Homewood village staff have been on a mission in recent years to demystify the workings of village government. The village is launching a new opportunity for residents to learn and ask questions about how their government operates.
The first Hot Topics workshop, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave., will focus on tax increment financing districts, commonly known as TIFs. The economic development tool is one Homewood has used regularly for decades, but it remains the subject of controversy and sometimes misunderstanding.
Geoffrey Dickinson of SB Friedman will offer information about how TIF districts work. He is a real estate and economic development advisor who specializes in the use of TIF districts.
Assistant Village Manager Terence Acquah said after Dickinson offers a look at how TIF districts work in general, Homewood’s economic development team, Director Angela Mesaros and Assistant Director Noah Schumerth, plan to explain how the tool has been used by Homewood.
Unlike a town hall or committee of the whole session, which typically are led by elected leaders to discuss policy issues, Hot Topics workshops will be informal opportunities to learn about and discuss how local government operates.
The new workshop series comes shortly after the village recognized at a board meeting the members of the fourth Citizen Civics Academy cohort, which recently completed a six-week program introducing them to the workings of local government. The success of the academy was part of the impetus behind Hot Topics which will be similar in purpose but in a different format.
Acquah said the idea for Hot Topics occurred during a meeting in which staff members were discussing several issues they were working on.
“We wished we could have that conversation with people to discuss what’s happening and the methodology behind certain things,” he said. “Just an open, casual conversation.”
Antonia Steinmiller, communications and engagement manager, said she sees comments in local social media conversations that indicate people have an incomplete understanding about how local government works. In the absence of facts, sometimes misinformation can spread. She looks at Hot Topics as an opportunity to provide better information that will help people when they discuss local government issues.
“We want to debunk any myths or misinformation that’s out there,” she said.
She said there seems to be interest in the community for the kind of conversation Hot Topics is intended to support. She conducted an online survey earlier this year and got about 400 responses. She said 90% expressed interest in attending workshops on local government.
