MAYORAL FORUM CONTINUED

In addition to the Army Corps, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency would need to approve such a project, which has been discussed for decades. Funding for such a project hasn’t been worked out.

Buscher said she would need to hear more about what citizens want before supporting a second lake.

ATTENTION TO THE EAST SIDE: Buscher said the city needs to spend more, and pay more attention to, improving the care of streets, curbs and sidewalks on the east side, where poverty rates are higher than in most of the city.

Langfelder said he has worked to improve the east side, pointing to council approval of, and city assistance for, the scheduled $38 million redevelopment of the Poplar Place housing site by owner Chicago-based Related Midwest.

NEW BUSINESS PREFERENCE: When asked what kind of new businesses he would like to see come to Springfield, Langfelder said he would prefer to “retain what you have and build upon it.” He said the city already is working with the health care community to expand and complement its footprint. “You do that across all our industries, with regards to education, energy, and really assess what we have and what would build upon their important assets,” he said.

Buscher said she wants to attract more businesses in the technology sector. “I have a 28-year-old who works in tech, and we have no jobs in Springfield for her, none. That’s a problem if I want my daughter to live in the town I live in.

The event was also sponsored by the Illinois Times, Springfield Business Journal and Mid-West Family Springfield.