Outgoing Lemont mayor says nothing left on to-do list in final state of the village

LEMONT – Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves will leave office in April with the village on solid financial ground.

"We have never been in a stronger financial position,” Reaves said. "We continue to have steady, controlled growth along with exciting new opportunities that come up on a regular basis."

Reaves recently gave his final state of the village address March 2 at a Lemont Chamber of Commerce luncheon, and spoke about his remarks and assessment of the village afterwards with Suburban Life.

When Reaves took over as mayor in 2009, the village had less than $600,000 in general fund reserves. Today, the village has more than $3 million in the bank.

The village built its reserves, Reaves said, by holding back on projects and combining projects, as well as handling more in-house.

"Instead of one project, we would put multiple projects out to bid to save money," Reaves said. "We've re-evaluated contracts and everything we spend money on."

Reaves also points to the village's hiring of a human relations generalist who created wellness plans that cut the village's insurance rate as a major cost-cutting move. The village has also learned to work more efficiently, Reaves said, noting that the village has gone from a population of 16,000 with 78 full-time village employees in 2009 to a population of 16,788 with 64 full-time village employees today.

"We continue to do more with less," Reaves said. "We have taken advantage of technology advances. Our employees work smarter and harder."

One way, the village has used technology to its advantage, he said, is having police officers use tablets for their ticket-writing. Previously, officers had to carry ticket books for all three counties – Cook, DuPage and Will – that the village covers. Now officers use a tablet and upload the information at the police station.

He said the village continues to be fertile ground for business, noting the village welcomed 17 new businesses in 2015 and 19 last year. The mayor said the mix of small businesses and corporate entities, such as Target and Kohl's, works well for the village. Reaves noted that the village also offers unique, destination restaurants, such as La Dolce Vita and Rustic Knead, that draw people to the community.

"The business climate is in our favor," Reaves said. "We will continue to always help foster new businesses in Lemont,"

The village generated more than $1.9 million in sales tax revenue for the first time in fiscal year 2016 and is projected to come close to $2 million in sales tax revenue this year, he noted.

Reaves takes pride in the village, since 2011, having an Aa2 bond rating from Moody's, the second-highest ranking available for a municipality. During that same stretch, Chicago's bond rating has plummeted eight notches, from Aa3 to Ba1, which is below junk bond status; and the state of Illinois' bond rating has dropped three rankings, from A1 to Baa1.

Because one-third of the village's general fund revenue is shared income tax money from the state, the ongoing state budget impasse is concerning to Reaves.

"Funding from the state is always an issue. At any one time, the General Assembly can decide how much we will get," Reaves said. "I am fundamentally against Springfield looking at local municipalities for money. They should not balance their budget on the backs of municipalities."

Reaves opted to not seek a third term, having accepted an executive vice president position for a material handling, logistics and supply chain association in North Carolina. He and his family will move in May.

Two men – village Trustee Paul Chialdikas and businessman John Egofske – are running to replace Reaves.

The mayor said there is nothing on his to-do list as he departs.

"Even a project like assembling parcels of land, we've accomplished," Reaves said. "I am very happy and pleased with the position I am leaving the village in. The Village Board has worked hard to make Lemont the great place it is."