City of LaSalle 2008 Progress Report

Business Growth Residential Growth Construction Projects Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades Community Enhancements - Tourism

Business Growth

Residential Growth

Construction Projects

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades

Community Enhancements - Tourism

Business Growth Over 85 million in commercial and industrial investments over the last few years 44 new homes in this same time period INVESTING IN LASALLE Leading to. . .

Over 85 million in commercial and industrial investments over the last few years

44 new homes in this same time period

INVESTING IN LASALLE

Business Growth INVESTING IN LASALLE

INVESTING IN LASALLE

Business Growth New Businesses Con-way Freight opened in LaSalle in late October 2008. The new facility includes a 250-door, cross-dock truck terminal Con-way Freight Truck Terminal Groundbreaking was held on Nov. 5, 2007

New Businesses

Con-way Freight opened in LaSalle in late October 2008. The new facility includes a 250-door, cross-dock truck terminal

Business Growth Machinery Maintenance continues to invest in LaSalle and began construction of a main office last year New Businesses

Machinery Maintenance continues to invest in LaSalle and began construction of a main office last year

New Businesses

Business Growth Kentucky Fried Chicken rebuilt “ We looked at moving out of LaSalle but saw revitalization and investment in the city and decided this was the best location for us” New Businesses

Kentucky Fried Chicken rebuilt

“ We looked at moving out of LaSalle but saw revitalization and investment in the city and decided this was the best location for us”

New Businesses

Business Growth Lock 16 Visitor Center Opened New Businesses

Lock 16 Visitor Center Opened

New Businesses

Business Growth Demolition makes way for new opportunities Shea’s Building Apartments @ 8 th & Joliet

Demolition makes way for new opportunities

Shea’s Building

Apartments @ 8 th & Joliet

Business Growth Renovations : Kaskaskia Hotel Work continues on the renovation of this historic hotel which was added to the Register of Historic Places on Jan. 22, 2007. More information can be found on their Web site at http://kaskaskiahotel.com

Renovations :

Residential Growth Country Aire and Vermilionvue Subdivisions continue to develop with new homes filling up each subdivision New Home Construction

Country Aire and Vermilionvue Subdivisions continue to develop with new homes filling up each subdivision

Residential Growth Prepared for the Future ~3000 acres of available land 7 TIF districts offering development incentives

Prepared for the Future

~3000 acres of available land

7 TIF districts offering development incentives

Construction Road Construction Last year finished the road project funded through sales tax proceeds Completed ~160 blocks total

Road Construction

Last year finished the road project funded through sales tax proceeds

Completed ~160 blocks total

Construction Downtown Streetscape Improvements The city has continued with the Downtown Beautification Project with the addition of the following amenities on several blocks of First Street: Decorative and stamped concrete Trees Additional handicap ramps

Downtown Streetscape Improvements

The city has continued with the Downtown Beautification Project with the addition of the following amenities on several

blocks of First Street:

Decorative and stamped concrete

Trees

Additional handicap ramps

Construction Improved Water Treatment Improved and more efficient water plant treatment system went online in 2008

Improved Water Treatment

Construction Increased Water Supply Well 12 went online

Increased Water Supply

Construction Sanitary Sewer Extension – Road Repair Extended sanitary sewer to original Golfview Subdivision & repaired road failures

Sanitary Sewer Extension – Road Repair

Construction Sanitary Sewer Extension to Oak Ridge Subdivision With the cooperation of Senica’s Golf Course, the city finished the sanitary sewer extension to Oak Ridge Subdivision

Sanitary Sewer Extension to Oak Ridge Subdivision

Construction City crews upgraded water main along Gooding Street To save $$ city crews repaired portions of the road Contractor used to upgrade curb and sidewalks Innovative Construction Methods

City crews upgraded water main along Gooding Street

To save $$ city crews repaired portions of the road

Contractor used to upgrade curb and sidewalks

Construction Work continued in the parks with upgrades to walkways, increased landscaping, and accessible improvements Park Improvements Continue

Work continued in the parks with upgrades to walkways, increased landscaping, and accessible improvements

Construction Meter Read System City’s innovative water read system is 95% complete Large meters primarily remain to be replaced

Meter Read System

City’s innovative water read system is 95% complete

Large meters primarily remain to be replaced

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades GIS IMPLEMENTED IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS A geographic information system (GIS) was installed on computers throughout several departments This software allows staff to monitor and research property information saving time and costs Maps are easily generated for staff or residents The GIS is also used by departments to inventory and map assets like signs and roadways

GIS IMPLEMENTED IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS

A geographic information system (GIS) was installed on computers throughout several departments

This software allows staff to monitor and research property information saving time and costs

Maps are easily generated for staff or residents

The GIS is also used by departments to inventory and map assets like signs and roadways

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades GIS IMPLEMENTED IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS

GIS IMPLEMENTED IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades Street Sign Installations The city began replacements of street signs in order to meet new federal requirements

Street Sign Installations

The city began replacements of street signs in order to meet new federal requirements

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades Last year the city experienced the worst flooding ever in the area causing the loss of much of the city’s wastewater treatment plant facility Staff responded quickly and professionally prior to and after the flooding emergency Emergency Disasters - Flooding

Last year the city experienced the worst flooding ever in the area causing the loss of much of the city’s wastewater treatment plant facility

Staff responded quickly and professionally prior to and after the flooding emergency

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades Emergency Disasters - Flooding While the plant was still flooded, staff immediately began preparing a recovery plan Staff posted much of the information online to be accessed internally and by other agencies seeking information Staff spent many hours processing insurance and FEMA paperwork to secure reimbursement

Emergency Disasters - Flooding

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades Emergency Disasters - Snow The city has handled salt shortages over the last two winters due to innovative decisions Staff researched alternate suppliers and vendors to secure adequate supplies Because of this planning and use of different supplies, the city paid significantly less than other cities in Illinois

Emergency Disasters - Snow

Community Enhancements Emergency Notification System The city implemented a code red system to notify residents of emergencies

Emergency Notification System

Community Enhancements Canal Boat Arrives The canal boat arrived at Lock 14 in June 2008

Canal Boat Arrives

Community Enhancements Working with volunteers, the city helped begin a downtown open-air market Downtown Market

Working with volunteers, the city helped begin a downtown open-air market

Community Enhancements Tourism Efforts Increase Tourism group began meeting in 2008 Tourism group is developing a historic walking tour focusing on the downtown

Tourism Efforts Increase

Tourism group began meeting in 2008

Tourism group is developing a historic walking tour focusing on the downtown

Community Enhancements Movie in the Park The city of LaSalle continues to sponsor movies in the park night

Movie in the Park

The city of LaSalle continues to sponsor movies in the park night

Community Enhancements City of LaSalle Online The city of LaSalle continues to use new online tools to engage citizens In 2008, the city used an online microblogging tool to keep residents up-to-date on construction activities for the Golfview project. This was at no additional cost to the city

City of LaSalle Online

The city of LaSalle continues to use new online tools to engage citizens

Community Enhancements City of LaSalle Online The city is beginning to create blogs to increase government transparency and offer citizens information about city operations

City of LaSalle Online

The city is beginning to create blogs to increase government transparency and offer citizens information about city operations

Community Enhancements Library Enhancements The city received additional clocks from James Whitaker The city also received 35,000 children’s books from Open Court Publishing

Library Enhancements

The city received additional clocks from James Whitaker

Looking to the Future Stimulus Projects The city submitted 20 projects for funding by the President’s proposed stimulus funding package including road, water, and wastewater projects

Stimulus Projects

The city submitted 20 projects for funding by the President’s proposed stimulus funding package including road, water, and wastewater projects

Looking to the Future Green Energy The city has started to investigate the use of green energy production not only for its proposed wastewater plant for to help serve existing and future industry

Green Energy

The city has started to investigate the use of green energy production not only for its proposed wastewater plant for to help serve existing and future industry

Looking to the Future Transportation Alternatives With the demand for rail increasing, the city of LaSalle has started researching possible rail routes to serve newly annexed areas

Transportation Alternatives

With the demand for rail increasing, the city of LaSalle has started researching possible rail routes to serve newly annexed areas

Looking to the Future Recreational Opportunities With the help of LaSalle Rotary and Illinois Cement, the city is looking forward to the development of a large park, almost 150 acres, lying between the Little Vermilion River and Interstate 39

Recreational Opportunities

With the help of LaSalle Rotary and Illinois Cement, the city is looking forward to the development of a large park, almost 150 acres, lying between the Little Vermilion River and Interstate 39

Looking to the Future Proud of our past – Excited about our future Mayor Art Washkowiak