Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are fast approaching an always busy – but exciting – holiday season! At this time of year, it is always good to look forward to sharing time with family and friends but it is also good to look back at the year coming to a close and to reflect on all the good things that have happened in our Village in 2018.

Thanks to the dedication of several of our residents, the Sports Core Advisory Committee is busy making plans for improvements and updates of the Sports Core Amenities. The Village had a successful partnership with the Oak Brook Park District for the summer pool operations. As anticipated, pool operations went smoothly and was a positive experience for all. The tennis programs were very popular this year and court use was very busy almost every day from Spring into Fall. The Bath & Tennis Clubhouse rentals have never been busier with events booked every weekend in 2018 and booking up fast for 2019 with some bookings into 2020. The addition of a new sign at Bath & Tennis Club Drive, and the heavy brush clean up along the drive and pool area has received a lot of positive feedback. Not to be outdone, golf as always, was just as busy. Updates have begun on the Golf patio adding outdoor seating, fire pits and a pergola. Updates to the Pro Shop will begin in January.

The Oak Brook Public Library has had huge attendance numbers at the events they held this past summer and continue to bring in residents for continued library programs and reading fun!

This year we had another successful electric aggregation program. Dynergy was selected as the supplier for a most competitive term beginning October 2018 through October 2021 at a most competitive rate of $.07115 per/Kwh.

If you haven’t already visited Village Hall, the new addition to the Police Department is completed along with the addition of electric car charging stations in the parking lot and new landscaping along the Village Hall east side walkway.

During the Village’s 2010 water rate study, Chicago’s water rates were projected to increase by a modest amount. However, in 2011 the new Chicago administration announced a 4-year rate increase (25%, 15%, 15% and 15%) starting January 2012. This high rate increase was justified by Chicago to pay for its aging infrastructure which supplies water to the City and Suburbs. The DuPage Water Commission (DWC) purchases water from Chicago and then sells it to the DuPage County Municipalities including Oak Brook. DWC also increased its water rates to adjust for the Chicago increase as well as increases in its own expenditures. Over the 4 years of increase, the Village did not raise its water rates enough to keep up with the increases. The difference was paid from the Villages Water Fund’s healthy reserve balance that we created.

During the 2015 rate study it was determined that the Villages water rates should increase by 10% (instead of 25%) in years 2016 and 2017 and a 7% increase in 2018. These increases would help to rebuild the Water Funds reserve to meet the future capital project needs. In 2018 these capital projects included the system wide water meter and meter radio read replacement and a comprehensive study of the water system which will be used to prioritize future water main replacement projects. At their December 11th meeting, the Village Board approved a 5% increase in water rates for 2019.

At this same meeting, after a long and thorough review of the Butler Condominium Development, the Village Board voted to approve the construction of the luxury condominium project. The Village Board and our staff worked with the developer and the community to preserve our heritage while simultaneously embracing this prestigious development.

The Village Board held two workshops in November on the 2019 Budget and discussed the major issues facing Oak Brook as we move into a new fiscal year. The Village Board remains committed to conservative spending while investing in our community. Based on the proposed budget, the Village will still maintain almost nine months of operating expense reserves.

Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!

Kind regards,

Gopal Lalmalani, MD, MBA

Village President