City of LaSalle 2008 Progress Report

• 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. . .

Business Growth

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

Business Growth

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

Business Growth

Lock 16 Visitor Center Opened

New Businesses

Business Growth

Demolition makes way for new opportunities

•Shea’s Building

•Apartments @ 8th & 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

Residential Growth

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

New Home Construction

Residential Growth

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

ConstructionDowntown 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

Construction

Increased Water Supply

Well 12 went online

Construction

Sanitary Sewer Extension – Road Repair

Extended sanitary sewer to original Golfview Subdivision & repaired road failures

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

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

Construction

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

Park Improvements Continue

Construction

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

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades

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

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

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

Maintenance Improvements and Upgrades

Emergency Disasters - SnowThe 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

Community Enhancements

Emergency Notification System

The city implemented a code red system to notify residents of emergencies

Community Enhancements

Canal Boat Arrives

The canal boat arrived at

Lock 14 in June 2008

Community Enhancements

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

Downtown Market

Community Enhancements

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

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

Community Enhancements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proud of our past – Excited about our future

Looking to the Future

Mayor Art Washkowiak