Summer 2021 the CRACKER BARREL Honoring the age-old tradition of when early German settlers of Schaumburg shared the day’s stories and news with one another while sitting around the cracker barrel. SCHAUMBURG ASSISTS WITH VACCINATION EFFORTS The Village of Schaumburg would like to thank Jewel-Osco and the member communities of the Northwest Suburban Illinois JEMS (Joint Emergency Management System) for their partnership on the March 17 and April 7 mass vaccination events held at the Schaumburg Convention Center. Because of this partnership, nearly 6,000 individuals were able to receive two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The village would also like to thank the many event volunteers for helping the mass vaccination events run so smoothly, vendors like ProvenIT that provided copiers and other resources and village staff who helped organize logistics for the events. Each event had more than 100 volunteers that were supplied by the 11 JEMS communities and included Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers, Citizen Police Academy Alumni volunteers, and a variety of other government agency volunteers such as the library, park district, township and other municipal employees. The village continues to explore additional vaccination opportunities and is planning other events in May. For more information, dial 311 in Schaumburg. Village Trustee Marge Connelly Retires After Decades of Service The village extends its congratulations and gratitude Connelly was the first woman to serve on the to Trustee Marge Connelly who is retiring after 26 Schaumburg Park District Park Board from years of service with the Village of Schaumburg 1983 to 1995 and went on to join the village’s and more than 40 years of dedicated service to Zoning Board from 1995 to 1997. She was the Schaumburg community. Her contributions appointed to village trustee in August 1997 by have increased the quality of services offered former Mayor Al Larson and was first elected to residents, enhanced the arts community and as a trustee in April 1999. Trustee Connelly enriched Schaumburg’s overall quality of life. remains just one of five women in the village’s Trustee Connelly’s life in public service began history to serve in this capacity. She was also in the 1970s when she became involved with Chair of the Engineering and Public Works various civic organizations and activities across Committee, a member of the Finance, Legal, Schaumburg. She was a church parish council Administration, General Government (FLAGG) president, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Committee, a member of the Health and member, and an American Red Cross babysitting Human Services Committee, a member of the class instructor. Connelly was recognized by 1% for Art Committee, a director on the Prairie the Schaumburg Jaycees as Outstanding Young Center Arts Foundation Board, and a board Woman in 1978. In 1979, she joined a local citizens member of the Schweikher-Langsdorf House group that was credited with securing the passage Preservation Trust. Trustee Connelly’s last day Continued on Page 3 of the referendum to build parks in Schaumburg. in the office was April 27. For the most up-to-date information regarding village programs, services, events and COVID-19, visit www.schaumburg.com. 2 the CRACKER BARREL www.schaumburg.com FISCAL YEAR 2021/22 BUDGET APPROVED The Village of Schaumburg has emerged from the Fiscal Year Specific highlights include: 2020/21 having reduced expenditures more than $23 million during • Continuing to offer need-based forgivable loans to small the year to address a revenue loss of $38 million. Additionally, the businesses to assist with eligible operating expenses village reaffirmed its AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s • Completing a village-wide leak detection program to reduce Global Ratings Agency and restructured outstanding bonds to water loss in the public and private water system, which will allow achieve a savings of $25 million. the village to maintain reasonable water utility rates The Village of Schaumburg’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22 budget • Continuing efforts to provide additional emphasis and training on was approved on April 27 and begins the process of reinstating diversity, equity, and inclusion some operations and programs that were reduced in the previous • Continuing marketing and advertising campaigns to promote year because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. No new Schaumburg as a place to live and visit increases in property tax or other taxes are included in the budget. Although the budget charts an optimistic financial plan given • Conducting a National Community Survey to obtain community vaccine distribution and restrictions being lifted on local businesses, feedback that will allow the village to adjust strategic priorities the village remains cautious based on a fragile economy that is at coming out of the pandemic the early stages of what is expected to be a gradual recovery. The budget includes funding for the CIP, which was approved by the Village Board in January 2021. The plan proposes $43.3 million in The FY 2021/22 budget has projected total revenues and other capital improvements of which $32.4 million is to be funded by the financing sources of $248 million and projected total expenditures village. Prior to the pandemic, the three-year average annual spend in and other financing uses of $244 million for the fiscal year that the CIP was $59 million with the village’s share at $41 million. At this begins May 1, 2021, and ends April 30, 2022. The proposed plan lower level, the CIP is focused on those infrastructure improvements will be closely monitored and adjusted quarterly as necessary, that have been identified as a high priority by the Village Board and as was the case throughout FY 2020/21 to ensure expenses are are in the most critical need of repair. appropriately tracked with revenues. For more information on the approved FY 2021/22 budget, visit the Reinstatement efforts include plans to fill many of the village’s village's website at www.schaumburg.com/budget, contact Lisa previously vacant positions that were strategically held open but Petersen, Director of Finance, at [email protected] or dial have been deemed essential to maintain service to the community; 311 in Schaumburg. a tentative plan for a phased restoration of Woodfield Trolley services beginning in August; funding to assist with vehicles in need of replacement, modified operations at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts based on allowed programming; and the implementation of a basic Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). 3 Summer 2021 the CRACKER BARREL Trustee Marge Connelly Retires (Continued) Village Trustees Trustee Connelly said she is particularly proud of her work protecting the village's open Sworn In space during her tenure with the village and park district. As the community matured, she made sure open space remained a primary focus for any new developments, parks or recreation facilities. Trustee Connelly hopes she will be remembered as someone who always kept the community’s best interests at heart. “With every project and initiative, I remained open- minded and always made decisions based on the facts presented by staff, the community and developers. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to serve such a vibrant, dynamic and growing community over the years. Even though I am retiring from my role as a village trustee, I will continue to live in Schaumburg and encourage others to give back to the community by serving on a board, committee, or commission. There are many rewarding opportunities to explore in Schaumburg including those with the village, park district, library, schools and other area organizations,” Trustee Connelly said. The village wishes Trustee Connelly well in her retirement. NEW SUMMIT GROVE SUBDIVISION In August 2020, the Village Board approved a single-family subdivision on the vacant property owned by Township High School District 211. The site consists of 62 acres located between Weathersfield Way, Plum Grove Road, Wise Road and Summit Drive. The development includes 149 homes with two points of vehicular access to the development with street connections at Summit Drive and Plum Grove Road. Large amounts of open space will remain on the property in the form of wetland preservation, detention ponds, a homeowners association park, and landscape areas. Bike paths will also be constructed with Joining the Village Board is new trustee the development to provide connectivity for the subdivision and the village. Home sizes range Jamie Clar. Clar has held a variety of village from 2,868 to 4,157 square feet with a variety of models and elevations. and community positions, most recently as chair of the Schaumburg Plan and Electrical A land development permit was issued for the project in April and the developer began Commissions. He fills the trustee vacancy left work to remove trees and mass grade the property. A temporary sales office will be by Marge Connelly’s retirement. located off of Summit Drive but will be relocated to the model homes when constructed. The model homes will be located near the Kingsport Drive entrance to the subdivision. Current Village Trustees Frank Kozak and Completion of the development is estimated to take place over the next 5 years. Additional Jack Sullivan were sworn in during the information on this development, including detailed plans, is available on the village’s April 27 Village Board meeting to serve website at www.schaumburg.com/d211property. For questions, contact Marisa Krawiec at another four years on the Village Board [email protected] or dial 311 in Schaumburg. following their successful re-election this spring. Kozak has served as an elected trustee since 2009; Sullivan was elected COVID-19 Resources in 1993. Even though community vaccination efforts are well underway in Cook County and To learn more about all of Schaumburg’s Schaumburg, the village continues to maintain its COVID-19 page on the village’s website trustees and obtain their contact with helpful information, resources and community assistance programs.