Village Manager's Message

As the weather slowly, almost grudgingly warms into Spring, the Village is doing those things that go with spring. The water fountains in the parks (except by the skate park) are on, and even more importantly, the Splashpad water is on too. The swimming pool should be filled this week or the following week. It will soon be time for summer concerts in Cortesi Park with Petty Cash opening on June 5 at 6:30 pm.

The Chamber of Commerce welcomed Spring at Tribute Food & Bar (324 E. Central Blvd) Saturday at noon for their Grand Opening. Tribute offers, “the flavors of Canada, the US & Mexico!” In addition to the bar, there is a gelato stand and food truck across Central Blvd from the Illinois Prairie Path (IPP).

Thank you to the F.U.N. Commission and other volunteers, by the way, for doing their annual clean-up along the IPP and the Great Western Trail (GWT). I was unable to participate this year, but this annual event makes a tremendous difference in keeping the trails clean and the environment healthy. The paths are also safer due to the installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at the intersection of IPP and Monterey Avenue, the intersection of the GWT Trail and Harvard Avenue, and the GWT and Ardmore. This was a priority of the Board of Trustees, so we intend to have RRFBs added at the IPP and Harvard, and the IPP and Summit before the end of the year.

The Village continues to pursue abatement of the property by the Metra Train Station. This week in adjudication court, they were granted an additional two-week continuance until June 5. The rubble that has been there for two years was kept on site to serve as aggregate for the EcoTerra project with the goal of reusing as much material as possible. At this point, however, the project has come to an end, and the banners currently hanging on the fence promising a project soon to come are not actually legal because the project has been closed out. The Board of Trustees has met in open and executive session looking for a way to move the process along as quickly and efficiently as possible to get the property cleaned up and eventually developed.

I met with staff and BS&A staff as I worked on the budget document for 2025 last week, and also attended the monthly Manager’s meeting at DMMC. I had my last weekly meeting with outgoing President Nick Cuzzone and my first weekly meeting with incoming President Kevin Patrick. I also met with department heads in the regular Tuesday meeting and individually.

View the full weekly report here. All weekly and monthly reports can be found in our Document Center under Village Manager.

Matt Harline

Village Manager