Amber Dianne Kubiak: 2023 candidate for Pingree Grove Village President

Bio

Town: Pingree Grove

Age on Election Day: 42

Occupation: Marketing coordinator

Employer: Taylor Maciaszek, State Farm

Previous offices held: Pingree Grove Village Trustee since 2017

Q&A

Q: What do you consider the primary responsibility of the community's "chairman of the board"?

A: The primary responsibility of the village president is to drive the town forward in a responsible way. Taking time to ensure the village is proceeding in a fiscally conservative fashion while reaching to provide the residents with services that will truly benefit the majority.

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should leaders respond to it?

A: The most serious issue facing Pingree Grove in the coming years will be that decades of fast growth and not enough planning for the growth to sustain the services provided by the village. With the additional 981 homes approved to be built not enough thought was given to how this would effect traffic and public safety.

The leaders in the next term are going to have to be strong advocates to the village's congressman and senators to ensure that routes 47, 72 and 20 are built out appropriately and in a timely fashion to avoid as much congestion and frustration to the current residents as possible.

Further with 981 homes public safety and the size of our police force needs to be evaluated and properly staffed to be able to handle the needs of both the current and future residents.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: The village of Pingree Grove finances are strong. This is due to the diligence of past boards and the scrutiny on every purchase made big and small over many years. All large projects have been thoroughly assessed ensuring that the board is not setting the village up for tax referendums. The village staff shares the conservative approach to spending.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: For the village of Pingree Grove some of the projects that started years ago will determine our future spending.

The wastewater treatment plant expansion is out for bids now and will be a major spending project over the next few years. Beyond that the other priorities for spending should continue to be the road resurfacing which will be a continued effort over the next several years, and finally community development.

I feel that community development is an area that has been often pushed aside and is severely lacking in Pingree Grove. We need to work on commercial development both for small businesses and bringing what our residents are asking for grocery stores and restaurants. We need to spend money here to allow for incentives to bring these businesses to us. Work must be done to create the true community our residents are asking for and deserve.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: When you really look at our budget I am not sure there is an area to curtail, the budget is lean. I think in order to keep providing the services we do to our residents and looking to expand that there really is nothing that could be curtailed.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

A: The most important infrastructure project at this time is the wastewater treatment plant without this expansion we will not be able to grow any further. This project is currently in the bidding process and will be paid for through a low interest loan with principle forgiveness through the EPA. The funds to make the loan payments will be provided through current water/waste water billing as well as tap on fees from new development.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: Time, I have no full-time occupation which allows me to be present for all needs of the village. My availability allows me to take on the job of village president in a full-time capacity.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: I have been researching how to bring in local businesses and give them a place to sell their goods in a less permanent way similar to what I have seen in the Bronzeville/Boxville area.

There is a similar setup in Batavia with small shops about the size of a shed that allow small businesses to sell goods at a much lower rent than your usual storefront and can be easily interchangeable. Based on the current economy as well as the popularity of Amazon this would be a great way to get new shops or quick food options in our village.