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 Fred
Esmond has been the village of Utica’s mayor for the past
three years. The position is part time, but, as you can
imagine, the events of April 20 have demanded much more of
his time.
“We’re working closely with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They’re
helping us reach out and tap into some of the money
available,” Fred stated.
As the village
moves forward, the focus is on the future. “We need to look
at what the village wants and the growth that will happen
around Utica. We’re looking at how to better the community.
We want to keep it quaint, but there’s the need to modernize
for the necessities like streets and parking. FEMA is
helping us as we design that. We also will hire a village
manager, which will help.”
The tragic
events of April 20 have people reaching out to help. A
relief and disaster fund has been established. So far,
$90,000 has been donated to the relief fund, which is money
that will go to people in need as a result of the tornado.
“We’ve had a lot of help
from Plainfield. They’ve provided input on the applications
and advised how to disperse the money,” Fred said. The
deadline for relief fund applications is July 1.
The disaster fund balance
has now reached $15,000. This is money to be used for
village needs like roads and trucks. “This money will help
us cover the difference between the insurance payout and the
cost of the new item. What people don’t realize is it could
be another five months before the FEMA money comes in,”
according to Fred.
 1st
Farm Credit Services presented Fred with a $250 check for the village of Utica’s disaster
fund. 1st FCS Vice President Lonnie Doan stated, “We wanted
to make a contribution to support those who were touched by
this tragic event. Currently, we are out helping our clients
rebuild their business, barns and homes.”
“Everything helps. I love it
when everyone gets together to help our community,” Fred
said. “Utica’s great, but the Illinois Valley is the best.
We want our town to grow, but we want it for the surrounding
areas, too. Everything feeds off of each other. You have to
plan for that.”
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