The two-person battle to take over the leadership of Hartford will end in a few weeks, but that could be just be the start of some potential headaches the new mayor will have to handle.
Two-term Mayor James Spann, who will be ceding the job to either Kristie Luebbert or Jim Hickerson, told the Advantage News that he’s ready for someone else to step in.
“It has been interesting, and I have enjoyed it,” he said. “But it’s time I got out and enjoyed life a little bit.”
Spann’s replacement will have to shoulder the burden of completing multiple capital projects that Spann started, including figuring out storm water drainage issues near Illinois 3. Hartford is situated at the mouth of the Missouri River.
“The levee and Route 3 have created this problem,” Spann told the Advantage News. “The drain pipe on the east side of the highway drains the water, and it worked fine until we started getting these humongous rains, especially when the river is up and the valve is closed on the levee. In the past, we have tried to pump it. It is really not our ditch. It belongs to the Illinois Department of Transportation. We are trying to get some help -- funding to put in a pump station down there.”
Luebbert, a lifelong Hartford resident, has served the last eight years on the Hartford Board of Trustees and is the Finance Committee chairperson. She said she is excited to make Hartford a town everyone is proud to call home.
“I believe we need to not only think about our present situation, but also look to the future and how we can better improve the village,” Luebbert told the Advantage News. “Improvements need to be made to infrastructure with new roads, separated sewers and park improvements. I will also work hard to bring new businesses to town to improve our tax base.”
Leubbert, the volunteer coordinator at the Hartford Day Camp for the past six years, is planning on urging the community to build a garden at the elementary school for all to enjoy.
“This garden will allow the school’s garden club and the residents of Hartford to work together to grow food that will allow for fresh produce and also teach the children about sustainability,” she said.
Jim Hickerson worked for the Hartford Public Works Department for 20 years, including as a foreman for his last eight years there. Although he is retired, he wants to continue serving the community as mayor, focusing on cleaning up properties and establishing fiscal responsibility.
“The village has overspent revenues the last four years by $2.5 million,” Hickerson told the Advantage News. “For example, over the last three years, the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower is in the red $176,310. I would monitor every bill that comes in and monitor every penny that is spent. I would do everything I can to get the village back in the black.”
Hickerson also said he would be accessible to residents.
“I would make my email address and phone number available, and I would always be open to talking with people about ideas,” he said. “We have to work together on these finances. If we don’t get the finances straightened out, then we’re going down the drain. We have got to do what we can to get people back into town.”
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