to conduct our special census out of this facility. Then, eventually, we hope to move the village building and permit department there as well.

Our third organizational goal in 2006 will be to work with the alphabet soup of corporate and government entities that can help us bring a train whistle quiet zone back to Elburn. This is no small task, as inter-agency cooperation will be required from the UP, FRA, ICC, IDOT, and Metra. The Federal regulations allow four-quadrant gate systems, but the UP doesn't want them on the west line. Metra has offered us a photo-enforcement alternative, but the FRA hasn't approved that as a sole supplemental safety measure. You get my drift. Regardless, 2006 is the year we need to make some serious headway on solving this annoying "quality of life" issue once and for all.

Finally, next year should be the year that Elburn and several of our municipal neighbors get very active negotiating formalized boundary agreements. Four of our neighbors have expressed an interest in talking with us regarding this excellent planning tool to control growth. But, you can't rush these agreements. People need time to get comfortable with the ramifications.

Please keep in mind that the boundary agreements themselves are not a panacea. And, the greatest threat to Elburn has not come from municipalities that deal with growth issues every day. Rather, the greatest threat to Elburn has come from a citizen group attempting to incorporate a town right on top of us.

So, there you have it. In 2006, Elburn will make upgrades to our waste water treatment plant, we will expand municipal functions into a leased facilty, we will intensify our efforts to establish a railroad quiet zone and we will get going on boundary agreements. You gotta keep climbing!

The photograph asssociated with this blog is the summit of Sulphur Mountain just outside Banff, Alberta. Click here for the Banff Gondola website and live webcam.

It's Called Teamwork!

My wife loves horses. So, when we visit SeaWorld, we pretty much have to check in on the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. I have to admit that the raw power, grace and beauty of these amazing animals is undeniable.

But, where my wife appreciates the awesome sight of the fully dressed and hitched Budweiser wagon barrelling down the street, what I see is an incredible metaphor for teamwork.

Each animal knows his exact place in line, each shares the weight of the wagon load, and all pull towards a common goal following the lead of an experienced driver. There is mutual trust, and a shared vision that working together generates benefits for everyone.

Once this dynamic compilation of man and animal is set in motion, everything else simply falls into place.

So much for the "teamwork" metaphor.

Now, if we could just book an act like this in the Elburn Days parade. That would really be something!

Oh, and could someone stop playing that Budweiser theme music in my head.

'Tis the Season

I have always thought that Elburn's holiday decorations on Main Street look particularly nice. This year our illuminated snowflakes have been quite effective attracting an early snow to the village.

But we can do better. Here is a picture of the Osborne Family "Spectacle of Lights" from Disney's MGM Studios this year. The Osborne display contains 5 million lights, 32 miles of extension cords, 66 roof mounted snow machines, 150 angels, 43 hidden "Mickeys," and takes 800,00 watts of electicity to power up.

I bet Elburn's Superintendent of Public Works Art Sanchez is very relieved that he doesn't have to coordinate the installation, removal and storage of a display like this each year. What do you think Art? Wouldn't this look great on Main Street? It's just a thought. 'Tis the season!

Mayor's Blog Taking a Short Break

I will be taking a short break from blogging December 3rd through December 11th. For those of you visiting this mayor's blog for the first time, there is still plenty to read here about the Village of Elburn. For those of you who visit the Elburn mayor's blog regularly, I will be back really soon.

Thank you to the Elburn Herald and reporter Matt Brennan for the nice article concerning the first birthday of this blog. And, special thanks to Jim, Lisa, and Thomas Liedberg for their very kind comments and observations in the article itself.

I'm glad that Thomas was able to use some of the Civil War links posted on this blog for a school project. It seems like every time I visit a historical battlefield, I learn something about leadership that applies to the challenge of building a community today. The crucible of war brings out the best and the worst of human nature. I am always looking to learn about the "better angels" of our nature.