La Grange Park tried something a little different this year with the Village’s State of the Village event.
Instead of having it in the Village Hall Board Room, it was held Monday at Posto 31, an upscale restaurant located at 1017 E. 31st St.
“We do think this new format will enable the Village to reach out to a larger audience,” Assistant Village Manager Maggie Jarr said of the new venue.
Indeed, unlike past events that drew a few residents, this year’s address drew about 60 people, a mix of Village officials and residents.
Guests were able to enjoy hors d’oeuvres that included pizza, Italian sausages, and finger sandwiches while quenching their thirst at a cash bar.
The format also differed in the presentation.
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In previous years, Village officials read prepared speeches to the audience. This year, the Village contracted with a local company, MRM Video and Photography, to produce a video showing different Village officials talking about their various areas of responsibility.
Village President James Discipio was happy with both the turnout and the progress La Grange Park made over the past year.
“We’ve seen the opening of Andy’s Custard Shop, the renovation of Plymouth Place, and the selling of Oak Avenue School,” he said after the video. “We’re doing great; we’re doing phenomenal.”
Discipio credited the Village staff for the success of the Village coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling them “overworked.”
He also pointed to the decision on outfitting police officers with body cameras a significant development, saying “That’s a huge new step.”
The hourlong video presentation highlighted key developments in the Village in 2022, including the Village Market Streetscape Improvement Plan, the new Arboretum Villas at Plymouth Place, a new Pumper truck for the Fire Department, and the effects on the Police Department of the Illinois SAFE-T Act.
Discipio noted the lingering effects of the pandemic and stressed the progress made.
“Thankfully, we are in a much better place than we were three years ago,” he said.
Village Manager Julia Cedillo noted the efforts by the Village to utilize technology during the pandemic, and said that the police body cameras mandated by the SAFE-T act were an expense worth bearing.
“They are an unfunded mandate but we embraced the change and are implementing it two years early,” she said.
Police Chief Tim Contois also spoke of the new body cameras purchased from Axon Enterprises, noted the two new officers hired during the year, and stressed the importance of the digital speed signs installed at various locations throughout the Village.
“Please remember to obey the posted speed limit,” he said, stressing that if the lights were flashing, “you’re going too fast.”
Contois went on to say that Village Police officers underwent 1600 hours of training in 2022 that were training hours above and beyond regular Police Academy or Field Training.
Public Works Director Rick Radde related how the Village, helped by a grant from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District was able to construct three permeable paver intersections on Monroe Avenue East of La Grange Road.
Fire Chief Dean Maggos talked about the new pumper truck purchased in 2022, a demo unit which will replace a 30-year-old piece of equipment.
Maggie Jarr gave a rundown of significant projects in the Village, including the Village Market Streetscape Improvement Program.
“The Village Market Streetscape Improvement Program is in its final phase and should be before the Board of Trustees for approval in 2023,” she said.
After the video, officials spoke of other issues.
La Grange Park Library Board President Laurie Whitman and Vice President Julie Gies attended and wanted residents to know there was a renovation of the Library schedule for the near future.
“Being part of the community and serving on the Board, we have a good partnership with the Village government and other bodies,” Gies said.
Discipio said that with the Village requiring its on-call firefighters to reside in La Grange Park, it faced staffing challenges.
“We might have to expand our boundaries,” he said.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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