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Making New Year’s resolutions seems to have gone out of fashion — “they’re made to be broken anyway,” seems to be the common sentiment.
But as the calendar turns over to 2012, what better time to look at where towns can improve?
As the last year was winding down, the Lisle Reporter asked public officials, community leaders and regular residents what village issues need to be addressed this year. We also laid some initial steps for each goal.
Every year begins with promise, but expect 2012 to deliver a particular focus on what needs to be done. Not only is it a presidential election year, but thanks to the state’s redrawn political maps, Illinois’ primary races will be more competitive than normal.
Already, incumbents and hopefuls in DuPage County have laid out their “resolutions” — assurances of tighter spending, job creation programs or infrastructure projects.
As the year proceeds, we’ll keep an eye on the progress of these resolutions and all those campaign goals.
Tom Althoff, president and CEO of Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce
THE ISSUE Better digital connection for members
THE PROBLEM The Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce has a website — but you could be forgiven for never visiting it. There is little in the way of content or information about chamber members. For instance, while there is a calendar of events, there’s no way to register to attend. In 2012, Althoff hopes to revamp the website into a resource for businesses as well as Lisle shoppers.
HOW TO FIX IT The chamber is already taking bids for a website developer, and Althoff is dead-set on unveiling a new website. “We are going to do this,” he said. “There’s no question about it.” He hopes with a new website it will not only increase membership — 309 now; 340 is the goal in 2012 — but also get current members more involved. For Lisle residents and shoppers, it could mean a more vibrant business community, and a website would serve as the information hub, Althoff said. “It will make it easier for them to find businesses and services they’re looking for.”
Wayne Dunham, president of the Lisle Heritage Society
THE ISSUE Stronger support for small businesses
THE PROBLEM Lisle was friendly to big businesses in 2011, offering an incentive to Navistar to relocate its headquarters to the village, but Wayne Dunham suggested more could be done for smaller businesses. Recently, the village has seen the end of several of its long-time businesses, including The Bountiful Market and Cafe and Del Debbio’s Northern Italian Restaurant. “I’m seeing empty storefronts everywhere,” he said.
Making New Year’s resolutions seems to have gone out of fashion — “they’re made to be broken anyway,” seems to be the common sentiment.
But as the calendar turns over to 2012, what better time to look at where towns can improve?
As the last year was winding down, the Lisle Reporter asked public officials, community leaders and regular residents what village issues need to be addressed this year. We also laid some initial steps for each goal.
Every year begins with promise, but expect 2012 to deliver a particular focus on what needs to be done. Not only is it a presidential election year, but thanks to the state’s redrawn political maps, Illinois’ primary races will be more competitive than normal.
Already, incumbents and hopefuls in DuPage County have laid out their “resolutions” — assurances of tighter spending, job creation programs or infrastructure projects.
As the year proceeds, we’ll keep an eye on the progress of these resolutions and all those campaign goals.
Tom Althoff, president and CEO of Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce
THE ISSUE Better digital connection for members
THE PROBLEM The Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce has a website — but you could be forgiven for never visiting it. There is little in the way of content or information about chamber members. For instance, while there is a calendar of events, there’s no way to register to attend. In 2012, Althoff hopes to revamp the website into a resource for businesses as well as Lisle shoppers.
HOW TO FIX IT The chamber is already taking bids for a website developer, and Althoff is dead-set on unveiling a new website. “We are going to do this,” he said. “There’s no question about it.” He hopes with a new website it will not only increase membership — 309 now; 340 is the goal in 2012 — but also get current members more involved. For Lisle residents and shoppers, it could mean a more vibrant business community, and a website would serve as the information hub, Althoff said. “It will make it easier for them to find businesses and services they’re looking for.”
Wayne Dunham, president of the Lisle Heritage Society
THE ISSUE Stronger support for small businesses
THE PROBLEM Lisle was friendly to big businesses in 2011, offering an incentive to Navistar to relocate its headquarters to the village, but Wayne Dunham suggested more could be done for smaller businesses. Recently, the village has seen the end of several of its long-time businesses, including The Bountiful Market and Cafe and Del Debbio’s Northern Italian Restaurant. “I’m seeing empty storefronts everywhere,” he said.
HOW TO FIX IT
While the village has done a good job repairing the infrastructure of the downtown, he said, perhaps officials could go a step further to entice businesses. “It’d be nice if they’d come up with some sort of initiative to help the existing businesses,” he said. In a November Village Board workshop, officials reviewed economic development incentives, and in the coming months will consider retooling the village’s grant program.
Jean Fitzgibbon, Lisle resident
THE ISSUE More community events
THE PROBLEM Lisle has it’s share of community events — the Eyes to the Skies balloon festival, last month’s Lights of Lisle holiday celebration — but resident Jean Fitzgibbon said she’d like to see more opportunities for the community to come together in 2012.
HOW TO FIX IT Already this year there was some progress. The village now has Cruise Nights, a vintage car show and block party organized by downtown business owners, during the summer. Perhaps village leaders can lend a hand in planning some more, Fitzgibbon said, or businesses that want to attract people to the downtown could host. She also noted the PrairieWalk Pond, a new greenspace at the intersection of Route 53 and Ogden Avenue. The park opened this year, and a regular community event there could introduce many residents to it, Fitzgibbon said.
Robert Breuder, president of College of DuPage
THE GOAL Increase “3+1 programs” at the College of DuPage
THE PROBLEM Sending student to other institutions for four-year degrees results in expensive tuition for students and takes away human resources away from the area.
HOW TO FIX IT Creating more 3+1 programs — in which students complete three years at COD and one year at another school — will allow students to receive bachelor’s degrees at a lower costs and is more convenient and accessible to students, Breuder said. The programs also give COD professors the opportunity to teach upper-level courses and allow the college to collect tuition for a third year. The college currently has 3+1 programs with several Illinois schools, including Benedictine University. Breuder said COD hopes to add two to three more programs in the future.
Donald Cook, president of the Lisle Park District
THE GOAL Develop a Capital Projects Plan
THE PROBLEM In the past two years, the park district staff has been overtaxed with major projects, Cook said. Thus far on the agenda: a complete overhaul of Woodglenn Park; a makeover and renaming of Golf Course Restaurant; renovating and relocating into the new Recreation Center — all while still maintaining all the parks, facilities and programs. Going forward, officials want a clear picture of what needs to be done.
HOW TO FIX IT Next year, the board will set up a Capital Projects Workshop to start developing a 3–5 Year Plan “in order to better manage upcoming projects and labor while maintaining the districts existing infrastructure and programs,” Cook said.
Clarification (Jan. 10): An earlier version of this article suggested the village hosts Lisle’s “Cruise Nights” car shows. A group of downtown business owners organizes the events.
