The new year brings fresh starts. Find out what Bartlett residents hope to be improved in the community in 2010.
Megan McBrearty, Bartlett resident
The goal Keep pond skating available and safe in Bartlett
The problem The village said the cost of sending out crews each day to check the safety of ponds for ice skating costs them between $3,000 and $4,000 annually. As a result, they have decided to eliminate that maintenance this winter. Residents will only have the option to skate on manmade waterways. Losing this option will disappoint many families and children who look forward to this tradition, said Bartlett resident Megan McBrearty.
How to fix it McBrearty suggests cutting the budget elsewhere, but that could be difficult in these economic times. Another solution would be to find corporate sponsors. “Ask local businesses to donate money or sponsor a pond,” McBrearty said. “Have their company name on a sign to show they helped pay for the clearance of snow and inspection of the ice for safety.” As a business owner of Main Street Mortgage Inc. in Bloomingdale, McBrearty said she would be willing to do that for her community.
Jim McCarthy, Bartlett Fire Protection District board president
The goal For taxing bodies to survive the economic downturn
The problem Taxing revenue is holding steady but due to contract obligations, expenses of taxing bodies are increasing. “While expenses are up and revenue is steady, we are faced with the challenge of being ever mindful of all our expenses,” McCarthy said. With the Consumer Price Index at 0.1 percent last year, Bartlett taxing bodies must find a way to keep their costs down and services steady.
How to fix it McCarthy suggests grants as a source of revenue. The Bartlett Fire Protection District has received $950,000 for personnel, $300,000 in communications and $45,000 for turn-out gear through grants, he said. “We have gotten corporate grants, federal grants. There are a whole host of people and places to look for grants,” he said. “The key is having people who write (grant proposals), and we have been very fortunate to have skilled people.” But for those that need help, there are classes available for grant proposal writing, he said.
Frank Napolitano, Bartlett Village Board trustee
The goal Enhance the quality of water
The problem Currently, the village of Bartlett has a blend of Fox River water and its own municipal well water, which is an issue residents bring up regularly, Napolitano said. Increases in barium have caused the water to exceed the Maximum Contaminant Level, and have compromised the effectiveness of the existing radium removal system.
How to fix it One of the remedies for this is to continue to perform radium removal, however the radium has reappeared after previous removal attempts, Napolitano said. “As the radium reappears, we have taken those wells with radium out of service,” Napolitano said. “In my opinion, the best long-term solution would be to join in either the DuPage Water Commission, which would bring Lake Michigan water to our residents, or get 100 percent of our water from the Fox River.” Radium and barium removal projects are included in Bartlett’s 2010-2014 capital budget.
Wayne Johnson, 2nd Vice President of the Bartlett Lions Club
The goal Build value in children through improved education, the arts, community sports and thought-provoking activities
The problem Bartlett children’s attitudes and outlooks on life need improvement, Johnson said. “(If improved), they would have a better chance at being who they really want to be in their adult life,” he said. Johnson believes actions such as residents speaking negatively about School District U-46 affects students’ morale and attitude, which opens the door to complacency and drugs.
How to fix it “Build a team of people who can focus on different areas for the children,” Johnson said. “In the beginning, there’s no one area that should be exempt.” The team would be comprised of community members who specialize in different areas and work towards enhancing children’s values through after-school, community events. “We can do a lot, but we need the village to back the ideas with money, volunteers, ideas and people who are willing to step in and make a positive impact to a community,” Johnson said.
John Sias, Bartlett branch manager of Edward Jones
The goal Bring business downtown
The problem Sias said downtown Bartlett, including Bartlett Plaza where his business is located, could use a lot more traffic. The Bartlett Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Fest was a great event that brought business to the downtown area, yet the organization discontinued it a few years back, he said. Sias believes adding more events such as Bartlett Summer Fest would bring residents who live west of Route 59 into downtown Bartlett.
How to fix it Sias believes the solution is not only the addition of events, but the promotion of existing ones. “You don’t always need a new program,” he said. “You could embellish things that are already happening.” One example is the Forth of July parade. More advertisements would bring additional awareness and business, he said.
