11/01/2026
:::OCTOBER RECAP:::
Happy November 1st Folks.
Hope everyone remembered to reset their clocks back 1 hour this morning and that everyone had a fun and safe Halloween. I know I have been behind on my Weekly updates. The last 6 weeks have been personally busy for me and my family, with unexpected surgeries, illnesses, and trips to the ER. Plus, as always, I played Witch Wanda at our local pumpkin patch.
To make up for that, this post will be an October monthly recap and I will be able to get back to my Weekly Recaps going forward.
October has been filled will the office staff being short-staffed due to employees being at training conferences and being sequestered for a two week jury duty. Meaning, those left in the office needed to pull together in efforts to keep daily activities going. In the meantime, we continue to push outstanding projects forward, such as the update to the Village website (with the official launch Nov. 13th) incorporating the new Agenda and Minutes meeting module (which went live mid Oct.) We internally have a GIS project moving forward to map out our water and sewer system and in process of compiling needs for a long-term facilities plan.
I have attended the Belvidere Chamber annual dinner, the executive committee meeting, the board meeting, and the finance committee meeting this month.
I have attended the Growth Dimensions strategic planning committee meeting and the executive board meeting.
I was interviewed by NorthCOG for the upcoming Legislative Luncheon and attended the NorthCOG meeting.
I attended the Pumpkin Painting with Police with the Boone County Sheriff's Department held at Village Hall.
I attended both Board of Trustee meetings on October 14th and October 28th.
Myself and the Public Works director took our DCEO (who is a provider of grants) reps on a tour of the Village so they can better understand what type of grants may be beneficial for apply for in the future. (Last year we were awarded a $25,000 grant for sidewalks, which was used this year.)
Speaking of grants. The Village won a small $2,500 ComEd Lighting the Holidays grant to purchase additional Christmas Decor, which will be used for new pole decorations on State Street.
I have had numerous calls with Civic Plus, not only for training on the administrations of the website, but looking at potential additional modules that would make the office more efficient and provide better ease of use to you, the residents, businesses, and contractors. (More on that in the future.)
In our few spare moments we have been working on the upcoming Nov. 21st Christmas Tree Lighting event from 4pm - 6pm at Village Hall. Taking inventory, ordering supplies, beginning the marketing, working with our sponsors, etc.
Plus...all the day to day needs of our community. Whether it is building/code related, water/sewer billing, addressing resident complaints and concerns, processing payrolls, or whatever else - October has been a busy.
I look forward to November to be a bit less hectic for me and go into the month being for the ability to continue to serve our community. As always, reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns.
