Oswego village president touts business growth, village finances, new waste hauler pact in State of the Village address

Oswego Village President Troy Parlier touted the village’s growth potential, strong financial position and the pending opening of several new restaurants during his annual State of the Village address Feb. 24 at the Classic Cinema’s Kendall 11 theater.

Parlier also announced the village will sign a seven-year contract extension with its solid waste hauler, Groot Inc.

The contract extension, which will go before the Village Board in March for approval, includes a 2.9% monthly rate increase, a $0.64 increase to each resident’s bill. The village’s current contract with Groot calls for a 4% monthly increase.

Each resident will receive a 95-gallon waste toter at no additional charge, and those who currently pay for a toter will be refunded, lowering their bill by $2.29 a month, Parlier said.

Yard waste pickup will be free for an extra week (now three weeks a year), and the cost of yard waste stickers will be frozen for the duration of the extended contract.

Groot also agreed to contribute $75,000 annually to the village’s leaf collection program, totaling $525,000 over a seven-year period. Parlier said this would stifle any taxes for residents relating to leaf collection.

Parlier announced that Dairy Barn, the village’s newest ice cream shop and restaurant, will open its doors March 8. Oswego and area residents once again will be able to get ice cream and other food items at the former Dairy Hut location on Main Street downtown.

New Mexican restaurant, former food truck, Freddy’s Off the Chain, will open the doors to its first brick-and-mortar location May 1, at 11 Madison St.

RIOT!! Pizza, a retro-themed arcade serving pizza and craft beer; and Oak and Bean, a specialty coffee and wine bar, are both coming soon to Reserve at Hudson Crossing, also in downtown.

Oswego residents will see an increase in their water bills as the village continues the process of getting Lake Michigan water from the DuPage Water Commission. The project will cost the village $75 million, Parlier said.

Parlier said that he and the Village Board will make sure that future residents will share the cost of the water with current residents, and that seniors and fixed-income residents will be protected.

In an effort to ensure future residents share the cost, Parlier suggested a real estate transfer fee for those buying new homes in the village that would go directly into the water fund. The fee would exclude current residents moving within the village.

Parlier said that tiered rates, to protect seniors and residents on fixed incomes, are going to be a topic of discussion at the next Village Board meeting.

Village residents with four-legged friends can expect the village’s first dog park to be completed in early summer near the village’s public works facility just south of Oswego High School. The park will feature a water fountain, picnic tables and three paddocks: one for small dogs, one for large dogs and one with an obstacle course for agility training, Parlier said.

Venue 1012, the village’s outdoor concert venue at Orchard and Mill roads, has won the American Public Works Association Fox Valley Project of the Year, and the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter Project of the Year awards. Parlier said the venue will be entered in national level competition that has yet to begin.

Parlier said Oswego residents can rely on Venue 1012 for something to do for free every Thursday night this summer. Movies, concerts and events will be held at no cost on Thursdays, with four ticketed events including one national act on Saturdays.

The village has begun the search for a national act, but has yet to approve a contract. Some minor additions to the venue will be made in 2022, including a permanent fence and parking lot resurfacing.

Parlier said village government is blessed to be in the situation it is in financially.

“We have an exceptional village, with an exceptional amount of activity going on,” he said.

Parlier said 38 new commercial businesses opened their doors in the village in 2021, and more than 130 have opened in the past three years.

Parlier said that year to date, general fund revenues are up 11%, general fund expenses are down 3%, and the village has a general fund surplus of $3 million, not including $2.46 million in America Rescue Plan Act funds.

He also noted that sales tax is up 22% fiscal year to date and income tax revenue is up 26%, saying that this was a great indication of growth.

“This is a very telling instrument,” Parlier said, “It shows we’re really growing, we’re drawing people into the community, and that people are spending their money in Oswego.”

Oswego’s unemployment rate was down to 2.6% in December 2021, almost to the level where it was before the pandemic began in March 2020, Parlier said.

The village is expecting hundreds of new housing starts in 2022, with eight active developers and plans for about 400 total single family homes, townhomes, rentals, and senior apartments, Parlier said.