Morton Grove Election Topics -- Village Accomplishments Under Action Party Leadership

Morton Grove, IL, February 23, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The Village of Morton Grove concluded another very challenging year in light of the economic downturn which is affecting many municipalities across our nation. Faced with decreasing revenues, Mayor Daniel Staackmann and the Village Board have worked hard to cut expenses, but continue to maintain essential services at the high level residents of Morton Grove have come to expect. Since 2009, the Village Board, under the leadership of the Action Party, has continued to move the Village of Morton Grove forward.

Major construction and development projects include a new two-story patient wing at Bethany Terrace Nursing Home; a new 112-bed Alzheimer’s/memory-care assisted living facility at the old Jamaican Gardens site; the “Homestead of Morton Grove,” an independent 82-unit senior living facility in the Lehigh/Ferris TIF district; a newly remodeled plumbing and décor showroom, Apex Kitchen & Bath, opened on Waukegan Road; extensive remodeling of Crazy Jaws, a restaurant on Waukegan Road; and a popular restaurant, Culver’s, set to open in the Village Plaza shopping center at Dempster and Harlem Avenues.

In the area of economic development, a new Director of Community and Economic Development was hired; the Village Board adopted a new Sign Code, providing a streamlined sign review and approval process; a “Community Profiles Program” was initiated to promote local businesses in an effort to emphasize the importance of buying local; and the Morton Grove Farmers’ Market, which was organized by volunteers with support and assistance from the Village, had its first successful season.

Public safety and social services boasted the following accomplishments: the average response time for fire and EMS calls was less than four minutes; an outdoor warning siren was installed at Austin & Church, giving 98% coverage for emergency notification; grants in excess of $162,000 were obtained to purchase eight fire simulation training computers and 25 self-contained breathing apparatuses; the BASSET alcohol safety training program was implemented; $100,000 worth of grants were initiated for funding of police squad computers and bulletproof vests; and a public-private partnership between the Village of Morton Grove and North Shore Senior Center was established to provide senior programming at no cost to the Village.

There were many achievements regarding roads and infrastructure, including new water mains which were installed on Dempster Street and Ferris Avenue; 3.5 miles of streets were resurfaced, including Central, Lehigh, and Lincoln/Ferris Avenues; the Lincoln/Ferris Avenue streetscape was installed; a new 112-space commuter parking lot was constructed on Chestnut Street; the north Water Tower was repainted; 87 new trees were planted, 615 were trimmed, and 119 were removed; an overhead sewer assistance program was developed to provide interest-free loans to residents; and 1,500 tons of leaves were collected, 13,500 miles of streets swept, and 15,000 miles of roads were snow-plowed.

Finally, the Village of Morton Grove’s bond rating increased from Moody’s AA3 to Standard & Poor’s AA.

The Action Party’s candidates for the April 5, 2011 municipal election are incumbent Trustees Shel Marcus, John C. Thill, and Maria S. Toth.

The Action Party, a grassroots Morton Grove-based political party, prides itself in the fact that its members are non-partisan – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – who are dedicated to providing the Village of Morton Grove with experienced, independent, and dedicated leadership.

Look for more information about the Action Party of Morton Grove, its candidates and accomplishments, and the upcoming April 5 election on: www.actionparty.org. Follow the Action Party’s Facebook page (Action Party of Morton Grove). Email the Action Party at contact@actionparty.org.

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