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Oswego board adopts 2026—630 strategic plan, sets priorities for downtown, water and finances
Summary
After a presentation by consultant Jim Arndt of AMS, the Village of Oswego Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a four-year strategic plan that sets priorities including downtown development, a transition to a new water source, financial stability planning and infrastructure asset management.
The Village of Oswego Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Feb. 3 to adopt a resolution establishing the 2026—630 strategic plan following a presentation by AMS consultant Jim Arndt.
The plan sets a vision of "setting the standard of excellence for a thriving, growing community with purpose and nurturing a sense of community" and a mission to "deliver innovative and outstanding services that exceed community expectations," Arndt told the board. "Everything rises and falls on leadership," he said, urging the board to assign champions, tie goals to the budget and use scorecards to track progress.
Why it matters: The plan lays out concrete priorities the village intends to pursue over the next four years, including increasing community accessibility, developing the downtown (including safer crossings), implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy, planning a transition to a new water source, ensuring long-term financial stability, and creating an infrastructure asset-management program. Arndt said those priorities should be linked to budgets and regular progress reporting so the plan moves from statement to action.
Details from the presentation: Arndt described the plan—s development process, which included a resident survey, meetings with department directors and board planning sessions. He emphasized that the document is a starting point for implementation: "The value comes when you work the plan," he said, recommending periodic reporting, evaluation and celebration of progress.
Board response and vote: Trustees praised staff and the consultant for a comprehensive process that balanced differing views. President Ryan Kaufman asked for a motion to adopt the resolution; the motion was seconded and the board approved the strategic plan by unanimous roll call.
Votes at a glance: The board approved the strategic-plan resolution unanimously. The meeting also approved a consent agenda of routine resolutions and contracts (including a tree-pruning contract with Advanced Landscaping LLC and a ComEd contract for a new electrical feed and transformer for public works for $31,790.37) and accepted the bill list dated Feb. 3, 2026, totaling $1,327,701.22. All consent-agenda items and the bill list passed on voice/roll-call motions as read.
What comes next: Officials said they will link the plan—s goals and action items to the budgeting process, assign champions for priorities and provide periodic status reports to the board.
