One person, after all, can make a difference.
That was the message Monday night as the Brookfield village manager instituted several steps to help safeguard trees during the ongoing water main replacement effort underway throughout the village. When Michael Kayse appeared before the village board on Aug. 28 to complain about damage being done to trees in his Hollywood neighborhood, his words had added weight, because they were apolitical. He was prepared and he was determined, but he wasn’t trying to settle some political score or engaging in some sort of “gotcha” moment.
He was sincerely looking out for not only his neighborhood but neighborhoods all over Brookfield where similar work and, presumably, damage was being done to decades-old trees.
That’s the kind of contribution Brookfield needs and we’re grateful that Kayse saw a civic duty and did it. As a result, contractors will need to immediately take more care when completing their work . Furthermore, Kayse’s actions have set in motion an effort to establish a tree protection ordinance that will safeguard public trees in both public infrastructure projects and private building efforts.
And while we commend the village for taking Kayse’s comments to heart and reacting in what we consider a very positive manner, we wish that instead of reacting to these kinds of situations-whether its damage to trees or the revelation of unsafe construction sites-the village would be more proactive.
Village officials need to do a better job anticipating potential problems as they embark on a multi-year water main replacement project and hold contractors accountable when they don’t measure up to the standards that the village sets. Of course, first there must be standards to meet. We hope that this latest focus on protecting trees is the first step in coming up with such standards. It’s then up to the village to make sure that those they hire treat the village with the kind of respect that residents expect and deserve.
Special event central
We don’t know what it is about this coming weekend, but there are a bevy of events in all three villages in which we hope residents will take time out to participate. In Brookfield, there are no fewer than three new events planned-a Chamber of Commerce Family Picnic, the Taste of Brookfield fundraiser at the Brookfield Public Library and the Brookfield Jazz Fest. All are exciting events that deserve support by the village.
Riverside is embarking on its first art festival in nearly a decade. We hope its the first step in making Centennial Park and the restored water tower a the hub of a revitalized downtown.
And in North Riverside, residents will celebrate the end of summer with North Riverside Day, a staple for families for many years. It’s a perfect way to send off summer with a bang. As always, thanks for the great fireworks.