The development of a Comprehensive Plan is being spearheaded by Lyndon’s Board of Trustees with an aim to reach a desired vision of the community, plan for the long-term, and to have an action plan to reference for council decisions and to apply for grants.
Phase I started over the summer when residents were encouraged to offer their feedback and ideas by completing the Lyndon Comprehensive Survey. The responses and data were then compiled by Trustee Tim Hunter, who’s been leading the initiative to put all the ideas and goals on paper to help with future development in the village. There were 165 survey respondents in total – 100 from Lyndon and the rest from surrounding communities.
Phase II consisted of five subcommittee meetings held in October and November to review the survey results for parks/recreation, infrastructure, Lyndon beautification, historical Lyndon, and social events. Hunter was joined by nearly a dozen participants at the five separate meetings, who each contributed their ideas and visions for the village.
Discussions centered on the Lyndon Bridge, Richmond Park, Lyndon Veterans Memorial, Lyndon Fields, roadwork plans, maintenance, and ideas such as a boat ramp, walking tours, neighborhood contests, bringing back the Crow Fest or other events, starting a sister city, and other concepts. The subcommittee results can be found here: Lyndon, IL – Planning Survey (villageoflyndon.org).
Phase III is to put the goals and objectives into achievable categories and timelines of 1-3 years, 4-5 years, 5-10 years, and beyond 10 years, explore grant opportunities, and hold special meetings to develop a working Comprehensive Plan, which Hunter hopes to start up in early 2024.
At these meetings, participants will start to “hash out the goals, objectives, tasks, and budgets needed to accomplish what the community wants.” Once a comprehensive plan draft is finalized, it will be made available to the public for review prior to Lyndon trustees’ approval. Overall, a Comprehensive Plan typically takes up to a year to develop.
Hunter summarized that participation by residents is still highly encouraged and needed since the final Comprehensive Plan will be a blueprint for village officials to use in making decisions to guide the community for the next 10-15 years. Find information about the survey results here.
Also at the Nov. 14 regular board meeting, the council debated whether to authorize a safety deposit box for storage of important village documents, such as titles and executive session meeting minutes, and designating access to the mayor and clerk. After discussions, they approved opening an account for use of a safety deposit box at Farmers National Bank in Prophetstown at a cost of $70 per year.
The council heard a presentation from Robert Lockwood of PC TECH 2U in Rock Falls about switching phones and internet systems to VOIP after StradaComm fiber optics are in operation. Lockwood discussed the rates, features, and services of “going digital,” with the council agreeing to table any action until they review current bills to determine savings and benefits.
Hunter said he received a message from StradaComm that encouraged residents to sign up for the fiber optic service before winter, otherwise they’ll have to wait until spring to get connected.
In other action, the council:
- Amended Lyndon’s raffle ordinance to include specific modifications such as defining raffles versus poker runs, designating a representative from a beneficiary non-profit to attend raffles, and increasing the raffle amounts. The changes are driven by a statute that brings the ordinance up to date.
- Approved the engineer’s payment estimate to Porter Brothers in the amount of $1,263.96, which takes care of the final payment for roadwork.
- Approved a full payment of $50,572 for the Risk Management Association annual contribution. Mayor Becky Piester said the payment covers insurance for the village and there’s a 1% savings if paid in full.
- Approved the annual tax levy ordinance in the amount of $50,067.78, with the taxing rate the same as last year.
- Approved an $5,141.94 Illinois EPA loan payment for the Water Revolving Fund-Drinking Water Project, which is billed to the village semi-annually. The council learned there’s no cost for an EPA yearly contract for testing the water.
- Approved purchasing utility billing cardstock for the new water program from Colette Barnett at a cost of $312.75, which provides 1,500 sheets of the paper for 4,500 bills.
- Discussed garbage truck repairs that totaled $1,337.66, though adjustments need to be made since they received a quote for the wrong tires plus costs for a flat tire. The village owes about $600 more for the correct tires and payment of $558.50 to Harry’s Farm Tires for replacing the flat.
- Received updates about two houses that are in the process of being demolished.
- Piester declared that effective in November, there will be no more monthly finance meetings. The council will instead having quarterly budget meetings, with the first one in Jan. 2024.
After an executive session, the council agreed to offer employment to Nancy Munson as a part-time Grant Writer and Lennie Six as the full-time Public Works Supervisor.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Village Hall.
