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Resident accuses Cary leaders of dishonesty over delayed 1st Street repaving; raises concerns about Maplewood development and TIF
Summary
At the Village of Cary’s January 2026 meeting, a resident said the board misled residents about a promised 1st Street repaving, complained about consultant/staff knowledge at a Spring Street open house, and urged scrutiny of the Maplewood development and TIF spending.
A Cary resident identified in the record as Chris told the village board during public comment that elected officials had been “not honest” about plans to repave 1st Street and that promises the work would be completed in 2025 had not been met. "You said it was gonna be done in 2025, and it was not," Chris said during the Jan. 2026 public forum.
Chris said 1st Street carries traffic for three churches, four schools and the Sunburst Swimming Park and contrasted the board’s focus on downtown development and signage with what he described as lack of attention to neighborhood needs. He also criticized the Spring Street open house, saying staff or consultants at the event did not appear familiar with Cary’s infrastructure and that only a small number of residents attended.
Mayor Mark (recorded as speaker 1) responded that 1st Street is an Illinois Department of Transportation project, that IDOT had pulled the contractor’s contract (twice) because of contractor issues, and that the project is fully funded and awaiting IDOT to release contractors. "That is a funded project. We are just waiting for IDOT to release the contractors," the mayor said, and invited the resident to meet with staff to discuss questions outside open forum.
Also during public comment, Martha Ritter asked the board for $80 in TIF funds for Legacy Conservation to study the woods on the Maplewood property and contrasted that small request with a newspaper report she cited that developers are receiving $12,000,000 in TIF money. Ritter said she expects the Maplewood project will receive quick approval by the zoning board and expressed concern about a builder and a cement company she said were flagged by the Better Business Bureau. "I'm sure the Maplewood project will get approval in 5 minutes," Ritter said, and asked the board to consider her small request for a study.
No formal action on 1st Street, Maplewood or TIF funding was taken during the meeting; the board closed public comment and proceeded to other agenda business. The mayor encouraged residents with detailed questions to contact staff or the office for follow-up.
