Village of Downers Grove

www.downers.us
Dec-18 Downers Grove Park Board Vacancy Press Release

The people of Downers Grove make this Village special. Some of the most involved people are the Village Council. The Village of Downers Grove operates under the Council-Manager form of Government. The Village Council is comprised of Mayor and six commissioners elected at large to four year terms. Council members serve as the lead policy makers of Village government. The Village Manager is responsible for the overall administration of Village operations and carries out Council adopted policies. The Council recently appointed a Village Manager, Mr. David Fieldman.

Exceptional municipal services set Downers Grove apart. The Village staff works diligently to provide and support services such as police and fire protection, water distribution, streets, stormwater, emergency medical services, planning and zoning, and more. Some of the biggest projects in the coming years involve updating the infrastructure of our 176 year-old community. After many years of hard work, numerous agencies pulling together and countless meetings, the Village, along with the Chamber, was thrilled to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Belmont Road Underpass.

Another exceptional effort is new opportunities for residents to connect with municipal services via technology. The Village boasts a new website, making services easier to navigate. Content on the Village website is continuously being expanded and updated as needed. An example is the addition of a "Construction Update" page to provide residents with ongoing updates on construction projects funded by the Village. Improving access to news and information about Village government through technology is a high priority in Downers Grove. Council meetings are now more accessible to residents via streaming video from DGTV, as well as podcasts and MP3 downloads are available at www.downers.us. The Village's E-newsletter is sent to subscribers every other Friday. It is also used to reach the public with messages of a more immediate nature such as road closures, special events, or breaking Village news.

GIS maps are another great addition to the wide variety of local information on the Village website. This feature enables you to customize maps regarding zoning, forestry (trees in your parkway), parcel PIN numbers, and trash collection schedules. Residents can also input a concern or request for service into the Community Response Center (CRC) using the new on-line CRC Inquiry Form. This feature enables the quick delivery of issues to the right personnel at Village Hall.

Safety and security are a top priority for the Downers Grove Police Department. In 2007 the police department received the "Rookie of the Year" award and the "Pedestrian and Bike Safety" from the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association for its outstanding performance as a first time entrant in the 2006 Traffic Challenge. A comprehensive policy review was completed in 2007 to meet new standards enacted by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Compliance keeps the department's accreditation status in good standing.