Jeff Halen: Lake Zurich Village Board Candidate

Please provide a brief biography.

Website: jeffhalen.wordpress.com

Jeff Halen

Jeff and his wife Stephanie have been residents of Lake Zurich since 2001. They live in Willow Ponds, a subdivision within the Heights neighborhood. He graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He has over 20 years of business experience and currently works for the largest customer- owned health insurance company in the United States. He previously worked at Fortune 500 financial services companies.

Positions Held: Elected to Lake Zurich Board as Trustee in April 2009. Currently Board liaison to Public Works Department. Prior Board liaison to Fire and Emergency Rescue Department. Prior Board liaison to Finance Department. Prior Board liaison to Park and Recreation Department. Volunteered at Lake Zurich Park and Recreation Department Arbor Day activities. Willow Ponds Subdivision Representative. Member of Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce. Member of the first class to complete the Lake Zurich Police Department's Civilian Police Academy. Prior member of the Lake Zurich Special Census Outreach Committee. Participated in Lake Zurich Downtown Redevelopment Charrette process. Prior President of homeowners association prior to moving to Lake Zurich.

Include how long you have lived in LZ

 Jeff and his wife, Stephanie, have lived in Lake Zurich since 2001.

Why do you want to serve (or continue to serve) the village as a trustee?

 I’m a professional who has the experience and credentials to continue to move the village forward. I believe the residents deserve someone who can provide strong leadership that has integrity, morals, and ethics. The values I hold will help me continue to strive towards restoring confidence and trust within the community.

I will continue to represent and inform the community regarding matters of public interest. I have no personal agendas nor am I conflicted on any village matters. I’m a concerned resident about what is happening in the Village, and tax payer, like everyone else.

What are your top priorities for the Village of Lake Zurich?

• Economic Development – Downtown & throughout Lake Zurich: The Village needs an economic development manager who would focus on downtown development so this area can be developed and prosper. This person would also focus on growing the retail, office, restaurants and industrial businesses and help existing businesses continue to flourish. Lake Zurich needs to bring people and businesses into the community to further establish itself as a desirable place to live, shop and have a business.
• Balanced and Sustainable Budget: I’ve made it a priority to review the Village’s budget and monthly finances. I’ve been a strong and vocal advocate for the Village to have a balanced budget which includes meeting the annual financial obligation to the pension funds. I’ve recommended revenue collected should be used for the intended purpose and not diverted to other expenses so funds are available when needed. I’ve voted against expenditures that were not in the best interest of the community.

• Infrastructure (Roads, Water & Sewer): I’ve made it a priority to reinstate the road improvement program. I’ve been vocal that there are many issues within the water and sewer lines that still need to be addressed. As the Village faces shortfalls in the water / sewer funds, I’ve opposed transferring money away from this fund to help keep rates as low as possible.

   

What needs to be done to create a solid financial base for the village?

The Village’s new Finance Director has taken a proactive approach to find positive financial opportunities for the village. The overall financial stability of the village is good, with a great mixture of sales tax from retail/commercial business along with property tax. There are a few areas of concern, most notably the downtown TIF debt that was incurred over 10 years ago. The village has refinanced some bonds over the years to get lower rates without extending the length of the TIF. I’ve received inquiries that the village could default on the bonds. There’s never been a discussion with the Board of Trustees that this would happen nor could this happen due to how the bonds were structured.

The majority of the Board of Trustees supported improvements in the budget and financial review process including budget workshops and monthly financial reports to get a better understanding on the village’s financial outlook. I’ve opposed funds transferred from their intended use, like $500,000 from the Water and Sewer fund, or other expenditures which were not in the best interest of the community.

What is your vision for downtown development?

I have a similar vision as most residents, the community and the majority of the Board of Trustees; a vibrant downtown that provides services, businesses, residential and dining.

I’ve supported the Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposal (RFQ/FRP) process, which is a standard business practice to ensure everyone is evaluated with the same standards. The process is straight forward and should have been in place over 2 years ago when the former developer’s contract ended. As a Trustee, I’ve been frustrated this process has been stalled from a lack of leadership to move forward. While there’s an opinion by some that many of the village owned properties can be repurposed, the village staff has conducted building inspections and found many of them unsafe and uninhabitable.

The Village needs to be better marketed to draw people and businesses into Lake Zurich. The Village also needs to be business friendly, or remove the perception it isn’t, which starts with the initial meeting with executive staff and elected officials. Hiring an economic developer, who is experienced in identifying solutions for the downtown compared to hiring multiple consultants, would be a proactive way to find developers and focus on more than a single piece of property.

How much time do you have available to devote to this role?

As a current Trustee, I take my role very seriously and have devoted significant time to this position to serve the community. I will continue the same level of service going forward.

What traits do you have that make you a good leader for the village?

I have a proven track record of being direct, open, honest, transparent and with integrity. I’ve taken the lead to discuss topics which have not been unpopular. While other Board members may have voted a certain way due to peer pressure, I voted on the best interest of the community and I’m able to stand alone when necessary to do the right thing for the residents. I’m focused on today while creating a stepping stone for future growth in the community.

I was endorsed by the Daily Herald in 2013 and 2009. The Daily Herald Endorsement on March 11, 2013 stated, ‘Halen, whose background is marketing/product development, has been thoughtful and engaged on the board. He asks questions, does his homework and is an advocate for communication.”