Administration Department
Year report 2011
Jerry L. Potts, Administrator
Dreams become reality in a very big way this past year in Mt. Zion. Foundations have been laid down making possible many years of improvements to the quality of life in the areas of recreation, entertainment, dining and shopping. Our community will no longer be the same with the opening of two major facilities.
A revitalization of Mt. Zion’s shopping began this year with the opening of the long anticipated Rt. 121retail and residential development. Mt. Zion Village East is a planned development that is attracting a lot of attention.
The relocation of village hall and the new Mt. Zion Convention Center has already attracted two new restaurants now open. Coz’s Restaurant a sports bar and grill and Secret Recipes are both located in the new shopping mall located at the Rt. 121 entrance to Mt. Zion Village East. We can expect more retail development soon as the area continues to develop.
Mt. Zion Village East a re-creation of a small town main civic/shopping area. Mt. Zion Village East will be a unique mixed use retail and residential development that will be pedestrian oriented. Included will be an outdoor mall of small shops with a variety of residential options from homes for those of us 55 years and older to studio lofts for young professionals located over retail shops, even upscale condos within easy walking distance. All this anchored by the new Convention Center where residents will soon enjoy a variety of events such as dinner theater, art and craft shows, convention exhibits, farmers markets all indoors and year round.
Now open Mt. Zion’s Fletcher Park an ideal blend of recreational and event facilities with the natural restoration of Illinois’s native plants and animals. Not only a modern model of design Fletcher Park is also a prime example of how the residents of a community can pitch in to make a dream park a reality. Fletcher Park now stands as a testament to all those who contributed, from the beginning with the donation of the land by R.V. Fletcher in 1969 up to the present residents and corporate sponsors who have donated over $1,000,000 in funds.
The improvements to Henderson Street was begun and completed this year. The old county road was widen to 3 lanes including a school bus lane and new sidewalks. Thanks to our local State representatives for the funding, Mt. Zion students and their parents can now travel much safer in the area of the Mt. Zion Schools campus.
In addition to all of the improvements constructed in Fletcher Park this summer, the Public Works also installed a new sidewalk on Baltimore connecting Blakeridge to Harry Land Road and Westside Drive. They also began work on a new sanitary sewer interceptor main designed to increase the flow capacity of a large area of the east side of the village. To date a little over half of this project is complete.
This success was possible because of the quality of Mt. Zion leadership and staff. The triumphs of this past year would not have been possible without the American “can do” attitude repeatedly demonstrated by Village Staff, led by our courageous Mayor and Trustees united with a shared vision of the future.
For me it has truly been a privilege to be a part of this team and to be able to share in the accomplishments and this past year’s momentous events and to have a part in giving to this community some of the amenities that has long been wished for.
Jerry L. Potts
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