Villa Park trustees press for clearer public tracking as strategic plan moves to implementation

Village Manager Mike Harling told the Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees Committee of the Whole on Jan. 27 that staff is moving the village’s adopted strategic plan from drafting into implementation, with department-led initiatives, a Gantt chart for task tracking and a public-facing dashboard planned within weeks.

Harling said the update was intended “to recap what we've done, what we have to do, and what will make the plan reality rather than just a plan.” He reported that staff has developed 23 initiatives tied to the plan’s four strategic goals — financial resilience, sustainable infrastructure, community engagement and workforce development — and that the BS&A permitting software began a staged go‑live during the week of the meeting.

The trustees focused most discussion on how the village will present progress to residents. Several…