Parks Department

[Antioch Taxpayer]

Does anyone know anything about this letter of resignation?

http://www.antioch.il.gov/pdfs/parks/Agendas/...

Parks Director/Special Events Supervisor Report

· Letter of Resignation

· Pool Liner Quote – new VGB Grates are installed

. Recap of Fall Fest

· Christmas Parade – November 27th

· Winter Wine Walk - update

[Scuzza Me]

My guess? Just one more of the left overs.

Haley, resigned
Magna, resigned
La Mere, resigned
Larson, could not take the heat and did not run
McCarty, voted out
Turner, voted out
Porch, voted out
Pierce, minimalized to irrelevance

Let's see now, who's left???

Who says things aren't getting better in Antioch!

[Cheerleader mom]

At last nights meeting the rumor was that Laurie Staul had resigned to take a better job . We don't know about the better job part but she has resigned.

[Straightshooter]

Scuzza me knows exactly who left. He says he's for checks and balances but he seems to be against the CAP party. Well who cares, I'm sure the person didn't need the job and was only doing it for the right reasons in the first place. But I think the person got caught up in the political bickering that both sides have fully participated in. Unfortunately, there's still a lot of people left that are more worried about the bickering than getting something done. And they lurk in these forums and think somehow their bickering is better than the CAP people's bickering. It's the same thing, just a different political agenda. Shut-up already.

[Scuzza Me]

Straightshooter wrote:

Scuzza me knows exactly who left. He says he's for checks and balances but he seems to be against the CAP party. Well who cares, I'm sure the person didn't need the job and was only doing it for the right reasons in the first place. But I think the person got caught up in the political bickering that both sides have fully participated in. Unfortunately, there's still a lot of people left that are more worried about the bickering than getting something done. And they lurk in these forums and think somehow their bickering is better than the CAP people's bickering. It's the same thing, just a different political agenda. Shut-up already.

I am going to disagree, although I know that is almost unheard of on this forum. THE BICKERING IS GONE ON THE BOARD.

This Board is diverse, with diverse backgrounds and diverse approaches to decisions that IS WORKING VERY WELL TOGETHER. They have offsetting strengths that are serving residents well:

- Pierce was part of CAP and comes at his decisions with that background. To a fault, he is the defender of the "little guy". He asks lots of questions and forces human issues into dialogs. A long time politician with lots of experience. And that's good.

- Paulos is old Antioch, but he has yet to play that card. And he shouldn't. He is a smart guy who runs finance at CLC and uses that knowledge in his spending decisions. He has good ideas and is a good communicator. He is a solid contributor. And that's good.

- Sakas is a former military officer with in-depth experience with P&Z and engineering issues, having once been a member of Village staff. Now a senior manager in another town. A brilliant strategist with good instincts and broad experience. And that's good.

- Crosby is clearly the most experienced of all in dealing with issues from a business perspective. An impressive large business and entrepreneurial background and a no nonsense, strong leader. Is resident oriented and an excellent communicator. And that's good.

- Wolczyz is the youngest of the group. Quiet, thoughtful, but on the mark when he speaks. A firefighter and EMS technician in Waukegan who blends his decisions with consideration of what is right for the Village work force. And that's good.

- Jozwiack is a businessman and entrepreneur with what appears to be a solid knowledge of finance. A confident, hands on guy who is deeply involved with large and small issues from budgets to computer wiring at Village Hall. And that's good.

From my perspective, none of these guys "fall in line" behind each other, as Dorothy and her crowd used to call for - literally. They approach issues differently, but so far at least, appear to have gotten their decisions right after balanced and respectful dialog with each other. They offset each other quite well. All of them have good attitudes, deeply care about our town, and approach each issue, each resident comment, and each problem with respect and common sense. And that is good.

This is the best Board that Antioch in all my years here. Maybe ever.

[Cheerleader mom]

Has anybody heard where she is going ?

[Scuzza Me Too]

Scuzza Me wrote:

My guess? Just one more of the left overs.
Haley, resigned
Magna, resigned
La Mere, resigned
Larson, could not take the heat and did not run
McCarty, voted out
Turner, voted out
Porch, voted out
Pierce, minimalized to irrelevance
Let's see now, who's left???
Who says things aren't getting better in Antioch!

You forgot another big one that is in the by bye area: Ancel Glink, the law firm that charged a fortune for bad information and boilerplate ordinances, hired by Larson under very dubious and controversial circumstances. Dumped in two minutes, literally, by the new Board.

CAP fans are said not to like him, but from what I have heard, the new attorney has produced more quality work in six months than Ancel Glink produced in two years.

Don't agree? Find out what happened to the zoning for the auto body repair shop on 59 that they said was 100% legal. See an auto body shop? See any zoning for an auto body shop? You don't? There is a small reason. ANCEL GLINK WAS WRONG. More wasted taxpayer dollars that will not be wasted any more.

[Cheerleeder Dad]

Sweet, sounds like progress. Do you think we need Taso back. I heard he might be running for something again next time around

[Cheerleader mom]

I have heard that Taso may be planning a run for mayor for the next election.We have lived in Antioch for a long time and I don't think this village is ready for another 4 years of Taso. This mayor has at least done something about our roads in the Woods and Tiffany Rd. Again has anybody heard if/where she is going ?. I have heard about a couple of places she may be going (rumors ).

[Antioch Taxpayer]

Are you referring to Laurie Stahl? Haven't heard anything.

Also, I agree with McHenry regarding the insight into the current board members and what they bring individually to the table. They are a good blend of backgrounds and experience for getting business done properly for our town. I see Antioch moving forward on a much better track. And, of course, Mayor Hanson is there to make sure they stay focused and steer them ahead.

[Cheerleeder Dad]

I agree, except when he took the board's focus off real matters and brought up the idea of taking over a failed gym

[Hello]

Cheerleeder Dad wrote:

I agree, except when he took the board's focus off real matters and brought up the idea of taking over a failed gym

Not to worry. The Board has the ability to focus on more than one thing at a time. They are actually intelligent.

[Antioch Taxpayer]

Cheerleeder Dad wrote:

I agree, except when he took the board's focus off real matters and brought up the idea of taking over a failed gym

I don't agree with you on this one. Everyone has different opinions on whether or not this gym would've benefitted our community. The Mayor was just bringing what was presented to him as an opportunity to the board so that a decision could be made on an idea. He wasn't an influential factor. It was taken to the Parks Board and then voted down. A decision was made; business was concluded. End of story. Move on to the next business.

[Life Long]

Family has lived out here for over 60 years and in all the people that claim they have come to serve Antioch without a doubt the pick of the litter is the present mayor and board. Some of the board served under the last mayor and were cut off at the knees but have come back think of this town instead of what they can get out of it. Like telling the developers that the free run is over . paving street that should have been done during the last administration it's about time. Thank you new board.

[Cheerleader Dad]

I agree that the board has the ability to focus on more than one thing at a time... and they already have enough to focus on. However, the Mayor, or any other Board member, should have the common sense to be able to weed out the obviously bad ideas prior to bringing them to the Board and wasting time. When ideas like this are brought to the table, it just makes it appear like politics as usual.

[Antioch Taxpayer]

Cheerleader Dad wrote:

I agree that the board has the ability to focus on more than one thing at a time... and they already have enough to focus on. However, the Mayor, or any other Board member, should have the common sense to be able to weed out the obviously bad ideas prior to bringing them to the Board and wasting time. When ideas like this are brought to the table, it just makes it appear like politics as usual.

Though all of us are entitled to our opinions, we should also understand when to let things go. This is old business already. Time to just move on. You can always express yourself to the Mayor at BJ's if you have trouble getting over this issue. He will listen to your beef with him. Otherwise, it becomes unhealthy to not move on.

[Cheerleader Dad]

Yes true, there's nothing else going on at that store.

[My View]

Antioch Taxpayer wrote:

<quoted text>
Though all of us are entitled to our opinions, we should also understand when to let things go. This is old business already. Time to just move on. You can always express yourself to the Mayor at BJ's if you have trouble getting over this issue. He will listen to your beef with him. Otherwise, it becomes unhealthy to not move on.

I agree with you. People want to make this an issue of the Mayor helping a friend. The fact is, there was merit in the idea with a lot of support from many residents who showed up to express their opinion at Board meetings. Hanson saw an opportunity and asked the Board to look at it.

I would disagree with any notion that the Board was wasting their time. First, it is their job to look at all such ideas. Second, that review did not cause the work of the Village to be delayed or stopped. I see them work very late hours and I have never seen a meeting left with unfinished business.

If all the "facts" a person has are reports from local newspapers, there are inadequately informed. There is much that goes on in the Board meetings that never makes it to the newspapers, or is edited out, or is not properly interpreted by the reporters (although I think they are generally doing a pretty good job with that they do report).

People who post critical statements here have every right. But they also have an obligation to make sure that what they are saying is correct - that is unless they have a blind bias or a political agenda of their own.

This issue, like most others, had two sides. There were a surprising amount of supporters of the idea of a Village run gym at two Board meetings I attended, and some of them actually got emotional about it. I heard one lady attack a Trustee over a comment he made about there being nearby alternatives. She was wrong in her criticism and venting at a convenient target in my opinion, but I will give her credit for at least being there and speaking her piece.

If you did not go, you do not completely know.

I also agree it's time to move on.

[Cheerleader Dad]

It sure is time. Still though, there was no merit to that idea, especially in that location. How many women you know that like to work out in front of everyone, let alone in a window in the middle of Main St.

[Landry]

Cheerleader Dad wrote:

It sure is time. Still though, there was no merit to that idea, especially in that location. How many women you know that like to work out in front of everyone, let alone in a window in the middle of Main St.

I have to chime in. Merit is in the eyes of the beholder. Most of the protesters at the meeting I was at were WOMEN.

Your opinion is valid. But so is everyone else's. Merit less to you. Merit-able to some others. What's that say? The Mayor's idea had value and needed to be explored.

Enough throwing bombs at the guy lest he not offer up the next idea that may be a real boon. He missed on this one, but not for bad reasons. I agree with others that our Board can multi-task, and they are there to among other things, look at ideas from everyone. They do that, every single meeting. The difference here is that some people wanted to make an idea worth exploring a political attack on the Mayor.

Some of the folks on these blogs have been watching too many Rambo movies. Lighten up folks. It appears the town is in good hands, with this issue being an excellent example of that.