Mayor Tisdahl Attends 80th Winter Meeting - U.S. Conference of Mayors
Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl is in Washington, DC this week attending the 80th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The meeting began yesterday and runs through tomorrow. Mayor Tisdahl is attending a variety of sessions including meetings of the Conference’s Mayors Water Council of which she is a member. Mayor Tisdahl joined other Mayors last night at the White House for a reception with President Obama and members of the President’s Cabinet.
“My main goals at the Winter Meeting this year are to get the latest information on how the Federal Government can support our efforts in helping at risk youth and creating jobs in Evanston. There are existing programs in the Departments of Labor, Commerce and Housing and Urban Development that we can use to support our efforts. I am talking to federal officials who run these programs to understand how best to position Evanston in receiving needed support,” said Mayor Tisdahl.
Water is another focus of Mayor Tisdahl’s efforts at the meeting. She has been receiving briefings on changes to Clean Water laws as they pertain to Lake Michigan and learning how other communities use water as a tool for economic development.
“Lake Michigan is a tremendous resource for Evanston. The City can leverage its existing investment of water treatment facilities to sell water to area communities as well as attract businesses here who need a reliable, reasonably priced source of water for their business,” Tisdahl continued. “In talking with Mayors from around the county attending the conference, the cost of water is a significant issue in communities everywhere. Evanston is fortunate to control its water source and the direct costs for treatment and distribution. As these costs continue to rise in other areas, Mayors from neighboring communities throughout the northwest suburbs who currently receive water from the City of Chicago are very interested in talking with Evanston about their water needs.”