Greetings to all of our residents and businesses in Matteson. Warm weather has finally arrived and not a minute too soon! We have been very busy at the Village of Matteson ensuring that services to our residents remain excellent. Our Public Works Department has been very busy identifying Ash trees that have been infested with the Emerald Ash Borer. These trees will ultimately have to be cut down and replaced; so if you notice trees in your area being removed, please know that our staff is working diligently to combat this problem and in the future, these trees will be replaced.

On the economic development front, I recently attended the International Council of Shopping Centers Convention in Las Vegas. I, along with Trustee Anthony Burton and staff, met with several key developers at the conference to discuss possible projects here in Matteson. We were very pleased to learn that even in these dire economic times, there is still a significant amount of interest by developers in locating various businesses here. We take Economic Development very seriously and continue to work very hard to look for projects that will enhance our already vibrant business community. In the coming months, you will hear more specifics, but if even only one or two of the possible projects we discussed come to fruition, the trip will have been paid for ten times over. We received a very positive response at every meeting we attended.

As you may already know by now, during the recent budget cycle, the decision was made to cancel Matteson Festival for 2010 due to budget shortfalls. We fully expect to bring back a new and improved Matteson Fest in 2011. In the meantime, please plan to join us for our National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the Village Hall. There will be food, prizes and entertainment for you and your family to enjoy in addition to equipment displays by our Fire, Police and Public Works departments.

Please note that as of June 1, 2010, the Village Hall will no longer be open on Saturdays. Instead, we will offer extended hours to our residents on Wednesday nights until 7 p.m. You will be able to pay your water bill, purchase vehicle stickers, etc. during these hours. This change was made due to the low usage on Saturdays which we have been monitoring for several months now.

I would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Dr. Blondean Davis, Superintendent of the Matteson 162 School District, and its Board of Trustees on receiving approval from the Illinois State Board of Education to open a Charter High School in District 162. The school, Southland Charter Prep will open in the Fall 2010 at the Huth Middle School in Matteson and will eventually relocate to a larger facility. We look forward to the great things that will surely come out of this endeavor and appreciate the choice that it gives parents and students in our community. Congratulations!!

I am extending an open application process to any resident of Matteson that may be interested in serving on our Special Events Commission. The Special Events Commission is charged with assisting our staff in the planning and execution of all special events sponsored by the Village of Matteson. If you or someone you know has an interest in serving on this commission, please go to the Village's website www.villageofmatteson.org and click on Commissioner Application. Print the application and check off Special Events and forward it to my attention. You can drop it off at the front counter or mail it back to me for consideration. I expect to make the appointments in July 2010.

The new Matteson Community/Recreation Center is coming along fine. We expect a late fall completion and predict an early 2011 opening. There will be something for all ages at the new center and it will be a fantastic addition to our community. Once we are ready to open for business, the entire village will be invited to the Grand Opening.

It is a pleasure serving as your Village President and should you need to contact us, please do so through the website, email or by phone. We are all ready, willing and able to serve you at anytime. Until next time, on behalf of Toni, André Jr. and Taylor and I, we wish you Godspeed.