While it is running a little late, the Village of Riverside gets credit for the list of 10 goals it is pursuing during 2024.
The village board adopted the list at its March 7 meeting. In part the list is late because the village chose to survey residents to assess their priorities. And more than 400 locals took the time to evaluate the priorities the village government had set. That process created a list of 22 priorities. The board asked staff on Feb. 15 to consolidate some duplicates on the list and to come back with a Top 10.
We have no quibbles with those key goals. They are worthy if not very surprising.
The village acknowledges it needs to make progress on its own space and facility needs. This is a big one with a potentially big price tag. But good that Riverside has begun to plan for how to preserve its historic public buildings while meeting modern needs.
What seems to have become a perpetual goal is to bring closure to the endless work with the Army Corp of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District on a flood wall in areas along the river. With spring flood season upon us this is an urgent priority.
A focus on continuing to grow parks and rec programming is all positive as is work on sustainability initiatives.
There are the evergreens such as protecting the village’s strong credit rating, being more business friendly and encouraging collaboration with other local governments.
All in all a solid list to focus the attention of the board and its staff on moving Riverside forward.