I had the chance to attend the Art Grad Finale—the Senior Art Faire—at Round Lake High School, and it was a great reminder of the talent we have in this community.

The photos don’t do these pieces justice. Seeing the work in person, you can really appreciate the detail, creativity, and thought behind each piece. Some of the artwork was truly impressive.

What stood out most, though, was meeting the students behind the work. I spoke with a dozen or more artists, each with their own perspective and story. Two conversations in particular stuck with me.

Ms. Josephine and Ms. Evelyn spoke with real passion about their pieces—what inspired them and where they hope to go next. Their excitement about the future was clear, and it was genuinely inspiring to hear.

When I was sworn in as mayor exactly 365 days ago, one of the first things I set out to do was work with local school districts and the art programs to bring student work into Village Hall, specifically to have pieces matted and framed on the empty walls in my office. I’m looking forward to seeing that come to life in the coming weeks.

If you know a company or individual who does framing, I’d appreciate the connection. Please feel free to email me at bbrubaker@roundlakeil.gov.

Enjoy the photos—but if you really want the full effect, make a point to attend one of these art showings in the future. You won’t be disappointed.

Last night’s Comprehensive Plan workshop was exactly what local government should look like, residents showing up, asking questions, sharing ideas, and helping shape the future of their community.

A comprehensive plan isn’t just a document that sits on a shelf. It’s a roadmap for the next decade, guiding decisions on development, infrastructure, housing, parks, and how we grow as a village. And that roadmap is only as strong as the voices behind it.

That’s why last night mattered.

We had thoughtful conversations about where we are today and where we want to go. Some ideas challenged each other. Some aligned right away. That’s part of the process. Growth, especially smart, measurable growth, requires input, discussion, and sometimes a little disagreement to get it right.

One thing was clear. Round Lake is showing up.

Residents aren’t sitting on the sidelines. They’re participating. They’re engaging. And they’re making it known that they care deeply about the future of this community. That kind of involvement is what turns plans into progress.

There’s also a reality we have to acknowledge. We need growth and development to remain a strong, sustainable community. But it has to be the right kind of growth. Growth that reflects our values. Growth that protects what people love about Round Lake while positioning us for the future.

That balance only happens when people stay involved.

If you couldn’t attend tonight, there are still plenty of ways to make your voice heard. You can visit the project website here
👉 https://round-lake-il-comprehensive-plan-hlplanning.hub.arcgis.com/

On the site, you will find an online survey where you can share your thoughts on priorities and future goals. There is also an interactive map that lets you pinpoint ideas, concerns, and opportunities across the community. You can review project updates and timelines so you can see where we are in the process and what comes next.

Community feedback, both in person and online, is a critical part of this process. The Village is actively collecting input to help guide decisions over the next decade and beyond, from housing and development to parks, transportation, and overall quality of life.

There will also be additional in person meetings and workshops as the plan progresses. Dates and details will continue to be posted on the project website, so I encourage everyone to check back regularly and stay involved.

The old saying it takes a village could not be more true here. A comprehensive plan is not written for the community, it is written by the community.

And last night was a great example of that in action.

Attending the “Big Event” hosted by Lake County Partners was an energizing reminder of how much momentum is building across Lake County when it comes to collaboration, economic development, and community investment.

The room was filled with a strong mix of business leaders, public officials, developers, and community stakeholders all focused on one shared goal: strengthening the region’s future.

The highlight of the program was the keynote address by author Jon Roberts. His message blended storytelling with practical insight about leadership, resilience, and the importance of staying grounded in purpose while navigating change. He connected big picture ideas to real world decision making in a way that felt relevant to everyone in the room.

One takeaway that stood out in particular was his point about development and balance. He emphasized that the conversation is not only about what gets developed, but also about what does not get developed. That distinction matters. Environmental preservation and responsible growth both have to coexist, and neither should be ignored. At the same time, he challenged the idea that “no development” is automatically the best outcome. In some cases, land or opportunity that is left untouched does not always serve the broader needs or long term purpose of a community. The real work is finding thoughtful balance rather than defaulting to either extreme.

Another portion of his presentation that may have been misunderstood by some in attendance involved a few of his slides, particularly those addressing labor trends. One slide focused on labor shortages over the past several decades and projected into the future. He made a point to clarify that this is not a political argument, but a factual demographic and economic reality: there is more work to be done, but fewer people available to do it. He also emphasized that simply increasing population alone cannot fully solve that gap.

Instead, his argument centered on the necessity of leveraging technology to help meet the nation’s growing work demands. Automation, innovation, and efficiency tools will increasingly play a role in filling the structural labor gap. However, he also stressed that these solutions must be implemented thoughtfully, with careful consideration of how they intersect with development, workforce needs, and community impact. Technology is not a replacement for balance, but part of how balance is achieved.

That message tied directly into a larger theme of the evening. Progress does not happen in isolation. It requires ongoing collaboration between public and private sectors, along with honest conversations about what communities need today and what they will need in the future.

And importantly, it was also a moment to recognize participation at the local level. Round Lake is showing up. We are participating, engaging in the conversations, and we are not afraid to lead when it comes to shaping thoughtful growth and long-term direction for our community and the region.

Leaving the event, the takeaway was clear. Lake County’s future is being shaped right now by the people willing to show up, participate, and engage in the sometimes difficult but necessary conversations about growth, balance, innovation, and long-term vision…

and Round Lake intends to be right in the middle of that work.

If you’ve lived in Round Lake for any amount of time, you’ve probably had this thought at least once:

“Why are they building that?”
or
“Why doesn’t the village just stop this?”

Those are fair questions. But the answers are more complicated than most people realize—and you deserve a straight explanation.

Growth Doesn’t Happen by Accident

Development isn’t random. Property owners have legal rights to use and develop their land within zoning rules. The village doesn’t “own” most of the land you see being developed—we regulate it, we don’t control it outright.

That means we can guide growth, shape it, and set standards. But we cannot simply say “no” to everything we don’t like without legal and financial consequences.

What the Village Can Control

We can:

• Set zoning and land use rules
• Require infrastructure improvements
• Enforce building standards
• Negotiate with developers for better outcomes

When a project comes forward, our job is to make it fit the community as best as possible—not pretend we can stop growth entirely.

What the Village Cannot Control

We cannot:

• Stop all development
• Ignore property rights
• Override state laws
• Turn away projects that meet legal requirements without risking lawsuits that cost taxpayers

That last part matters. Saying “just say no” might sound good, but it can come with real financial consequences for the village.

A Real Example of How We Push for Better Outcomes

In a recent development approval, we didn’t just accept what was proposed—we pushed for more.

The developer will be paying for a much-needed traffic study, but importantly, the village will select the engineering firm to ensure it’s independent and credible. The developer pays the bill, not taxpayers.

They have also agreed to participate in any traffic signal and roadway improvements allowed under Illinois regulations. That means they’re not only sharing in the cost of problems their project may contribute to—but also helping fix traffic issues that already exist today and that they had nothing to do with.

On top of that, the developer agreed to pay higher impact fees to the local school districts. Just as important, those fees will be paid immediately upon final approval—not delayed through phased payments or after construction is complete. That ensures schools see the benefit up front, not years later.

That’s what negotiating for the community looks like.

The Trade-Offs No One Talks About

Every development decision comes with trade-offs.

New businesses can mean:

• More local jobs
• Increased tax revenue
• Less pressure on residential property taxes

But they can also bring:

• Traffic
• Noise
• Change to the character of an area

Both things can be true at the same time. Pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone.

Why Growth Matters

Without responsible growth, communities stagnate.

Costs go up. Infrastructure ages. The tax burden shifts more heavily onto homeowners. That’s not sustainable long term.

Smart growth—done carefully and with community input—helps keep a village financially stable and moving forward.

The Approach Moving Forward

The goal isn’t to approve everything. It’s also not to block everything.

It’s to:

• Be transparent about what’s happening
• Push for better projects
• Protect residents where we can
• Make decisions that hold up legally and financially

You may not agree with every decision—and that’s okay. But you should always understand why those decisions are being made.

It Takes All of Us

At the end of the day, we need growth and development—but it has to be smart, measurable growth.

And that only works if people are involved.

Right now, one of the most important efforts we have underway is the update to the village’s comprehensive plan. This plan will guide Round Lake for the next decade—what gets built, where it goes, and how our community evolves.

Residents don’t just get to participate in this process—they’re encouraged to participate, and frankly, we need you to participate.

The old saying “it takes a village” couldn’t be more true here. The future of this community shouldn’t be decided by a handful of people in a room. It should be shaped by the people who live here every day.

 Take the online survey

 Share your thoughts on Map.Social

For more information on this project

Visioning Workshop
 Thursday, April 30 | 5:30–7:30 PM
 Round Lake Area Park District Community Center (814 Hart Rd)

Keep the Conversation Going

If you have concerns about a project or development in your area, speak up. Come to meetings. Reach out.

The more informed and engaged our community is, the better decisions we make together.

Growth is coming either way. The real question is whether we shape it—or let it shape us.

There’s something unexpected living under my deck for years and it’s changed how I think about an issue our community quietly faces.

A small group of community cats has made a home there. At first, I had the same reaction many people do with concern and uncertainty about what to do. But I quickly learned there’s a better way to handle it.

These are community cats, not typical pets. Trying to remove them doesn’t solve the problem because new cats will simply move in. What does work is Trap Neuter Return, or TNR.

TNR humanely traps cats, has them spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and returns them to where they live. It prevents new litters, reduces issues, and stabilizes the population over time.

That’s where organizations like Spay and Stay (link) make a real difference. They provide the resources and guidance to handle situations like this the right way.

Working with them turned a frustrating situation into a manageable one. The cats are cared for, no new litters will be born, and the issue is under control.

If you have feral cats in your area and are looking for a good, humane solution, give Spay and Stay (link) a call.

Sometimes the best solutions start right in our own backyard.

The BUILD Proposal in Illinois: What It Means for Local Control

As Mayor, one of my core responsibilities is protecting the ability of our community to make decisions that reflect our local values, priorities, and needs. That’s why proposals like the BUILD initiative in Illinois deserve a closer look, because at their core, they raise an important question:

Who should decide what happens in our neighborhoods?

The BUILD proposal (often discussed in the context of statewide housing and development reform) is designed to streamline development approvals, particularly for housing, by reducing what some see as barriers created at the local level.

On the surface, that may sound reasonable. Illinois, like many states, is facing housing challenges. But the way BUILD attempts to solve that problem is where concern begins.

Under proposals like BUILD, authority that has traditionally been held by local governments, like zoning decisions, development approvals, and land use planning, could be significantly reduced or overridden by state level standards.

That means:

• Developments could proceed without local review.
• Community input could be limited or bypassed
• Locally adopted plans and ordinances could carry less weight

For communities like ours, that’s not a small change, it’s a fundamental shift in how decisions are made.

Local government isn’t just another layer of bureaucracy, it’s the level of government closest to the people.

We understand:

• The character of our neighborhoods
• The capacity of our infrastructure
• The needs of our residents
• The long term vision of our community

When decisions are made locally, they reflect real, lived experience, not one size fits all policies.

If BUILD or similar legislation moves forward in its current form, communities could see:

• Increased density without corresponding infrastructure
  Roads, schools, and emergency services may not keep pace with rapid development
• Loss of community character
  Developments that don’t align with existing neighborhoods could be approved with limited input
• Reduced transparency
  Residents may have fewer opportunities to engage in decisions that directly affect them
• Strain on local resources
  Without local oversight, planning for growth becomes reactive instead of strategic

To be clear, this isn’t about being anti development. Growth is important. Housing is important. But how we grow matters just as much as how much we grow.

There is a path forward that:

• Encourages responsible development
• Addresses housing needs
• And preserves local decision making

State and local governments should be partners, not adversaries, in solving these challenges.

As this conversation continues in Springfield, it is important that your voice is heard.

If you share concerns about the potential loss of local control, I encourage you to contact your State Representative and State Senator and respectfully voice your opposition to this proposal. Elected officials need to hear directly from the residents they represent.

Civic engagement is one of the most powerful tools we have, and your input can help shape the outcome of this legislation.

I will continue advocating for a balanced approach, one that respects the role of local governments while working toward broader statewide goals.

Because at the end of the day, the people who live in our communities should have a voice in shaping them.

That’s not just good policy, it’s good government.

On April 9, 1970 Taco Bell decided to spice things up and turned the fast food industry on its head, leaving a legacy that no one has managed to top since.

The Enchirito burst onto the scene, causing a nationwide frenzy that had people lining up like it was the last concert of the Rolling Stones.

But alas, in 1993, it was retired, leaving a void in our hearts and a permanent dent in our tastebuds that no amount of cheese, beef and black olives will ever fill.

It returned for a brief tasty minute in 2000 and 2023 removing black olives as a standard option.

Quite possibly the greatest Mexican dish ever created.

The final reel!

Part 5, the final part is heavy on the police and fire departments. It ends with a lot of pictures collected from residents and agencies from all corners of the Village and County.

I hope you enjoyed this old relic and learned a little bit about where our little Village came from and how we got to 2008.

Maybe we can put together a committee to update and create a video and history from 2008 to 2028. Let me know if you are interested!

Here is that video:

The picture above is one of my favorite homes in Round Lake. It’s just off our downtown district and is still owned by the same family. It is home to former Mayor Dietz.

Take a cruise around the older part of town and you will be sure to see it.

Part 4 video speaks to our old Village Hall and Police Station with interviews from former Chiefs and Mayors.

Here is that video:

Check back for the final part 5!

The picture above is the original Greater Round Lake Area Fire Protection District. The building is still standing to this day with a few renovations and additions. It is called House 1 now.

Part 3 video has a lot to do with the fire department, churches, first state bank of Round Lake and Dr. Goshgarian.

Here is that video:

Check back soon for part 4!