Friday, December 16, 2011
Dave Limardi attended his final city council meeting as city manager Monday.
Dave Limardi said farewell to the Highland Park City Council Monday night at what was his final meeting as city manager. He will resign from his post Jan. 1. “I’ll be in town, but I assure you one thing: You’ll never see me under ‘Business from the Public’ in a council meeting,” Limardi, 58, said Monday night. The Highland Park resident has held his position for more than 18 years and is the longest serving city manager in the Highland Park’s history. During Limardi’s tenure, the former Ft. Sheridan was redeveloped, Renaissance Place was built and the Taste of Highland Park became an annual event, attracting thousand to the city in conjunction with the Port Clinton Art Fair. New fire and police stations were built. “Dave Limardi has …
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sales tax rebate program will return after three year absence.
After a three year absence, the Highland Park City Council reached a consensus at Monday’s meeting to stimulate economic development in the city with a resumption of its sales tax rebate program as early as Jan 1. Enterprises with a volume of more than $1 million will be eligible to recoup part of capital improvements made to their businesses from additional sales taxes generated above the current year’s threshold. If a business makes capital improvements in the amount of $75,000 or more, it is eligible to keep 75 percent of the sales taxes it generates above what it produced for the previous 12 months. No agreement can last longer than 10 years. Of the 1,025 businesses operating in Highland Park, only 107 would be eligible with the …
Monday, October 10, 2011
City Council share different views about using Highland Park’s reserves.
The use of Highland Park’s cash reserve became an issue once again Thursday at a budget workshop as the City Council waded into the 2012 budget presented to the Council Sept. 29 by City Manager Dave Limardi. The proposed budget included the use of approximately $510,000 from the city’s cash reserve for capital improvements to the Highland Park Public Library in lieu of an increase in the property tax levy. The Council raised taxes a year ago to help pay for the library’s needs. When the subject of the library was raised during the workshop, the Council went beyond the initial proposal. Limardi was asked about the library’s capital needs beyond 2012 and told council members that $2.5 million would be needed to bring needed maintenance up …
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Council will use reserves, not taxes, to fund library capital improvements.
A 2012 budget of $72,237,519 with no tax increases was given to the Highland Park City Council Thursday by City Manager Dave Limardi. Rather than propose an increase in the property tax levy to fund capital improvements to the Highland Park Public Library, Limardi has proposed using part of the City’s reserve fund balance. The budget also includes a reduction in city staff by more than four full time employees. This continues a trend started in 2007. Since then more than 43 full time positions have been eliminated. Last December, the Council passed a tax increase to help fund the library rather than use the reserve fund. The tax increase barely passed with then-Councilwoman now-Mayor Nancy Rotering, Councilman Steve Mandel and …
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
City Council takes steps to give citizens choices on purchasing electricity.
A first step toward reducing electricity costs for citizens of Highland Park was unanimously taken by the City Council Monday at its regularly scheduled meeting. The Council tentatively set Dec. 12 for a vote to place a referendum on the March 20 primary ballot that will give the City the right to negotiate with independent electric providers to purchase power that it can resell to its citizens. Though the electricity could be purchased from a source other than Commonwealth Edison, the utility will continue to deliver the power through its infrastructure. Bills will still come from ComEd. “We can buy in bulk,” Mayor Nancy Rotering said. “We have the opportunity to work with other municipalities as well.” Lake Forest took a similar step…
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Mayor promises to hold utility accountable.
On Monday, ComEd attended its third Highland Park City Council meeting since June 27 to address reliability issues with a plan to reduce both storm connected and non-weather related outages. As opposed to previous meetings, ComEd came to Monday's meeting with a solid plan rather than explanations. They also hardly mentioned the smart grid legislation the utility had strongly advocated in the two previous sessions. Read More: Local Lawmakers React as Gov. Quinn Shoots Down Comed’s Legislation. As it has already promised in other communities, ComEd will use a combination of improved cables, fuses, more comprehensive tree trimming and a new device known as the Hendrix in specific parts of Highland Park that have been designated as pockets …
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Communities claim strong financial footing will help maintain AAA bond rating.
When Standard & Poor’s downgraded America’s credit rating Friday from AAA to AA+, a number of Northern Suburbs with AAA ratings faced the possibility they could suffer the same fate despite their unchanging finances. A few days after Congress passed an extension of the debt ceiling, the bond rating agency claimed America was less likely to pay its obligations because of the mounting national debt. 'Solid as a rock' According to both Standard and Poor’s and the New York Federal Reserve Bank, state and local credit ratings are not absolutely tied to the United States, but there is a strong influence. Since neither Moody’s nor Fitch downgraded American debt, there is ambiguity. “Our rating is by Moody’s, not Standard & Poor’s and I believe …
Dave Limardi will continue to work after he resigns Jan. 1, 2012.
With no specific professional plans after January 1, outgoing Highland Park City Manager Dave Limardi made one thing clear about his future during a news conference Tuesday morning at City Hall. He is not retiring. With plans to stay in Highland Park and marry Kris Slattery October 22, Limardi said he will remain professionally active in some way. Though he feels he is at the top of his game, he has no plans to manage another municipality. “I’m as good as I’ve ever been. I have a thought to do something else,” Limardi said. “It won’t be directly in the public service.” After 34 years in municipal management guiding and taking direction from elected officials, Limardi said it was unlikely he would seek elective office himself. He has …
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Highland Park's longest serving city manager will step down Jan. 1, 2012.
Longtime Highland Park City Manager Dave Limardi, 58, announced his resignation Monday effective January 1 in a letter to Mayor Nancy Rotering and the City Council. Limardi, who has held his position for more than 18 years, is the longest serving city manager in the Highland Park’s history. Though he had no comment at Monday’s regularly scheduled Council meeting, he has scheduled a news conference at 9 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall. “Dave Limardi has served our city very well during his 18 years on the job,” Rotering said Monday. “His professionalism and thoroughness as well as his creativity have given us a tremendous foundation and continuity.” Three-term City Councilman Jim Kirsch has worked closely with Limardi for more than 10 years. …
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Stage would replace fountain at downtown anchor.
Downtown Highland Park is starting to look at multiple face-lifts to Port Clinton Square and the overall business district, according to a pair of reports presented to the City Council on Monday at its Committee of the Whole meeting. As Port Clinton enters its 30th year as an anchor in downtown Highland Park, the partnership between the city and Port Clinton Associates has turned the development into a “social success,” said Rick Strusiner, a partner in the venture. Before council members, Strusiner outlined plans to upgrade the facility over the next two years and make needed changes. After Strusiner's presentation, Community Development Director Michael Blue updated the Council on the master plan for the central business district. …
James M. Lynch
4:29 pm on Tuesday, December 20, 2011
It will be hard to fill Dave's shoes. What a strong manager, intelligent leader and effective administrator. Good luck in the future, Mr. Limardi, and good luck to the city finding someone who can follow you. more ›