of effective local government. Building trust among residents, businesses, and village leadership has been a consistent priority, particularly as the village has undertaken more ambitious projects. “One of our big focuses has been building better communication between the village and the residents,” he adds. “We’ve reinvested in our parks, reinvested in our neighborhoods, and we’re tackling big infrastructure issues as time and money allow.” That philosophy extends into daily operations. “This organization thinks a lot differently than a lot of municipalities,” says Sean Halloran, Village Administrator. “We never do things just because that’s the way they’ve always been done.” Halloran notes that from his earliest conversations with village officials, there was a clear expectation that Willowbrook should think beyond traditional limitations often associated with small municipalities. “There’s really no dream that’s too big,” he explains. “The mayor and the board set a very high standard, and that standard is driven by wanting the best for residents.” FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE GROWTH One of the most visible examples of Willowbrook’s infrastructure-first approach is the $4 million reconstruction of Executive Drive, completed last year. For a village spanning just two square miles, the project represented a major financial and logistical undertaking. “For a two-square-mile town, $4 million is a big deal,” Mayor Trilla emphasizes. The roadway, which runs through the heart of the village’s industrial area, had long suffered from flooding. Designed decades ago to hold stormwater, it routinely overflowed during heavy rains, forcing businesses to close for days at a time and disrupting economic activity. “We were knocking businesses out of business for three or four days at a time,” Mayor Trilla recalls.“We made it a priority.” 250 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01
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