Schwantz: Palatine emerging from the pandemic with new growth

As Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz began his State of the Village address Wednesday, he looked back on March 4, 2020.

"We got a phone call here from the Cook County Department of Public Health asking if they could park a trailer in a residential driveway in the village of Palatine because, lo and behold, we had COVID cases number three and four in the state of Illinois," Schwantz said. "So on that day, everything changed."

Schwantz on Wednesday reflected on the village's two-year pandemic odyssey, and how Palatine rebounded after having to cut $5 million from its budget and forego filling two police officer and three firefighter vacancies.

But the village has adjusted. Those positions have been filled without an increase to the property tax levy, while the village has maintained a AA+ bond rating and strong reserves, enabling it to leverage federal grants to help struggling local businesses.

The village also partnered with other suburbs to provide vaccines.

The village also had some business successes during the pandemic, including Mazda and Subaru dealerships opening and providing a welcome infusion of sales tax dollars.

Looking forward, Schwantz discussed several new developments, including Belle Tire and a Volkswagen dealership, both coming to the Rand Road corridor.

"We get this a lot: Do we really need another car dealership? The long, short and medium answer to that is: 'Yes,'" he said. "They are top sales-tax generators. They (have) very low calls for service (related to) police, fire, and water. These are home runs for us."

There is also movement on the restaurant front, including Tore & Luke's plan for a carryout and drive-through operation at the former White Castle location on Dundee Road.

Schwantz also discussed annexation, including the addition of the 300-acre St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery on the village's south side.

"Palatine now has frontage on (Interstate) 90," he said.

Village Manager Reid Ottesen also outlined how the village continues to move forward. The village is investing in its infrastructure, with a $1.9 million increase in capital funding in this year's $125 million budget.

Ottesen also said the village plans to spend a record $6 million on roads this year.