Gurnee State of the Village report highlights successes in 2024 and initiatives for this year
Gurnee residents can learn about 2024 accomplishments and pending initiatives during an open house and State of the Village presentation Monday at village hall, 325 N. O'Plaine Road.
Mayor Tom Hood, village trustees and staff from the administration and community development, police, fire and public works departments will be available from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. for informal conversations in advance of Hood’s State of the Village presentation. Light refreshments and food will be provided.
The open house followed by Hood’s PowerPoint presentation about 7:15 p.m. after the regular board meeting is an expanded version of previous annual village progress reports.
“It’s part of our strategic plan to provide more community engagement and outreach,” said Austin Pollack, assistant to the village administrator.
Space is limited and visitors are encouraged to RSVP at gurnee.il.us where report highlights also are available. The event will be livestreamed on the village’s YouTube channel.
Gurnee has 250 village employees, 30,000 residents, 22 million visitors, 1,231 businesses and 13.5 square miles of land area.
The eight-page report lists highlights in several areas including general operations, police and fire, business growth and more.
Continuing a discounted water rate for seniors and second-lowest water rate for Lake Michigan users, launching the Hometown Heroes banner program to honor veterans and Gurnee Youth Scholarship are among 2024 highlights, according to the report.
In other areas, police staffing increased and technology improved, 7.6 miles of streets — the most in village history — were resurfaced and a 50/50 small business grant program continued. There also were 15 ribbon cuttings for businesses in 2024.
The village does not levy a property tax because of its extensive business and commercial base. Last year, 22.5 million visited with Gurnee Mills, Six Flags Great America and Great Wolf Lodge as top attractions.
New businesses and developments in 2025 include a Texas Roadhouse restaurant, new roller coaster at Six Flags, and more.
Hood said Gurnee Mills, which generates about $6 million per year in sales tax revenue, will be recognized.
Expanded police and fire resources next year include five new squad cars, evidence technician, canine and community service officer vehicles, more license plate reading cameras and two new ambulances.
Also in 2025, the village will undertake the largest capital improvement program in its history to resurface and rebuild streets replace water mains, fix sidewalks and make drainage improvements.
Hood noted two new commissions — one focusing on the arts and another called the care commission to assist those in need — will be formed.
“We are multidimensional but heavy in retail and want to expand into the arts,” he said.
Enhanced communication with residents also is on the to-do list and will include a new website, advanced emergency notification system and other improvements based on the results of a survey of residents and businesses.