City Happenings

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Where has this year gone? November is upon us, and before you know it, 2010 will be here. I suppose time seems to be flying because many needed city projects are either in-process or are scheduled to begin early next year.

This summer the city council voted to approve a large street repaving project that will complete the city’s 10-year street repaving program in one year. In early October, the city held a bid opening for the project and awarded a bid that came in $30,000 below the engineer projections. Due to the lower than estimated bids, the city is completing some additional street repairs that were not planned for this year. The street paving project began two weeks ago, and thanks to some decent weather, will mostly be completed this fall.

The mayor, city council and I are still cautiously optimistic about the stimulus and state capital project funds the city is eligible for. In the spring, we will resurface portions of Ace Road and Backbone Road using stimulus funds of $270,000. If and when the proposed capital bill funds become available, the city will use its share of funds for street and sanitary sewer repairs.

This fall the city began a large change-out program for street lights. When fully implemented, this program will cut street light electricity usage by 60 percent. Recently, City of Princeton Electric Superintendent Jason Bird was informed of two small grants the city was awarded for this project totaling $47,000. We are still awaiting final word on the $180,000 grant we applied for through the ARRA electric energy efficiency program. Once the city receives final word on that funding, the change-out program will be fully implemented. As a side note, even without a single grant dollar, this project will pay for itself in less than four years by increased efficiency and reduced wholesale power costs.

I would like the public to know what a great job I think Erika Robbins and the Chamber Board are doing to promote our downtown. Recently, the Chamber Board went through several strategic planning sessions, as well as a very successful planning session with downtown merchants. Numerous ideas have come from these meetings including the Chamber’s new Retail Development Group. This group is comprised of current and former business owners and employees. Two of our main goals will be promoting the viability of Princeton’s downtown (all local businesses not just those located downtown) and downtown business recruitment and retention. More now than ever the city and Chamber need to work together to support our entire business community.

Finally I would like to thank all the residents of Princeton, especially Dick Volker for all your help in assisting the city with the railroad crossing project on North Euclid Avenue. After two years worth of phone calls and letters from the city (this does not include the previous years work from city staff and residents), the railroad added the project to their capital plan and had the crossing fixed.

Please feel free to contact me at City Hall with your questions or concerns. You can also visit the City’s Web site at www.princeton-il.com.

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