A Message from the Mayor

 

 

February-March 2012

 

Dear Dolton Families and Friends,

As we move into the third month of the new year, we are staying on track with the goals and plans that we set for 2012. I have some great updates on what is happening so far across our community.

In December, we announced that the Village would begin to develop a comprehensive plan to guide future growth and redevelopment and to identify needed improvements. On the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Village Hall, planning consultants meet with Dolton residents in order to get input on ways that we can improve and redevelop our community. I encourage everyone to come out and participate in these meeting. They are shaping the future of Dolton, and your input is important during this process. I also encourage everyone to take the community survey online at vodolton.org. If you do not have a computer in your home, there will also be an opportunity for you to fill out the survey at the planning meetings. Thus far, we have discussed building new infrastructure, attracting new businesses, and different ways that we can work together to ensure constant growth and development in the Village. These efforts are 100% grant funded, and we do not want to miss out on this opportunity to develop a blue print for success.  We look forward to everyone’s full participation as this process continues.  

As we work to move Dolton forward, we also plan to introduce a new referendum on the March 20th ballot. The referendum will ask residents to allow us to work toward electrical/municipal aggregation in the Village. Electrical aggregation is similar to bulk buying. It is the process of purchasing electricity at a "bulk" rate. In order to do this, we have to "aggregate." This will help us and our residents save money on energy costs.  The total projected savings is expected to reach $1.7 million dollars per year for the next two years. We ask for the support of each of our residents in this effort. If we are to continue to move forward, we have to do so in innovative ways that protect the best interests of our entire community.

Comprehensive planning and municipal aggregation are two big initiatives on our list.  The other is our participation in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). We recently approved an ordinance authorizing new development in the Village of Dolton. Under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, abandoned homes and eye sores in the Village that are owned by the Village will be rehabbed and made into brand new single family homes. Soon, we can expect construction on nearly a dozen abandoned homes in our neighborhoods. These homes will represent new construction that helps to raise market values for surrounding properties. This is extremely exciting for us, and I know that it must be exciting for many of our residents as well.

Last, but certainly not least, we recently welcomed two new full-time police officers who will join the Dolton Police Department in their efforts to keep crime down and keep our communities safe. Police Officer Jeffery Devries and Police Officer Joel McQueen have been serving the Village of Dolton for three years as part-time officers. We are happy to welcome them on full-time. If you see them please offer them congratulations and thank them for their work in the community.

In closing, I will work to keep everyone informed of our progress as we work together and continue to move forward.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Thank you for your help and your support. Don’t forget to vote in the primary election on Tuesday, March 20th, and don’t forget that my door is always open for you.

Archived:

A Letter from the Mayor Feb-Mar 2012

A Letter from the Mayor Dec-Jan 2012

A Letter from the Mayor Sep-Oct 2011

A Letter from the Mayor Jul-Aug 2011

A Letter from the Mayor May 2011

A Letter from the Mayor April 2011