Priorities and Initiatives
In Rod’s 13 years of service as Village President there have been significant improvements made throughout Hanover Park. But there is more work to be done and Rod will deliver the results that Hanover Park deserves.
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Public Safety
Since taking over as Village President, Rod has overseen a transformation of Hanover Park’s Police and Fire services.
Crime has been reduced dramatically. This is due in large part to Rod’s work to increase the number of sworn, full-time Police Officers by over 25% since 2007. The Department adopted a Community Policing strategy that has resulted in closer ties between residents and the law enforcement professionals sworn to protect and serve them.
The Fire Protection District was dissolved and Hanover Park founded its own fully-staffed Fire Department. The Fire Department has excelled in providing services to the residents of the Village and is poised to achieve a coveted ISO Class 1 rating for its dedication to duty.
Improving Quality of Life
The Village of Hanover Park Public Works Department has stepped up its responsiveness and effectiveness over the last 13 years. As of 2020, the last of the old cement streets will be torn out and replaced; completing a years long project to improve the infrastructure of the Village.
Rod has overseen the Village’s achievement of a AA bond rating and the growth of retail expenditures within the Village of +$500 million annually. This has made the Village extremely attractive to businesses of all sizes and developers seeking to add value to Hanover Park.
Ongoing development projects in the Village include: the Village Center streetscape improvements, expanding Menard’s, the Verandah Senior Adult Community, and a mixed used development at the northwest corner of Lake and Gary that will feature new retail space, a new gas station, and industrial space.
Promoting Diversity & Inclusivity
Early in Rod’s career with the Village of Hanover Park, the Cultural Inclusion and Diversity Committee was formed. Mayor Craig was a key supporter of this effort and has since sought to appoint active participants to build strong and lasting relationships across the community. One of Rod’s top priorities is to bring our multicultural families together to celebrate and understand our differences.
The results of Rod’s efforts and the committee’s work has been the ability to communicate effectively to find support for our elderly and other individuals who are experiencing poverty but can’t find support for their families.