Development News for Downers Grove, Illinois

Village Council Approves 2026 Water Main Improvement Contract

The council approved an agreement with Gerardi Sewer and Water Co. for the 2026 water main improvements, identified as contract B (WA-28B). The vote was unanimous.

Downers Grove Police and Fire Departments Recognized for Excellence and Accreditation

The Downers Grove Police Department was awarded advanced accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), recognizing their adherence to nearly 400 professional standards. They also received the meritorious designation for maintaining accreditation for 15+ consecutive years and were noted as the first municipal agency in DuPage County to achieve CALEA accreditation. This was further acknowledged by a plaque of appreciation from the U.S. Secret Service for their assistance in a case involving threats against protected individuals, where the department successfully seized a cache of weapons. Additionally, the Downers Grove Fire Department received the American Heart Association's gold level Mission Lifeline EMS award for excellence in cardiac and stroke care, consistently providing life-saving interventions within 10 minutes for nearly 36 consecutive months. The department also holds an ISO Class 1 rating, the Silver Circle Award for educational videos, and accreditation for its fire prevention division.

Childcare Provider Fights Zoning Ordinance, Seeks Alignment with State Standards

A resident, Lori Lia, presented concerns regarding her licensed family childcare home, which has operated for 26 years. She is facing a zoning ordinance violation regarding the maximum number of children allowed (eight), despite having been licensed for up to 16 children for decades. The village's zoning department initiated enforcement after a noise complaint. Lia sought an ordinance text amendment, which was initially recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission but later denied by the Village Council. She argued that the village has historically shown little enforcement of the ordinance and has allowed variances, creating a precedent. She seeks to update ordinances to align with DCFS licensing standards and ensure affordable childcare remains available.

Downers Grove Finance Department Earns Multiple GFOA Awards; Auditor Reports Clean Financials

The Village of Downers Grove's Finance Department received three awards from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). They were recognized with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2026 municipal budget for the 17th consecutive year. Additionally, they earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2024 comprehensive financial report and a special recognition for their long-range plan, which received perfect scores. The auditor's report, presented by Jamie Wilkkey from Labeaud and Aean, noted a clean, unmodified audit opinion for the 2025 fiscal year, with no material audit adjusting journal entries or exceptions found in internal control testing. The report highlighted a positive operating year, an increase in equity, and a decrease in bonded debt.