Politicians, lone nuts, and dancing guys

As elected officials in local government, we step up to tackle the challenge to leave things a little better than we found them. That’s exactly what the Village of Durand has set out to do. We have completely restored our thriving business district, and by spring 2026, all downtown properties will be renovated, with each housing at least one business for the first time in nearly four decades.

Infrastructure in Durand is now capable of supporting twice the current population. Thirty-five single-family homes are planned for construction over the next five years. Amenities at Nick Saelens Park have been upgraded. Durand Community Unit School District (CUSD) 322 provides top-notch education for grades preK-12. Durand received the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) 100% Local Project Funding (LPF) grant to build a safe pedestrian and bike path along Illinois Highway 70 from the town’s southern edge past the creek footbridge to the school.

So how did we bring about such dramatic change in our community? It took hard work and partnership from civic leaders, local businesses, and community champions.

The responsibilities of elected officials
Fair warning: The journey is not for the faint of heart or the weak. But one step at a time, one project at a time, consistently moving mostly forward (because you win some and you lose some), you will get there.

• Build a team of like-minded individuals who share a vision. Everyone brings their own talents and thoughts. Each think differently but all see the common goal.
• Be genuine and authentic. Do what’s right by most people. (No, you can’t make everyone happy; that’s not a thing.)
• Don’t compromise honesty and integrity, even when it would be easier to do so sometimes. The public can say anything about you, and they will, so stay transparent, then there is nothing to hide.
• Make a plan. Identify the problem areas, take note of the positive attributes, and plan.
  Find a great grant writer. This is KEY to completing projects for smaller communities.
• Don’t comingle. Keep duties segregated amongst professional partners for accountability, i.e. engineer and grant writing.
• Create a TIF District and use it as strategically as possible.
• Create tangible change as soon as possible. Like the famous line in the 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
• Offer incentives. Work with investors, business owners (new and existing), and entrepreneurs to accomplish their goals and dreams—TIF, tax abatement, utility hook-ups. Be creative.
• Use all resources available to you—grants, incentives, business development districts (BDD), Illinois Municipal League conferences, meetings with other municipalities, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA), the county, and economic development organizations like the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce and tourism bureaus.
• Build relationships with business/property owners, community members, other officials, agencies, and organizations.
• Ask questions. There is no shame in admitting that you don’t know something
• DO NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL. Another community has already done what you want to do, reference them. Durand reached out to Beloit and the IIRA in the beginning.

Role of business and community leaders
On the flipside, change doesn’t happen without business leaders and community champions who share a vision. YOU bring the vision to life.

In the YouTube video, “First Follower: Leadership Lessons from the Dancing Guy” posted by Derek Sivers, we learn, “A leader needs the guts to stand alone and look ridiculous. But what he is doing is simple; it’s almost instructional. This is key. You must be easy to follow.”

This “lone nut” for Durand was Brian Steelglove, a businessman from the Chicago suburbs who settled in Lake Summerset, just 10 minutes down the road. He was excited to open a restaurant to honor his mother, The Fire Barn, and saw potential in our town and what he could bring to the community.

It wasn’t your typical, local, small-town effort of putting a little paint on the walls and a new sign. It was true renovation, unlike any Durand had seen in well over 20 years. Brian and his wife, Lisette, are involved with the local nonprofits Durand Area Retailers, Trades & Services (D.A.R.T.S.) and Durand Charm. They have repeated this process six times in our downtown.

Then, the square got a facelift that was 14 years in the making. An IDOT Illinois Transportation Enhancement (ITE) grant and a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development (RDD) grant were used to completely reimagine the downtown.

The second lesson from the dancing guy says, “Now comes the first follower with a crucial role; he publicly shows everyone how to follow. The leader embraces him as an equal, so it’s not about the leader anymore—it’s about them, plural.”

Our first followers were Bill and Bobbie Ziesk, also from the Chicago suburbs and living in Lake Summerset, swooping in to get involved with community charities, flip homes, and renovate long-term rentals. They even created a classy, vintage barber shop. The Ziesks have completely renovated two downtown commercial spaces and attracted new businesses to fill them. And they have two more in the works.

The final lesson from the dancing guy says, “The second follower is a turning point; it’s proof the first has done well. Now it’s not a lone nut, and it’s not two nuts. Three is a crowd, and a crowd is news.”

For Durand, the second followers were Erik and Leah Olsen. You guessed it; they moved from the Chicago suburbs to Lake Summerset. The Olsens brought probably the most exciting change to hit Durand, ever. They created GameStar, a mini Dave & Busters of sorts. When asked why they would launch such a venture in a small town like Durand, Erik credits the renovated square and the great community.

You see, once the snowball starts rolling, it keeps rolling. The village board has wanted to stop and take a breather here and there, but the opportunities just keep presenting themselves. Tangible change … If you build it, they will come.

There are many stories, leaders and owners, wins and losses that have been left out of this ever-evolving story, because there’s just not enough space in this article. The Village of Durand is ever grateful to our business leaders, community champions, partners, and organizations who play a part in our success. We love you all.

The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce.