GLENWOOD | The village has a budget surplus of almost $900,000, residents were told Tuesday at the first state of the village meeting at the Glenwoodie Golf Club.
Residents also learned of the responsibilities, goals and accomplishments of all village department heads.
Village Administrator Donna Gayden said the purpose of the meeting was to show transparency in government.
"There is some information that has been put out that the village is in dire straits of funding," Gayden said.
She said that as of Sept. 30, the village actually has an excess of $897,925 in all funds combined.
Gayden said the village website has been updated over the past couple of years and that residents can go there to find financial reports from 2005 to 2011, as well as the current year's budget.
She also told the estimated crowd of about 60 people that all village employees will have a village ID by the end of the week, so residents should not hesitate to ask to see that identification if an employee comes to their homes.
Finance Director Linda Brunette was among the department heads who spoke, and she told residents Glenwood was the first village in the south suburbs to begin an electric aggregation program.
"We were pioneers with it, and it worked out well for us," Brunette said.
An annual savings of $193 per resident has been realized as a result of the program, she said.
Village President Kerry Durkin complimented the department heads for the job they've done in controlling the village budget.
He said some had left good jobs to come work for the village.
"As a town, we have a reputation for no nepotism, that you get the job based on your qualifications," Durkin said.
Lola Hamzat has lived in the village about 20 years and attended the meeting Tuesday.
She said it was an "eye-opener" and that she now is better informed about village finances.
"I'm able to understand more about where I live," Hamzat said.
In other village news, Glenwood's leaf pickup program will begin Tuesday and continue each Tuesday through November.
Leaves must be in brown yard waste/landscape bags and placed curbside by 6 a.m.
Leaf bags only will not require a Homewood Disposal yard waste sticker, but all other yard waste bags, such as for grass and twigs, must have an affixed Homewood Disposal yard waste sticker.
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