Looking ahead to “an exciting and productive year,” River Grove officials are seeking a fast start on the village’s 2017-2018 fiscal year budget, acting Village President Lynn Bjorvik reported Thursday night.
River Grove is looking to get a jump on its budget, bringing village board trustees and staff together soon in planning sessions, said Bjorvik and Trustee Michele Obaya, chair of Finance and Economic Development, in their reports.
“I know everybody’s ready for workshops for short-term and long-term planning,” Bjorvik said.
The village has previously gone through a budget process, but a new interim finance director coming on board is going to work through his version of budgeting as opposed to what the board has done in the past, Bjorvik explained afterward.
The village’s fiscal year begins May 1, “so we’ve got time. We tend to be always behind the 8 ball, so out of the gate we’re going to start working on it,” she said.
Board members conducted a brisk meeting, holding off action on an ordinance before a number of local government units to establish regulations governing the reimbursement of travel, meal and lodging expenses.
A number of trustee reports, summed up activity in different areas at year’s end, included:
* In December 2016, police responded to 868 calls, including seven auto accidents, including one with an injury. There were no fatalities. Police activities including issuing 121 parking tickets, 54 compliance tickets, and three local ordinance tickets, reported Trustee Jeffery Weiner.
* On the fire side, the department responded to 145 fire calls and 138 emergency medical service calls. Crews made 1,458 total runs during the year, and 1,563 for emergency medical service calls. Total calls for service tallied 2,821, he reported.
* In public works, crews have been cleaning up alleys and filling potholes and patching up water break repairs, reported Trustee Tracy Aller. They also have been out taking down some of the village’s Christmas decorations, she said.
* For the water department, “the streak for having water breaks finally came to an end,” with two occurring in December, Aller reported.
Nevertheless, overall, “it was still a record year with only five total water main breaks, which is a huge boon for the village because those are so costly,” she told trustees.
* On the economic development side, the village’s Finance and Economic Development Committee continues to meet with developers and individuals with interest in the village, reported Obaya.
* The village’s 2017 recreation calendar “is loaded with activities and events for all ages,” reported Trustee Robert Thomas. Open gym was to resume Jan. 9 as well as youth basketball, he said.
