Village of Roscoe reconsiders trick-or-treat schedule, comprehensive plan

The Village of Roscoe holds its twice-monthly board meeting on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, but as is often true, the Committee of the Whole meeting immediately following the Village Board Meeting may be more interesting.

Trustees don't make any final decisions when they meet as the Committee of the Whole. But they freely discuss future ideas and plans. The  July 18 agenda includes "Discussion and Recommendation of the modification of the day and hours for Halloween trick-or-treating in the Village of Roscoe." Since 2021, Roscoe has been one of the few places in northern Illinois to hold trick-or-treating on Saturdays, not necessarily on October 31. The decision proved controversial and many residents want to go back to the traditional date and time. Though supporters argued a Saturday date is safer, crowds of children from outside Roscoe descended upon the largest subdivisions, especially Chicory Ridge, and gobbled up all the candy. Traffic and parking became a problem.

Also on the Committee of the Whole agenda: "Discussion of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Timeline & Process." The Village's previous comprehensive plan [PDF] dates to 2008, and many trustees want to revise it. A comprehensive plan determine the future vision for a community's development, deciding where (or if) it wants multi-family homes, or retail businesses, or industrial enterprise, or low-density agriculture. Most of the Village's debates over multi-family housing or a wedding venue could have been decided in advance by a comprehensive plan.

For example, opponents of Hidden Creek Estates argued that a wedding venue near Promontory Ridge was not part of the 2008 plan. Supporters of the Townhomes of White Oak on Roscoe Road argued that multi-family housing needed to be part of a comprehensive plan. On May 2, trustees authorized "the issuance of a request for qualification for the preparation of a new comprehensive land use plan for the village of Roscoe." But they haven't started soliciting bids from consulting companies to help them draw up a new plan.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting, the board is also expected to recommend a special event Permit for the Lions Club Fall Festival to be held at Leland Park, September 8, 9, 10, 2023. They will take steps to enter into an agreement for a redesign of the Village's website. The meeting will also include a "Discussion of Village Sponsored Special Events & Festivals," which have included Hometown Holidays and a Halloween Trunk or Treat.

The Village board will also discuss a CDL training program for public works department employees.

Vic Wilder, the Village's Code Enforcement Officer, will give an informative presentation on code enforcement.

Of course, preceding the Committee of the Whole meeting, trustees hold a board meeting where they can make binding decisions. This week's meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m., includes an informational presentation from Daniel Grey, a representative from Enterprise Fleet Management, which leases vehicles to municipalities.

Village Treasurer Mark Olson will give financial reports and the board will vote on  an agreement with ClearGov, Inc. for municipal budgeting software, including operational, capital, and personnel budgeting, and transparency portal.