Village of Lincolnwood trustees had praise for the village’s first annual report, which gives residents and prospective residents data and information about the village’s operations.
The village of Lincolnwood has launched a green alley project to reduce flooding, issued its first annual report, changed its village government’s fiscal year and made software changes that will let residents obtain permits from their home computers, among other things.
Village Manager Anne Marie Gaura delivered those tidbits and more during her summary of Lincolnwood’s first-ever annual report to the Village Board during its Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 6.
“This is the first of many,” Gaura said. “With the budget tied to the calendar year now, it’s all tying together. The goal is one summary document that can point to and highlight things the organization is doing in a calendar year.”
Village President Jesal Patel and trustees said they were pleased with the 16-page inaugural report.
“This is an excellent addition to our website,” Patel said. “It’s information of what we’re doing day in and day out and year round.”
“As we grow year to year, I know we will grow and change, but taking the initiative to put something like this together is so important for us to be able to look back and think through some of the things we’ve accomplished,” Trustee Atour Sargon said.
The annual report can be viewed online at https://www.lincolnwoodil.org/DocumentCenter/View/3600/2023-Annual-Report
Trustee Grace Diaz-Herrera said the report showcases the “positive outlook” of Lincolnwood.
“We look like a very friendly suburb,” Diaz-Herrera said. “It’s easy to read for residents and good for people who want to move here. People are always asking for information.”
“It looks great,” Trustee Jean Ikezoe-Halevi said. “It’s a nice testimony to what the village did in the past year. I want to thank all of the department heads for coming on very strongly and making so many wonderful changes in the village.”
One of the biggest changes during 2023, according to Gaura, was moving the village from a fiscal year that began on May 1 to one that matched the calendar year, starting on Jan.1. She said the change was made “to ensure financial stability through thoughtful and sustainable budgeting.”
“The modification of the calendar year allows for more efficient bidding for public improvements and infrastructure programs to allow the village to better align with contractors’ schedules,” she said.
Among the other highlights in the first annual report, according to Gaura, were:
- Lincolnwood installed Land Management, or LAMA, software to create a more user-friendly experience for residents and contractors. The software allows the public to submit and track information, make payments and receive permits from home.
- The renovation of Flowers Park began with an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant of $300,000 from the state. Work, including a new playground and resurfaced basketball and tennis courts, is expected to be completed in 2024.
- Barry and Taffy Berger donated another $100,000 to parks and recreation, the second installment of $1 million in grants through 2031. The donations will be used for park improvements, including an accessible playground at Proesel Park and summer camp changes.
- The Police Department received a $63,000 federal grant to acquire body-worn cameras, a $28,000 state grant to enhance retail theft enforcement and prevention, and a $125,000 federal grant over three years to increase staffing to “maintain a high level of service in the growing community.”
- Public works used a $95,000 grant from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to create a “green alley” on the south side of Touhy Avenue between Keating and Kilpatrick avenues. Permeable bricks and a stone base will allow stormwater to drain into the ground before entering sewers.
“The alley is designed to help address possible flooding and assist with stormwater management,” said Charles Meyer, assistant village manager.
