Elmhurst has much to anticipate in 2011 including the completion of a massive construction project, finding new leaders to shepherd day-to-day operations of the city and its largest school district, incorporating a change in the membership of the city council and working on the issues that continue to be at the forefront of many residents’ minds: preventing flooding and boosting economic development. (Photos: Big issues in Elmhurst in 2011)

Elmhurst Hospital

Construction of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital at York and Roosevelt Roads, which started in 2008, is nearly finished and the 259-room facility is slated to open its doors in June.

The 866,000-square-foot building sits on 50 acres and is designed to include the latest trends in health care and technology.

“We have designed it with the future in mind so that it can accommodate changes in health care, ensuring it will be as functional 50 years from now as it will be on opening day,” said Leo Fronza, president and chief executive officer of Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.

Flooding

Deluged by more than seven inches of water in a few hours in July, one of the first items on the city’s agenda in January will be to hire an engineer to prepare a comprehensive plan that will outline infrastructure upgrades and other improvements to reduce the impact of flooding. The city also will have to figure out a way to pay for these projects.

Rosemont-based Christopher B. Burke Engineering is currently in negotiations to be hired as the city’s storm water engineer, and would work with city staff and a citizens storm water committee to develop the plan.

Mayor Pete DiCianni said he expects it to take about nine months to come up with a plan that will offer both short- and long- term solutions, and it will be necessary to also take a regional approach.

“I believe the council believes in investing in our community to protect our residents as much as possible,” DiCianni said. “Intergovernmental cooperation (with other communities and DuPage County) will be very important in this process since we are a land-locked community.”

City Manager

As the city addresses flooding, it will also conduct a nationwide search for a new city manager to replace Tom Borchert, who worked for 40 years for the city and will retire in June.

DiCianni said the next city manager must have proven leadership skills as a city manager or as a long-term assistant manager, have excellent people skills and be able to work with other governmental bodies including the schools and park district, as well as the county and state.

The new city manager also will need to “have a keen knowledge of economic development, which is very important to leverage to keep our tax base low while still providing quality services,” DiCianni said.

He said the city wants to have a new manager in place by June.

Election

A change in the city’s elected leadership also will take place in April when the makeup of the city council will change. Seven seats on the 14-member board are up for grabs and some current members, Ald. Susan Rose and Pat Shea are opting not to run again.

Building business

Economic development and boosting the city’s business base is another goal in 2011, according to DiCianni, who said the city is continuing to work on attracting a high-end grocer such as Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.

In partnership with the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce, the city also will launch a Shop Elmhurst campaign in the first few months of 2011. The marketing campaign will emphasize the importance of shopping locally to ensure tax dollars stay in the community.

The city will look at areas that are lagging in development such as the former TCBY store and Brown’s Chicken at York and the Illinois Prairie Path to see if any incentives, such as a Tax Increment Finance District in the area, could spur development.

DiCianni said the areas will be studied to see if they qualify for a TIF and, upon identification, the city would approach the schools and parks with a plan.

New Superintendent

Elmhurst School District 205 is seeking a new superintendent. The board decided in October not to renew the contract of Superintendent Lynn Krizic and it is set to expire in June.

It also is in the process of hiring for other critical posts including the assistant superintendent of business operations and finance, principals at Lincoln and Hawthorne Elementary Schools and assistant superintendent of human resources.

Meanwhile, the president and long-time elected veterans of the District 205 board are not planning to run for re-election. President Peggy Ostojic, Marta Davey, a 12-year board member and David Carlquist, a 20-year board member, are not seeking re-election.