Village Update from the President

* It is believed in good faith that the following content can be found in the Fall 2010 edition of the Tartan Tidings and is for general reference and/or research purposes only.  For further information regarding the information listed here, please contact The Village of Midlothian in Midlothian, Illinois. *

Whew!  What a summer!  We have seen positive movement on many of our projects, and there will be more in the coming months.  You can read more about it in this issue of the Tartan Tidings.

The Ambiance Inn is under construction on 144th & Cicero.  Their goal is to have the exterior shell of the building, the landscaping and the base layer of the parking lot completed before the winter weather sets in.  Workers will be then able to continue their work indoors through the winter.  The owner told me that they're shooting for a grand opening in the spring.  How 'bout that!? A ribbon cutting ceremony in Midlothian!!

Hopefully, that will be only the first of many such events.  Progress is being made on the development that will replace the car dealerships on Cicero.  We have a serious developer interested in the site.  The Village Board will soon vote to approve the TIF district for the area.  The Village has entered into an agreement with the Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville to assist us in developing a design plan for the area.  We will be in the position to tell the developer how WE want the area to look.  General building design and streetscape enhancements will be parts of the plan.  There will be a public meeting on Thursday, November 18 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Raday Lodge.  Representatives from Hitchcock will present several design suggestions for your review and input.  The design guidelines will then be applied to the zoning requirements for entire TIF area, which includes most of the businesses near 147th & Cicero.  I would like to thank the members of the Plan Commissionfor their work on this important project.  It is important to not that none of the costs of the Cicero Avenue TIF district will be paid by Midlothian taxpayers.  The TIF district and private developers will generate the necessary funds.

Our Economic Development Committee has been very active.  They are introducing a website that will be available at no cost to all Midlothian business owners for the promotion of their products or services on the Internet.  The committee is also creating a separate web page for the promotion of vacant business properties to potential tenants or developers.  While attracting new businesses is important, it is equally important that we hold on to the businesses that we already have.  To that end, Trustee Karen Kreis and I spen time this summer visiting Midlothian businesses.  We want them to know that we appreciate their presence in our community and that we would like to assist them in any way that we can.

The Community Policing, Community Service, Veterans, and Beautification Committees have all been busy.  There are many people involved in these committees, but they are always looking for new members.  There are many levels of involvement.  For example, the Citizens On Patrol program, sponsored by the Community Policing committee, sends regular email messages to over 60 volunteers, inviting them to take group walks through town to "keep an eye" on what's going on.  Some of those 60 people go on nearly every walk; some only go on a few.  The group is positive and well informed.  As more people get involved, we increase the sustainability of the program and the level of knowledge in our citizens.  I'd love it if we had 500 members of this group.  Call the Village Hall if you would like to get on the invitation list for the walks.  CPC is considering new ways to help educate residents about how they can help keep their neighborhoods safe and properly address existing problems.

The Village has been successful in obtaining grants.  We will take delivery of a new fire engine sometime after the first of the year.  The Police Department has put a new supervisor's vehicle into service.  The Chevy Tahoe was paid for with grant money.  We will be installing a new water main along 147th Street from Abbottsford Road to Millard using grant funding.  Trustee Karen Kreis is working on a grant that will help us to clean up contaminated sites like old gas stations.  If successful, this will help us in the process of redevelopment of the business district.  We continue to search out grant money.

Finally, I would like to thank the Village Board for all of the extra work that they do to make these programs and improvements a reality.  We have a small staff at the village and I often see Trustees taking on extra duties.  I appreciate the extra effort and the positive example they provide for our volunteers.

Enjoy the great fall weather and, until next time, stay safe.

Mayor Terry Stephens

President’s Message

* It is believed in good faith that the following content can be found in the Vol. 1 No. 1 December 1986 edition of the Tartan Tidings and is for general reference and/or research purposes only.  For further information regarding the information listed here, please contact The Village of Midlothian in Midlothian, Illinois. *

Dear Fellow Residents:

As your mayor, I attend a lot of meetings and meet a lot of people.  I was recently introduced to a northsider whose first question to me was “What kind of town is Midlothian?” I had to think for a miute – I can’t call it hub of industry, or a high-tech commercial center – what one word describes Midlothian?

I answered, quite proudly, “It’s a family town.”  It’s where a newcomer feels instantly welcome, gets quickly involved, and takes pride in his neighborhood.  A good place for raising kids, a convenient home for a commuter, affordable taxes, and municipal services without parallel.  It’s all here – churches, schools, a fine library, free bus, emergency medical help, parks, clubs and sports programs.  It’s truly a family town.

Midlothian’s great influx of population came with new housing developments, 20 to 25 years ago.  The young couples who moved here then, now have children who have finished school, gotten married, started their own families – and live down the street from grandma and grandpa!  That’s what makes me more and more every day, consider Midlothian a “family town.”

Homes don’t stay on the market long in a town which is as close-knit as ours.  When you hear that the Smiths up the street are retiring and going to Florida, you immediately remember that your neighbor’s married son is looking for a house to buy.

Nothing makes me happier than hearing of second-generation families looking for a house in Midlothian, where they grew up – or to hear of someone looking for an apartment for his elderly parents, to have them close. We have a lot of four generation families in Midlothian, and that’s certainly a healthy sign!

Our business people are also a close-knit, healthy family.  They work together, and do things for us, through the Chamber of Commerce.  We thank them for the recent Santa Clause parade.

Your village employees also work together as a family.  This was certainly illustrated recently when a couple of our workmen were trapped in an excavation cave-in.  With selfless determination a co-worker jumped in to free both of them.  We care about each other.

Our church families are joining together to help our needy families through the winter ahead with the Luminaria lantern sale.  We do hope you will participate.

I don’t know how the mayor of Lake Forest or Barrington might describe his town, but I am very proud to say Midlothian is a family town.  Christmas is a family time – have the best ever!

Very truly yours,

Thomas J. Murawski, Mayor
Village of Midlothian