Moving OUT of MOKENA!!!!

[Jim Dooley]

I am taking my family and moving to New Lenox. I have been suffocated in this "small minded" town for way too long. I cannot stand by and watch while a town just to the west of us rapidly grows and observe Mokena wallow in stagnant growth.
I have silently stood by while watching businesses choose to build in New Lenox. I will not continue to live in this "one horse" town and loose property value on a daily basis! Its ashame to see Mokena get lost in the shuffle and accept being a small town comparable to Manhattan.
Believe me, I am not the only homeowner seeking to relocate into New Lenox. The biggest hurdle is finding a buyer who will agree to buy my home in Mokena (estimated value over $350,000.00), when they could get a home just to the west in New Lenox with actual growth.
Lets leave this hillbilly village and let them get strangled by the big movers! Its time the citizens wake up and relocate before the Mokena village board smother them too!

[i understand]

new lenox doesn't have john downs. are you sure you'll be happy?

[RUSerious]

Your resale will not be any better across the border and you will also be trading for higher taxes. So tell us, why are you moving to New Lenox? I could see moving into Cook county for lower taxes or Dupage county to achieve slightly better resale, but New Lenox?! That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[Jim Dooley]

i understand wrote:

new lenox doesn't have john downs. are you sure you'll be happy?

I have been a victim of Mr. Downs and his posse for several years. I have ben attending New Lenox trustee meetings and have become very interested in the proactive approach that has been adopted in New Lenox.
I am also very dissapointed at all the negative comments that are posted on this site from the tax payers of Mokena. Its borderline shameful that the majority of the citizens are forced to reside in a town that is as stagnant as Mokena because they just cant seem to separate from what they have grown to be comfortable with.
I am thankful for our neighbors to the west and look forward to participating in the growth that is purely destined for New Lenox.
I would dare to say that in 10 to 15 years, Mokena will resemble towns such as Wilmington, Manhattan and Diamond Il. I am getting ahead of myself with that last statement, Mokena resembles those aforementioned towns now---- year 2010!

[Jim Dooley]

RUSerious wrote:

Your resale will not be any better across the border and you will also be trading for higher taxes. So tell us, why are you moving to New Lenox? I could see moving into Cook county for lower taxes or Dupage county to achieve slightly better resale, but New Lenox?! That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Its really simple my friend.....
When New Lenox reaps the tax benefits from all the growth that it has been attracting, my taxes will be lowered. Meanwhile, you will be paying the same, if not higher taxes. For what do you pay taxes for now??? The fantastic shopping on Front St?
Please dont attempt to compare Mokena to New Lenox. Its like comparing Orland Park to Palos Heights!

[good luck]

Better get that house on the market quick. Mokena's current school board makes even the village board look like the greatest most brilliant board that ever was. Once wind of what they're doing gets out, you don't have a chance in hell of selling your house.

If that school board gets their way, mokena's school district will be irreparably damaged by this September. There goes the town. Wish I could sell. Would you consider boarding my kids so they can go to the new lenox schools?

[RUSerious]

Jim Dooley wrote:

<quoted text>
Its really simple my friend.....
When New Lenox reaps the tax benefits from all the growth that it has been attracting, my taxes will be lowered. Meanwhile, you will be paying the same, if not higher taxes. For what do you pay taxes for now??? The fantastic shopping on Front St?
Please dont attempt to compare Mokena to New Lenox. Its like comparing Orland Park to Palos Heights!

Talk to the people that live in NL, they are not happy. The mall has been delayed so many times it may never be developed. Those that live near the new Wal-Mart are very worried about what will spill in from Joliet, and let's not forget McVickers will be collecting half the sales tax revenue until 2020. Look at the stalled development around the NL village hall; can you honestly call this growth? I'm sorry, I just don't see the grass being any greener over in NL.

[Jim Dooley]

RUSerious wrote:

<quoted text>
Talk to the people that live in NL, they are not happy. The mall has been delayed so many times it may never be developed. Those that live near the new Wal-Mart are very worried about what will spill in from Joliet, and let's not forget McVickers will be collecting half the sales tax revenue until 2020. Look at the stalled development around the NL village hall; can you honestly call this growth? I'm sorry, I just don't see the grass being any greener over in NL.

There are several points that I need to address...
Point #1 - The proposed mall... New Lenox has the vision to appopriate the land for the mall. Once the economy recovers, New Lenox will be far more prepared to benefit. Mokena meanwhile will still be shopping on Front St.
Point #2 - Wall-Mart "spill in from Joliet"... That thought process is exactly the same intellegence that the Mokena trustees prescribe to, leaving the town in total dissaray. If you are afraid of the "spill from Joliet", continue to shop at your one and only grocery store Berkots!
Point #3 - Half sales tax going to old property owners.... Well I guess you as a Mokena citizen dont have to worry about that happening. You will be surrounded by farms, while communities around you flourish.
If I didnt know any better, It sounds as if I may be debating with an actual member of the Mokena trustees? I have to personally thank you for keeping the town I have lived in for several years in the dark! The same shallow minded thinking you type, is what has crippled our town.
Believe me, Mokena will be affected by the "spill in from Joliet" and not get one red dime for thier troubles - ie. The Home Depot in Frankfort.
As hard as you may try to keep your town of Mokena a secret, you will be strangled by the superior growth of the surrounding communities. You will never be able to make up for your shallow thoughts

[andy]

RUSerious wrote:

<quoted text>
Talk to the people that live in NL, they are not happy. The mall has been delayed so many times it may never be developed. Those that live near the new Wal-Mart are very worried about what will spill in from Joliet, and let's not forget McVickers will be collecting half the sales tax revenue until 2020. Look at the stalled development around the NL village hall; can you honestly call this growth? I'm sorry, I just don't see the grass being any greener over in NL.

Are you serious. Tell me about the business development of Mokena as compared to that of New Lenox for the last 5 years. You cant even compare what the sales tax revenue that is being collected in both towns now and in the future. Target, walmart, lowes 2 jewels berkots 2 walgreens etc. Tell me about all the business in mokena. Ps I work for mokena and now a little about the financial situation of Mokena. Live in Nl see them doing pretty well in comparison.

[RUSerious]

andy wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you serious. Tell me about the business development of Mokena as compared to that of New Lenox for the last 5 years. You cant even compare what the sales tax revenue that is being collected in both towns now and in the future. Target, walmart, lowes 2 jewels berkots 2 walgreens etc. Tell me about all the business in mokena. Ps I work for mokena and now a little about the financial situation of Mokena. Live in Nl see them doing pretty well in comparison.

Andy, you and Dooley make a very good point. New Lenox has blown away Mokena in attracting business over the past few years. My question is, with all that development why are the people in NL still being taxed at a rate higher than Mokena's? I have friends in NL living in homes of similar value and they are paying more in taxes than I am. I am just trying to understand how all that development has helped. And NO, Dooley, I do not work for the village.

[andy]

We are taxed at a higher rate to help fund the schools for one. Perhaps you have read what is happening to the Mokena schools. And when a town is growing it needs to develop services to provide for that growth. Do you hear new lenox threatening layoffs and screaming how poor they are like mokena has. Answer no. And most people I know in Mokena pay far more than me. MY house value appx 310k- taxes 6300. Also new lenox is doing so well we will start getting tax refunds this year from new lenox. Ask mokena for some money back. Believe me I wish Mokena was doing better. Its costing me in my paycheck. Big increase for insurance out of check and no raises. New lenox cops justs got new contract with nice raises and huge insurance retirement benefit.

[good luck]

RUSerious wrote:

<quoted text>
Andy, you and Dooley make a very good point. New Lenox has blown away Mokena in attracting business over the past few years. My question is, with all that development why are the people in NL still being taxed at a rate higher than Mokena's? I have friends in NL living in homes of similar value and they are paying more in taxes than I am. I am just trying to understand how all that development has helped. And NO, Dooley, I do not work for the village.

Their taxes are higher because we screw the elementary schools in this town. If you compare Mokena's taxes to the rest of will county, you'll see that all our taxes are similar, except that everyone else's school district has a far higher tax rate. The difference Between Mokena and New Lenox taxes is that our library gets about .20 more per $100 than New Lenox's does, and their school rate is 2.92 while ours is only 2.10

[Robby_rob]

Thank you for the comments...They helped make my decision of where to move a little easier. It was between Mokena and New Lenox. I do not understand why Mokena has been building these mansion type houses anyway. My problem is getting out of Homer Glen. They have quite a bit of issues themselves.

[slimytheworm]

Move than

[Jim Dooley]

slimytheworm wrote:

Move than

WOW! Typical response from a Mokena resident. Move than??? Move than what? You must be another product of the proud Mokena schooling system. Let me guess... homegrown hillbilly?

[WOw]

/have fun in new lenox

[wa wa wa]

If one is so unhappy to live in Mokena, then move. Where were you when the big boxes tried to come? I can count on one hand the residents that supported Walmart. It was the not in my backyard people that killed it. Home Depot was not killed by the board. It was the property owner who could not work out the sale. I think you must be one of those people that want stores but cannot bother to show up at a meeting to support it!

[andy]

wa wa wa wrote:

If one is so unhappy to live in Mokena, then move. Where were you when the big boxes tried to come? I can count on one hand the residents that supported Walmart. It was the not in my backyard people that killed it. Home Depot was not killed by the board. It was the property owner who could not work out the sale. I think you must be one of those people that want stores but cannot bother to show up at a meeting to support it!

Get your facts straight. The first vote for the Home Depot was 6-0 against by the VILLAGE BOARD. It is time to foia all the board meetings and show the facts, You want people at the board meetings, so soon shall you have it wa wa wa. And if your so gung ho and postive for the village board why dont you use your real name. You shouldnt have anything to hide. I have plenty to lose and you dont see me hiding.

[andy]

wa wa wa never mind just saw your post on help an injured cop thread, its obvious why you dont use your real name you are garbage. Hope to be finding out who you are real soon.

[Nick]

Mokena is the land of empty strip malls but they keep building. There have to be 50 empty strip mall units in mokena