Jeffrey L Nielsen: 2023 candidate for Lake Villa Village Board

Bio

Town: Lake Villa

Age on Election Day: 54

Occupation:

Retail Manager

Employer:

Nielsen Enterprises

Previous offices held:

Village Trustee since 2009, Planing Commission

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?

A: Public Safety and Tax Increases.

We need to meet the demands of the competitive environment for hiring new officers and ensuring they have the best training, equipment, and environment to serve and protect our Village and its Residents.

Property tax increases need to be offset by enticing more Retail Establishments to the Village to increase our Sales Tax Revenue and to ensure that Lake Villa continues to grow responsibly.

I have been a staunch advocate for Property Tax Levy freezes and my record on voting shows this.

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

A: Lake Villa and the Village Board are extremely fiscally responsible. The Village has a balanced budget even after the recession in 2008. We have managed to do this without cutting any services to the community.

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

A: Retail development, to increase sales tax revenue to reduce the burden of property taxes on the Constituents of Lake Villa. I was instrumental in pushing for the hiring of a "Retail Coach" which is a company that assists Villages in bringing more business to the community.

Roads and Street resurfacing in our subdivisions - Last year we partnered with a neighboring community to drive the cost of resurfacing down and we were able to do more roads in more subdivisions at a lower cost than bidding on our own. Recently, Lake Villa has received a CMAP Grant from the State that will help advise us and streamline our Road and Street resurfacing plans for the future.

Public Safety - We need to continually evaluate the changing environment of Public Safety and allocate funds to ensure that our Community is safe to raise a family.

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

A: We currently have a balanced budget and continue to operate with the best interests of our Communities Tax dollars.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community 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 resurfacing or our roads and streets and making Lake Villa a more pedestrian friendly community are top priority projects.

This can been paid for through the MFT funds and budgeted funds from the Village General Ledger. In addition, we are actively pursuing Grants for sidewalks and safety crossing lights. We have already invested in engineering and studies for future projects we would like to work on.

I was involved with bringing Lake Michigan water to the Village. Although our water system works well, there are additional items such as looping the system that can wait at this time without adverse effects to the Community.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

A: I have been involved with the Village since 2006, starting with the Planning Commission. My performance on the Planning Commission led to my 2009 appointment to Village Trustee by previous Mayor Frank Loffredo. Since 2009 as a Village Trustee, I have worked with multiple Trustees and have become a "go to" for input, as my experience has encompassed multiple years, projects, and Village challenges that have been overcome.

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

A: Being a lifelong resident and my experience as Trustee since 2009.

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

A: Giving Lake Villa Residents the opportunity to shop closer to home for their everyday needs, for example a community Grocery Store, Pet Store, a workout facility, ... just to name a few.