GALENA, IL – Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, northwest Illinois’ Regional Planning Commission, held its Spring Symposium and Annual Meeting on June 9, 2016, at Turner Hall in Galena, IL. The meeting was open to the public and nearly fifty guests from various local governments and organizations attended. The event’s name was "Old Is New Again: Downtown Rising."
Daryl Watson, author, educator, and local historian, spoke about Turner Hall, the city, and events that shaped Galena over time. He discussed local leadership’s place in revitalizing communities and downtowns, pointing out the importance of unique community identity and dedication. To community leaders in attendance, Watson emphasized that concern for architecture and historic preservation were key components in Galena’s revitalization in the 1980s.
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager for the City of Dubuque, IA, presented on Dubuque’s past decline and present resurgence, providing a history lesson and community planning perspective. She noted that Dubuque found success in setting high standards and raising civic expectations. Examples of expecting more included the adoption of an over-arching comprehensive plan that guides all planning and development. Carstens also cited citizen engagement and neighborhood outreach, as well as updates to zoning, subdivision, site development, and historic preservation regulations into one unified code.
Both speakers touched on the place of attitude and explained that single projects can be catalysts for bigger projects and that resources can be leveraged (from public, private, and non-profit sectors) and combined to achieve greater economic, environmental, and quality of life outcomes for locals.
Two awards were given at the meeting. The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Diane Bausman, Executive Director of Blackhawk Waterways Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. The award is presented annually to the person(s) or group(s) that have shown dedication to a project or initiative within the six-county region related to Blackhawk Hills’ goals and priorities. The second, the Carson DeJarnatt Economic Development Award, was presented to the City of Lanark. It is given to a person, organization, or initiative that demonstrates commitment to economic development. The award’s namesake, Carson DeJarnatt, joined the Blackhawk Hills Regional Council as the Whiteside County Board representative in 1987. He was instrumental in the establishment of Blackhawk Hills’ Economic Development District in 1992. Blackhawk Hills created the award in his honor after his death in 1995.
Officers for the 2016-2017 fiscal year were also announced: Ed Juracek of Savanna, IL – President, Marvin Schultz of Scales Mound, IL - Vice President , and Glen Kuhlemier of Rock Falls, IL - Secretary/Treasurer.
Blackhawk Hills Regional Council is a not-for-profit corporation and regional planning commission based in Rock Falls, IL, that serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside Counties in northwest Illinois. Services include community planning, development assistance, natural resources conservation and protection support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills Regional Council is sponsored by local county boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-member council, consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.
(submitted by Julie Jacobs)
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