Editor's note: The following is information from the village of Montgomery.
As the village of Montgomery embarks on its new comprehensive planning process, village officials are ready to choose a consulting firm to lead the project.
Village officials have invited four finalist firms to present their proposals for consideration at the Committee of the Whole meeting tonight. Firms that will present include Farr Associates and Houseal Lavigne Associates of Chicago, Teska Associates of Plainfield and WFN Consulting of Marietta, GA.
“There is a great variety of talent coming to present to the Board on Wednesday,” said Assistant Village Administrator Jamie Ludovic, who heads the Community Development Department. “We are excited about the skills and expertise the chosen firm will bring to this project.”
The village was awarded a community development block grant from the State of Illinois to develop a new comprehensive plan. In its grant application and request for proposals, the Village indicated that the firm chosen for the project will have experience in municipal planning and community development. The planning process will rely heavily on input from residents and business leaders. The Village’s comprehensive planning timeline indicates the planning process should be complete in December.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity chose Montgomery as a recipient of up to $100,000 from the Illinois IKE Disaster Recovery Planning Program, which was created to give assistance to communities affected by flooding such as what was caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008.
“This award allows Montgomery to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity,” said Village President Marilyn Michelini. “We can develop a new plan that will not only address the flooding issues but will lead Montgomery’s development into the future.”
Montgomery’s current comprehensive plan is a decade old and has become outdated. Embarking on a new comprehensive planning process will allow the Village to create a guide for economic, physical and social development. Elements of the plan may include land use objectives, sustainability considerations, transportation improvements and strategies for effective economic development in Montgomery’s future. This plan will ensure that decisions made by Village leaders are aligned with long-term goals determined by the community.
Montgomery’s Community Development Department applied for the grant in the spring. Assistant Village Administrator Jamie Ludovic, Planner Jerad Chipman and Administrative Intern Lauren Stott compiled the application materials and structured the application narrative around flooding events Montgomery has struggled with in the past, including the 1996 incident and effects of Hurricane Ike in 2008.
In order to have been considered for this grant, applicants must lie within federally-designated disaster area counties. Montgomery exists within Kane and Kendall counties, both covered by a FEMA 2008 disaster declaration.
