Bolingbrook State Of The Village Slated For Thursday, Jan. 16

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The annual State of the Village luncheon is scheduled for this Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club at 2001 Rodeo Drive. The Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce,which organizes the event, said it was a chance for village residents and members of the local business community to keep tabs on ongoing village economic projects. The keynote speech - the eponymous 'State of the Village' address - will be delivered by Mayor Roger Claar. Claar is expected to review the year preceding his address and offer insights into the year to come.

“Mayor Claar always provides a fantastic recap of [the year's] major milestones for the Village of Bolingbrook and a great sneak peek of things on the horizon,” Village Trustee Michael Carpanzano said via email.

2020 will be the 35th straight year that a State of the Village address will be given, Chamber of Commerce Director Kevin O'Keeffe said. This year, he said he expected the mayor to focus on a handful of ongoing developments around town.

"Americana Estates, which is the project behind the golf course is being revitalized... This particular project is very important to the community here" O'Keeffe said, offering possible speech topics. "And Mannheim Arena, which was recently closed down, they're looking for people to move into there."

O'Keeffe said that the event, though open to all, is usually attended by mostly members of the business community.

"It's, 80% businesses are involved," he said.

Carpanzano praised this focus on business interests, saying via email, “Due to the incredible business-friendly climate of The Village of Bolingbrook, the event draws local businesses, as well as national, international, and multi-national corporations.”

While the event's capitalistic focus is undoubtedly of great interest to businesspeople near and far, it does raise an important question: why should non-business owners in Bolingbrook care about it at all?

"Because if businesses are successful; if they keep bringing us business and business stays in Bolingbrook," O'Keeffe said, "that will keep the tax base low. So it can only help out individuals."

As Patch has reported on before, taxes are a matter of great concern to many Bolingbrook residents, business owners or not. But it's unclear exactly what effect, if any, local businesses have had on residents' taxes. According to tax research site Tax-Rates, Will County's property tax rate is still among the highest in the country. As of 2019, the county came in 43rd most expensive out of 3143 national counties for property taxes as a percentage of median income.

Nevertheless, O'Keeffe said, it is important for all members of the community to keep abreast of what is happening in their local economy, and the State of the Village address may be one way to do that. O'Keeffe also said that the mayor plans to donate $7,000 to seven local charities; $1,000 each. He declined to comment on which charities Claar had chosen.

Pre-registration for the event is open through Wednesday evening. The Chamber of Commerce website states that same-day registration opens at 11 a.m. on Thursday, with the event proper to begin at noon and conclude at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $70 per person for Chamber members and $80 per person for non-members, or as the Chamber website calls them, 'future members.' Table sponsorships are also available in several options.

Those wishing to attend the event, who have not yet registered, should call the Chamber of Commerce office at 630.226.8420 before Thursday. Carpanzano cautioned that the event is usually well-attended, and available seats may go fast.

“The room is packed year after year with 600+ community leaders, developers, business owners, elected officials, and chamber members,” he said via email.

Those unable to attend the event will still be able to watch the mayor's speech after the fact. It will be recorded by volunteers from Bolingbrook Community Television, Carpanzano said, and broadcast on TV and on the village website.