Trustees Take Steps Toward Improving Community Health

The health of residents is among issues on the village board's docket Tuesday evening.

Trustees will decide whether to conduct a first reading on a contract with a firm that'd be tasked with creating a community wellness plan. If approved, the $40,000 contract with the Chicago-based MSC Consulting would be paid for with help from a $116,000 grant from the Model Communities Program. The village received that money in January, according to board documents.

“Together with our project partners, we plan to implement both public policies and institutional policies to improve health and wellness in our community,” Trustee Greg Hannon, chairman of the Village Board’s Planning and Zoning Committee, said in a written statement.

The plan will encompass local schools, the park district, library and health organizations, he has said.

Trustees interviewed two candidates for the job in May and ultimately decided to opt for Tom Mahoney, of MSC Consulting, because of "his experience working with public policy and … facilitating programs," officials said Monday.

Other initiatives that will be paid for using the grant include workplace wellness plans for the village and School District 146, as well as a bicycle and pedestrian incentive created with help from the Active Transportation Alliance, officials said.

Local grant programs have been approved by the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago.