Meanwhile, Wheeling Village President Judy Abruscato said the economy in her community seems to be brightening, and there has been a considerable increase in building permits.
Prospect Heights Police Chief Jamie Dunne has started a citizen police academy, and some of the graduates will become volunteers who can help at the station, Helmer said.
Dunne said he has enough employees who can do double duty and keep the police station open for long hours seven days a week. However, he would need volunteers to cover sick and training days.
"We need consistency," he said. "We can't just say the station is open, then put up a sign if we don't have anyone available.
"We would have someone there to greet people who walk in and answer questions and call an officer if necessary."
The station has been closed to the public since 2009, when voters rejected a special public safety property tax.
Under the current system, if someone comes to the police station and needs to talk with an officer, a phone connects the person to Northwest Central Dispatch, which notifies an officer on patrol.
When the station is open, personnel there will be able to make nonemergency calls directly to officers on the beat, said Dunne.
Helmer, who was elected a year ago, said ending furloughs for the city staff and opening city hall on Fridays was one of his accomplishments.
Abruscato, meanwhile, said construction in Wheeling last year was up from $13 million to $47 million. This included a Walmart renovation and 35,000-square-foot expansion and the Fresh Farms Center at Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue.
She also credited Chicago Executive Airport and Haley Reinhart, an "American Idol" finalist, for bringing national and international attention to the city.
Copyright 2012 Paddock Publications, Inc.
