--- Stan Zoller
Candidate's name
Adam Moodhe
Candidate for:
Village Board Trustee
How long have you lived in Buffalo Grove?
45 years
Please provide brief background
information.
I've grown up in Buffalo Grove, have
been actively involved in the Village since I installed the first Handicapped
Parking spaces at the Ranch Mart shopping center in 1977 for my Eagle Scout
Service project. I graduated from Stevenson High School and served in the Air
Force as a Security Policeman. So, I have an understanding of Public Safety
issues. I have the experience and dedication to this Village that many running
this time don't have. I have attended countless Village Board meetings, long
before running for Trustee, not as merely a spectator, but through active
participation, I have worked with every sitting member on this board, I know
the staff members, I am ready on Day one.
Have you served on a village committee or
commission before? If yes, which one and how long did you serve?
I have served on various committees
and commissions since the '80s. I have been on Buffalo Grove Days committee as
the Audio Co-Chair; responsible for obtaining the technical services for 18
years. I am also a 14-year member of the Village Emergency Management Agency. I
have been actively working on Economic Growth as a Current sitting member of
the Planning and Zoning Commission for the last 4 years,
What other civic
activities, if any, have you been involved with?
I am Chairman of the Executive
Selection Committee for the Longfellow PTO Board for 2 years. I am Cubmaster of
my Boys Cub Scout Pack 381 at Longfellow School for the past 6 years. A sitting
member of the Scout Troop 140, Eagle Scout Board of Review, and a Youth
Protection officer for the Troop. I have coached Park District Soccer and
Basketball. A volunteer for Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes in Buffalo Grove for
10 years, which my wife, Mary, sits on the event committee.
Why are you running for a Village Board
position?
The Village is going to be facing
challenges over the next few years, I have concrete ideas to tackle those
challenges; incentives for commercial building owners, alternative revenue
ideas, and tax stability ideas to protect us, as taxpayers, from wild property
tax swings, with long term planning of our pension responsibilities. Long term
thinking, not just what we can do in the next four years. But the vision to
make this a Village that our children want to raise their families, 20 years
from now. These are the types of new visions that we need, and I have the
experience to get them accomplished.
In general, what do you
see as the most pressing issues facing Buffalo Grove?
Tax Stability, Fiscal Responsibility,
Economic Growth, and Long-term thinking. Each of these is tied to the other
with Long Term thinking being critical. If we have long term thinking with
fiscal responsibility, we can achieve tax stability. With each of the other, we
can show developers the value of Buffalo Grove and achieve the economic growth
we all seek.
There has been considerable discussion for years
about economic development in the village. What kind of economic development
(retail, commercial, industrial) do you think should be a priority and
why?
The best way to promote development
will be using mixed-use zoning in areas that are presently B-2. The prime
reason for this will be to have the retail and residents in close proximity to
each other. Much of the Lake Cook and Prairie View Metra corridor plans call
for this type of development. The other reason this can work is it allows
developers an opportunity to recoup their investment at a faster rate, thereby
giving them an incentive to developing this type of project. The one drawback
to this type of use is we have to be willing to accept a higher density than
what might exist presently. Our industrial base has been and will continue to
be a strong position for the Village. Now we need to start rounding out the
revenue stream to put us in a greater position of strength.
Which business development plan do you think
should be a priority? Lake-Cook Road corridor, Dundee Road, Milwaukee Avenue or
the Prairie View concept?
The politically correct answer is;
whichever area you might live nearest too or see the most. The reality is
whichever a developer is willing to build out. In an ideal world all of them,
at the same time, would be great. Market conditions and land availability are
the true driving forces. We have the blueprint for developing the Lake Cook
Corridor, and the Prairie View Metra area. The next Board will be tackling the
update of the Village Comprehensive Plan and will have an opportunity to make
some changes to zoning that is more in-line with present market conditions and
the changing personal lifestyles of current and future residents. Despite what
some Candidates are saying, you cannot force a developer to buy or rebuild a
property. Any more than you can force a homeowner to paint their house lime
green. We live in a free market society and, the best we can do is provide the
guidelines for what we would like to see developed and then promote those
concepts to achieve our goals.
How do you think the village should encourage
redevelopment of existing retail areas that are struggling?
It is, again, a matter of the
landowner wanting to do the redevelopment. I am certainly inclined to look at
revenue/tax sharing concepts that will help redevelop parcels. I would like to
see a discount or waiver of permit fees for areas that wish to upgrade their
appearance. I would also like to see the Village get more aggressive in its
marketing to developers. The Village, itself, cannot just pay to redevelop
those properties. The Board is elected to provide cost-effective services for
its residents. They are not elected to go into debt and increase taxes as land
speculators.
Should the village limit development to preserve
green space?
The Village must take into account
the importance of green spaces on the overall welfare of the community. Paving
over land just on the hope that it will produce some kind of benefit is
short-sighted. We have to preserve green spaces to deal with the constant
effects of the environment we live with. We need to provide open, green space
for water run-off and even just the scenic benefits they provide. Some have
stated; building can be done as long as there is replacement storage somewhere.
This gets into the old adage "just because you can, doesn't mean you
should". The problem is, the last I checked we are not making more land.
The laws allow for that replacement to be put, almost, anywhere within a
floodway. So, then we are forced into making determinations as to which
residents we will allow to flood, not to mention the effects it could have on
other communities. Building within these areas needs to be prudent, and well
controlled.
Some of our volunteer groups (commissions,
committees) have seen shrinking membership. What would you do to engage the
community on a broader scale? What would you do to encourage broader
demographic participation?
This is not just a Village issue,
this is an overall U.S. issue. If you Google; 'declining volunteer rates in
America' you will see a plethora of studies identifying this issue. I see it
directly in PTO participation as well as in Scouting. Growing up my family was
actively involved in Civic and Church volunteer efforts so, in me, the role of
giving back to your Community is ingrained. But, to the point of what the
Village can do in particular; I would like to see the Village Talent Bank
questionnaire placed more prominently on the Village web page so that people
know how to join a committee. I would like to see write-ups in the Village
Newsletter and Social media platforms about the committees so that people know
where, and what they can volunteer. Once we have the talent bank forms and can
position people to best utilize their strengths, we need to keep them engaged.
Nothing kills off a volunteer spirit like having an enthusiastic person and not
engaging them.
There is a proposal to add a "Community
Engagement Director" to the village staff. Do you think it is needed?
Explain why or why not.
I'm leaning towards not budgeting or
spending money for this role, as a stand-alone position. We have a number of
young, energetic management analysts already on staff that could share this
type of role on a project by project basis.
Do you think the Village communicates well with residents?
If not, how can it be improved?
The Village has many ways that it
communicates. Newsletter, Email blast, the web site with posted agendas, Social
Media sites, even physical signs that it puts up for some things. But we can't
force people to engage with those many avenues. The Villages' communication
should be relevant, broad-based and frequent, which it does accomplish. It
becomes incumbent upon all of us, as residents, to read that information. To
seek out answers if we have questions. To be informed and engaged in our
community.
Final thoughts -- Add any information or
comments about your candidacy.
I have the experience, dedication,
and vision our Village needs to prepare for the long term. I understand the
challenges and more importantly the enormous strengths our Village has to
continue to be one of the best places to live. I am ready on Day One to be your
Village Trustee and would be grateful for your vote on April 2.
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