Waukegan City Council - Planning for the Next Ten Years

Last night, the members of the Waukegan City Council sat for a meeting of the Committee of the Whole to discuss the long-term use of revenue the City is receiving from the American Place Casino and legalized cannabis.

The casino is expected to generate $108.5 million and cannabis $6.2 million over the next decade. At the meeting, the mayor, six alderpersons, City Attorneys, and the City’s Department heads discussed how these funds could be spent over the next decade to move Waukegan forward for our next generation of citizens.

Notably missing were Alderpersons Donnenwirth, Martinez, and Turner. Not a good idea to miss an important meeting with the City’s staff, Corporation Council, and members of the public.

Worse, 6th Ward Alderman Keith Turner was driving around the City without his seatbelt on during the meeting, clearly distracted by the Facebook live video he was hosting while operating his vehicle. By doing this, Turner showed that he doesn’t understand what his job is, nor what his priorities should be, all while endangering the lives of residents with his distracted driving.

You can watch the presentation and view the opportunities this funding would offer here. Here are a couple of key takeaways::

• The City will receive $50 million from the casino over the next 3-4 years due to land rent and purchase. After that, it will generate $7-9 million annually once the permanent casino is built.

• The City paying off debt these last two years has resulted in $5 million in annual savings. Continuing to pay off bonds while not taking out new ones will save another $5 million.

• Salaries and benefits are projected to increase by $43 million in the next decade, representing the biggest challenge to Waukegan’s financial future.

Below is a list of possible projects. Hard choices are required as the needs far exceed the revenue.

Possible projects discussed are listed below:

• South Lakefront Pre‐development: $20‐30 million

• Lakefront Redevelopment: $500 million

• Washington/Sheridan Superblock: $8 million

• Washington Street Corridor: $45 million

• Stormwater Upgrades: $7 million

• Water Plant Upgrade for Community Sales: $100 million

• 94 Interchange: $25 million

• Amtrak Station: $30 million

• Lakefront/Beach Recreational Improvements: $10 million

• Dunes Boardwalk Project: $1 million

• Beach House Construction: $1 million

• Auxiliary Bathroom: $250,000

• Maintenance of Beach House: TBD (need maintenance budget based upon design)

• Seahorse Drive Improvements: $8.5 million

• IT upgrades: $9.3 million

• New Central Police HQ $60 million

• Reconstruction of Fire Station #3 $12 million

• Pedestrian Bridge over Sheridan Road $2.5 million

• Culvert Rehabilitation $3.5 million

• Sanitary System Upgrades $7 million

• Water Main Replacements $8 million

• Bridge Rehab & Replacements $26 million