Legislative Committee
The Metro West Legislative Committee monitors and evaluates the impact of pending state and federal legislation and regulations as they affect the well-being of residents in Metro West’s member municipalities (DeKalb, Kane, and Kendall Counties). The Committee guides Council members in responding to legislative issues and may also recommend and develop legislative proposals to address problems and issues that have been raised by its member municipalities.
Legislative Positions
Each year the Committee recommends legislative priorities and positions that guide the Council’s legislative actions and activities and provide a focus for lobbying efforts.
Springfield Drive Down
Council members have the opportunity to participate in the legislative processes of the Illinois General Assembly through the annual Springfield Drive Down and attend events and meetings with legislators and other governmental officials.
Legislative BBQ
The annual Legislative BBQ & Session Review features an overview by the Metro West lobbyist of the successes and failures of the most recently completed legislative session from a municipal perspective.
Contact:
Legislative Chair/Administrator-United City of Yorkville, Bart Olson, 630.553.4350
Members
Chair
Bart Olson, Committee Chair
Administrator
United City of Yorkville
Members
Alex Voigt
Assistant Chief of Staff
City of Aurora
Lora Vitek
Mayor
City of St. Charles
David Kaptain
Mayor
City of Elgin
Eric Johnson
Village Manager
Village of Carpentersville
Jeff Freeman
Consulting Engineer, EEI
Jeff Schielke
Mayor
City of Batavia
Jeff Lynam
President
Village of East Dundee
Matt Brolley
President
Village of Montgomery
Mike Millette
Trustee
Village of Campton Hills
Stephanie Dawkins
Administrator
City of Geneva
Lesli Melendy
Executive Director
(ex-officio)
Consultants
Kathleen Field Orr
Metro West Legal Counsel
Pete Wallers
Consulting Engineer, EEI
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee, with the assistance of the executive director and input from the Treasurer, is responsible for providing financial oversight of the organization. The committee advises on financial planning, budget development and risk management. It reviews and recommends financial policy and procedures. The Committee provides Board members with an understanding of their financial responsibilities.
Members
Dan DiSanto, Chair
Metro West Treasurer
Administrator
Village of Oswego
Rob Fredrickson
Finance Director
United City of Yorkville
Rita Kruse
Finance Manager
City of Geneva
Justin Vanvooren
Finance Director
Village of Montgomery
Lesli Melendy
Executive Director
(ex-officio)
Strategic Plan Committee
The Strategic Plan Committee is responsible for ensuring the Metro West continues making progress toward fulfilling its long-range Strategic Plan. The Committee accomplishes this by annually reviewing the Metro West Strategic Plan with the Board of Directors and recommending policy, program and activity priorities for the coming year. The Committee is chaired by the Metro West Board Secretary and meets at least three times each year.
Members
Steve Bosco
Administrator
Village of North Aurora, Chair
Stephanie Dawkins
Administrator
City of Geneva
Stephan Pickett
Village President of Sleepy Hollow
Steve Super
Administrator
Village of South Elgin
Lesli Melendy
Staff Support
Executive Director
Intergovernmental Relations
Metro West Council works collaboratively with a number of governmental entities and regional public and private agencies, boards and committees to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation and to provide the municipal perspective on relevant issues. The Council works to ensure that municipal viewpoints are represented at the earliest possible stages of decision making.
Related Links:
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
DeKalb County
Kane County
Kane/Kendall Council of Mayors
Kendall County
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Metropolitan Planning Council
Membership Committee
The Membership and Programs Committee explores and enhances opportunities with strategic partnerships, promotes membership in Metro West and makes recommendations on new membership programs and services. Most recently, the committee developed a membership brochure and examined the issue of associate memberships. The Committee meets periodically as needed.
Chairman
Michael Tyrrell
President
Village of Campton Hills
Water Conservation Task Force
Water supply issues have been identified as a critical issue in the Metro West area. The Metro West Water Conservation Task Force was formed in the summer of 2008 in response to this need. Its mission is:
- to educate municipalities and their residents of the need for water resource management in the Metro West region,
- to create a resource “toolkit” for all municipalities and residents to utilize with a centralized source for updates and information, and
- to develop partnerships to implement water resource management strategies.
The Task Force was instrumental in the formation of the Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA). The Water Conservation Task Force has been disbanded and those resources are now concentrated in the NWPA. The NWPA brings together five councils of government and five counties in a voluntary partnership for water supply planning.
NORTHWEST WATER PLANNING ALLIANCE
Metro West Representatives:
David Kaptain
Chairman of NWPA
Mayor of Elgin
Matt Brolley
Delegate
President of Montgomery
Jeff Walter
Delegate
President of Elburn
Peter Wallers
Technical Advisory Committee Chairman
Metro West Consulting Engineer
Lesli Melendy
Administrative Support
Executive Director Metro West
Learn More about the Northwest Water Planning Alliance
Metro West Kane County Animal Control Task Force
Since 2007, Metro West has been working with Kane County on behalf of Kane County municipalities to negotiate animal control services contract issues. Metro West is now working collaboratively with Kane County to plan a second animal control shelter.
Chairman: Stephan Pickett, President of Sleepy Hollow
Brian Bourdeau, Village Manager of Gilberts
Nick Sikora, Police Chief of Elburn
MWCOG Staff Contact: Susan Russell
