SUN CITY – In one sense, Ruby Hornig, N.21, can see the future. As a member of the Huntley Planning Commission, she not only votes on but sees before almost anyone else the moves the village is planning to make.
Ruby Hornig.
Serving on the board since 2001, Hornig has seen Huntley grow tremendously and has been a part of it all. From Sun City’s early development to the approval of the forthcoming Centegra Hospital and development along Route 47, Hornig has been a part of major decisions in Huntley’s recent history.
Her passion for planning came not from a study of government and civics, but a more personal matter. While living in Addison, a developer seeking to build townhomes right in her backyard gave Hornig the spark she needed.
Hornig fought back, writing letters to fellow homeowners and holding meetings on the issue. And she won – the developer agreed to move the homes further back, with a pond between the townhomes and Hornig’s home.
The Sun Day recently sat down with Hornig to talk about her role on the commission and where she sees Huntley going in the future.
SD: How often do you work with the commission, and what does your day-to-day job entail?
RH: The Saturday before there’s a meeting, they’ll bring out a packet and put it on my door. They always did that until probably last year, and then they started to email them out. And so I saw Chuck Sass at [a consumer show], and I said, ‘It looks like I’m going to be losing my job, huh?’ He said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘I don’t have an email, and they’re going to start emailing them.’ [He said], ‘No, we’ll send you yours; you don’t have to worry about that.’
SD: He didn’t want to lose you.
RH: No, so they bring it out here and put it on my door, and I have time to review it before Monday.
SD: How often do you meet with the other members?
RH: It depends on when we have something that comes before us. We used to have a meeting every week. But you know the way things have slowed down, it’s not the same as what it used to be. So it’s just when there’s something that needs to be addressed that is going to come before the board.
SD: Are there any decisions facing the planning board right now that you can talk about?
RH: I don’t really know what might be coming. We never know until we get the information.
SD: Does living in Sun City give you a unique perspective to be on the board?
RH: We kind of know a little bit about what’s going on and the development that’s coming forward. This [I-90 interchange], we’ve been waiting for that for a long time, and it’s finally coming to pass.
SD: Where do you see Huntley in maybe the next five or 10 years given when the interchange is going to be done, the [Centegra] hospital will be built, and with all the development, where do you see it going?
RH: Nowhere but up. Because it’s near the expressway, it’s just got a lot to offer.
SD: Do you think that being on the Planning Commission kind of gives you a glimpse of the future before other people might have it?
RH: Oh yeah. It always comes out to us before they put it out to the public.
SD: Do other residents know that you’re on the board and have suggestions for you?
RH: I listen to them, but I’ll vote my own conscience as to which way I’ll go on it. I’ll take it into consideration, but I will vote, and that’s what I’m on there for. And I’ll always listen.
SD: Do you think Sun City is adequately represented within Huntley at large when the village votes on issues?
RH: I do. I think we’ve got a very good mayor. I think Dave Johnson does an excellent job as the manager, and there are a lot of good people.
SD: Would you encourage Sun City residents into taking a role in local government?
RH: Absolutely. If they have an interest in it, yes. I would just say to do what you think is the best thing for you.
