Bike & Pedestrian Survey July 11th, 2010
Do you have ideas for improving conditions for bicyclists and walkers in Elgin? Are there aspects of bicycling and walking you particularly like or dislike? What keeps you from walking or biking more? The city’s new Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee wants to hear from you. Take this quick survey and give feedback about areas that need better lighting or other improvements: http://www.cityofelgin.org/forms.aspx?FID=159
Info Meeting for Riverside Drive Promenade – Feb 23 February 19th, 2010
The City of Elgin is continuing the vision for its riverfront with the start of the next phase, Riverside Drive Promenade. Downtown property and business owners, employees, residents, and interested citizens are encouraged to attend this special update meeting to learn more about the proposed improvements and construction on:
Tuesday, February 23
6 to 7 p.m.
Grand Victoria Casino
Fox River Room
250 S. Grove Ave.
Downtown Elgin
Hitchcock Design Group will present on the following topics:
- Background of the project
- Proposed improvements
- Construction process
- Schedule and funding
A question and answer session will follow the presentation with representatives from the City, DNA and Hitchcock Design Group.
Click here to download a flyer to post in your business >
Please RSVP to Tonya Hudson, DNA Executive Director, at (847) 488-1456.
Meeting room and refreshments compliments of the Grand Victoria Casino.
For the latest, visit our friends at Downtown Neighborhood Association: http://downtownelgin.blogspot.com/
National Street Station Area Plan Public Meeting #2 – March 2 February 19th, 2010
The City of Elgin Community Development Department and Gail Borden Library will host the second public meeting regarding the National Street Station Area Plan. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 PM at the Gail Borden Library, Conference Rooms A & B.
You are invited to share your thoughts with the consulting team regarding the growht and development of the National Street Station Area Plan.
After several months at the drawing board, the consulting team is ready to present the two concept plans being proposed. Resident input is essential.
For more details, visit the website: http://www.landvision.com/elgin/index.html.
This meeting impacts a vital part of our neighborhood, and the area immediately adjacent. Come make your voice heard on March 2!
Elgin water, sewer rates to rise December 9th, 2009
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Staff
Elgin’s water and sewer rates likely will increase every year from 2010 to 2014, but not as much as previously thought.
Two weeks ago, city leaders held their noses when the staff presented a plan to increase rates by 9 percent each year through 2014.
Wednesday night, council members returned to the budget table to see some increases of 5 percent and 7 percent for the water and sewer rates. Still, several years had a 9 percent hike, which is to pay for water treatment plant expansions and infrastructure improvements.
So if the increases hold true, the final rate in 2014 will be about 7 percent less than if the council went with the plan floated two weeks ago.
The water and sewer rate to start 2010 would be $4.53 per 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons. Even if the total rate rises to $6.06 per 100 cubic feet by 2014, that is still less than a penny per gallon.
Finance Director Jim Nowicki said the department can save money on chemical treatment costs, by completing a replacement program of some 31,000 meters in four years instead of three, and by restructuring its debt.
Councilman David Kaptain said any savings from refinancing debt should be used to try to lower the water rate as a whole.
“We all use water no matter what our income is. The impact on lower income people is costly,” he said.
The next step is for the council to consider adopting the spending plan at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at city hall, 150 Dexter Court.
Despite the progress in tweaking the water rates, the 800-pound gorilla still remains: finding a way to cut $1.4 million to $1.5 million from the fire department’s spending.
Since November 2008, the city has had three rounds of layoffs and offered early retirement to workers. City leaders have said they don’t want to raise taxes and that all departments have cut costs except the fire department.
The fire union has said it is willing to work with the city if it does not impact service. Earlier this week, Schock said both sides need to get something done soon.
“We’ve got about a month. It has to be a real savings, a solid $1.5 million,” he said. “The question is: Is that something we just end up doing or is it something the fire department works with us on?”
Elgin leaders hoping for repeat of last year’s snow removal success December 9th, 2009
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Staff
When it snowed in Elgin two years ago you could bet the city would get an earful of complaints over the telephone or in person at city council meetings.
But complaints tapered off last year as the city bought more salt in advance, upgraded trucks and plows and retooled routes that city plows travel.
As December arrives, city leaders are hoping for a repeat of last year, and have added two salt storage facilities to make operations more efficient.
Mayor Ed Schock is confident that with some luck the city can repeat its snow removal efforts despite the city’s recent budget cuts.
“The variable is what kind of winter we have,” he said. “If we have another winter like last winter, I am pretty confident we can equal our performance, which was generally regarded as pretty good.”
David Lawry, the city’s general services director, is scheduled to give city leaders a presentation Wednesday about snow removal. He did not return phone calls Monday.
One large change last year was creating three primary routes for heavily traveled roads and 19 for subdivisions. In past years, the city did not have plowing routes focusing exclusively on large roads.
Sue Olafson, the city’s public information officer, said the city has 25 drivers and plowing 22 routes covering 325 “center lane” miles, which includes stretches of road that take two or more plows to clear in a pass.
“That’s the equivalent of driving to Peoria and back, to put it in perspective,” she said.
Schock also noted the city will utilize two new salt storage facilities – one on the west side at Bowes Road and Longcommon Parkway, the other on the northeast side near Route 25 and Interstate 90.
“The ability to get salt on the streets – we really enhanced our ability to do that,” he said, adding that plow drivers spend some 20 percent of the time behind the wheel en route to refill on salt.
Money for downtown Elgin work is from TIF district November 16th, 2009
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Columnist
As tough choices near for Elgin’s 2010 budget near, Elgin City Council members could find themselves fighting each other over who gets what in the $277 million spending plan.
Could Elgin budget talks lead to ‘family’ feud? November 2nd, 2009
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Staff
If the Elgin City Council is like a “family,” as Councilman Robert Gilliam says, then perhaps it is having some growing pains.
Elgin laying off more than a dozen workers November 2nd, 2009
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Staff
In an effort to balance their 2010 budget, Elgin city leaders are laying off between 15 to 17 union workers, a move that will save about $1.2 million.
Animal shelter to Elgin: Don’t ban pit bulls October 30th, 2009
ELGIN — Don’t ban pit bulls, but consider other options.
That was the message that Michelle Groeper, director of operations for Anderson Animal Shelter, delivered to the Elgin City Council Wednesday night during the public comment portion of the council’s meeting.
Elgin listens, won’t expand odd-even parking ban October 29th, 2009
By Harry Hitzeman | Daily Herald Staff
With fall in full swing and winter seemingly around the corner, don’t look for Elgin city leaders to expand their odd-even parking area beyond the Gifford Park and South West Area Neighbors parts of town.