Lake in the Hills Board of Trustees
I am good candidate for this office due to my last four years serving on Lake in the Hills Village Trustee board coupled with close to 20 years of corporate business and marketing experience.
My top two priorities are as follows: One to establish a 3-5 year strategic plan for the village of Lake in the Hills and to get everyone who lives there plugged into it. Lake in the Hills is a well run village but there are always areas for improvements. Strategic planning will set a vision, put out milestones and accountability to all of us involved. It will cover topics ranging from business retention and economic growth in the village to increasing usage of the Lake in the Hills Airport. By getting the staff and elected official fully engaged in the plan, I believe we can spread that engagement to our residents and raise awareness and visibility of issues facing our village.
We have lowered our taxing district’s levy the last two years. Without question - one of the the things I’m most proud of related to my service as a trustee. It’s not enough to speak about relief for homeowners, we in Lake in the Hills have put action behind our words and we will continue to do so. We have been fiscally responsible during this difficult time and given our residents some relief in one area where we can.
Operating without a strategic plan in place the last few years. Good organizations have a plan, it may be a living, breathing fluid plan but they have something to point to for accountability. We do not at the moment. I have expressed my desire to build one coming into our last budget sessions and I am certain the rest of the board understands my view on this.
It is a toss up in my mind, lowering our tax levy is high on my list and seeking out business opportunity for the village by investing in a person to focus on building business relationships for our community.
Voters should send me back to the board because I continue to be a fresh voice representing working families in Lake in the Hills. I’ve learned so much from the residents and sitting on the board the last four years. It makes sense to send me back now as I have more to accomplish. I am not a believer in being a career politician at all - but government is slower than the marketplace and it takes time to get things done. I need a little more time.
I have served on the Village Board as a Trustee for the past 12 years which has given me the experience to listen to the concerns of the residents. During this time, I have been the youngest member of the Village Board as well.
I am also the only currently serving village board member to have grown up in Lake In The Hills. As this village grew, I have grown along side with it. Learning from what was done in the past, and help move us into a more positive direction with various residents, board members, and our staff.
As a Village Trustee, along with others in the community and the village board we have developed numerous items and programs. My main focus for the past several years has been for building safety in the community, protecting the consumer, and economic development.
As I have stated previously, I will continue to focus on building safety, protecting our residents as consumers, and also continue to work to bring in and develop our commercial areas for business.
Recently I have been speaking with residents and staff about what we can do as a village to deal with the unfortunate homes that have been left vacant and/or foreclosed by the recent financial downfall this country has faced.
Working with Financial Institutions and Landlords to get these homes once again occupied by people who want to be part of a community is a must.
I would like to address the homes that have become abandoned and left to sit, becoming an eyesore in the various neighborhoods.
We need to require that the landlords and/or financial institution that owns the home maintain it to a higher standard until these homes are sold.
If the home continues as a rental property, we need to ensure that the new residents and landlord continue to maintain the home, and be a part of the community.
Hopefully we will be able to assist those that need a place to stay, and want to reside in Lake In The Hills because they get that sense of what it means to be a member of the neighborhood, community, and live in Lake In The Hills.
Lake In The Hills is part of various governing bodies, not just the Village Board. Our staff has done a tremendous job in maintaining our budget by doing more with less funding.
We have numerous financial awards for this, and have one of the best records in Illinois for our fiscal responsibility to the residents.
Freezing any tax that we have jurisdiction over would not be wise. For we have been lowering some of taxes during my time on the Village Board. As well as maintaining a positive level of services and programs for our residents, as recent survey’s have advised/shown us.
Having been on the Village Board for the past 12 years, I can not recall that last time we have had a major disagreement.
Having been a life long resident, minus a few years in the United States Army and some education, I can safely say the past 12 years we have had the most cohesive board this village has ever seen.
Each member of the board and staff have worked well together, because we have helped develop a better line of communication with our residents. If there is an item where we have a disagreement, our residents advise us, and we work to find a reasonable solution.
I would like to continue to be a part of this process, because I believe it has been working and will continue to do so.
Our Police Department, Public Works, and Parks & Recreation Department have done a tremendous job with helping to provide the services, programs, and festivals to the community as we had in the past, by doing more with less.
Staff has worked with State and Federal Offices to continue taking part in programs and services that do not impact our residents with a tremendous financial burden.
From replacing trees that had been damaged or destroyed by insects or natural causes, maintaining our streets to be safe for driving in times of bad weather, or basic repair/replacement.
Protecting our residents by providing excellent public safety from our Police Department, working with the Fire Protection Districts, Schools, and Businesses as well.
Our Parks and Recreation Department has worked to offer outstanding programs to our residents that rival neighboring communities. From our various festivals, races, and programs we have become a leader in providing fun and educational activities for our residents.
Everyone will say experience. Some will say because they have much to offer.
I can only say that I represent practically every resident. I grew up in the original section of Lake In The Hills, I am the youngest member of the Village Board, I have spent 12 years as a Trustee developing relationships with other elected officials at both the County and State levels to help Lake In The Hills.
As a Village Trustee, I have helped develop numerous programs and ordinances to improve public safety, and consumer awareness.
As well as those residents that have a small business at home, such contractors, or those that drive a business vehicle that needs to meet the requirements of their profession.
I will continue to push forward in developing our commercial areas, while protecting the interests of the residents concerns. My profession as a contractor allows me to provide insight for building safety, as well as consumer rights.
Most importantly, I have always been here for Lake In The Hills. As a child, as a young man, and now as an adult with a family of my own. I have made Lake In The Hills my home for a lifetime, and I think it shows.
As an incumbent, I have sat on the village board for the past 6 years, prior to that, I served on the Business Relations Committee, served as vice chair on the Parks and Rec Committee and I served on the planning and Zoning commission. I am president of the People for Parks Foundation of LITH and I am Secretary and President Elect for the Rotary Club of LITH.
Continue working with the board and staff to make LITH the safest village in McHenry County.
Continue working with staff and the board to attract businesses to LITH. By attracting the right types of businesses to LITH not only helps bring revenue to the village but offers local employment as well.
Continue improving the infrastructure within the village.
We have been fortunate to be able to lower our levy the past two years. I will continue to work with the board and staff to look at ways to keep this levy low and still provide the same level of services to our residences.
There has not been a decision by the village board that I have disagreed with. This board has worked to come to a common ground on many issues of policy that effect our village.
Paying off our Debt! This has been a great accomplishement by the board and staff.
My dedication and passion for this village. My experience in serving the residences of the Village of LITH.
Peers, family, friends and life have trained me to be an outstanding citizen. There are many different people that fit many different needs of the government, Republican Party and of the political system in general. I have been a builder for almost 20 years and I know myself to be evolving into a leader. I have a great capacity to understand complex situations and the many wants and needs of rank and file citizens. Some experiences that make me a great candidate include my overall mind training in the last 7 years, the effort required for this political campaign, 3 years of horseback riding/4.5 years of sailing, participation in several organizations and nearly 20 years of serving the public as self-employed.
1-My top priority is to understand, discover, debate hard where applicable/needed and seek to motivate others. The goal is to serve, be prepared, train hard and have accomplishments.
2-I am interested in contributing to the community, co-workers, government, economy and society. I also enjoy learning from others.
3-My third priority is to get the most out of the experience. Serving as Trustee is a 4 year commitment and should be a profound experience. There are a handful of people in LITH government that are very advanced thinkers. I will put in the effort, build relationships and continue to build myself as a benefit to the community.
Governments should not be led by the desire to tax. Governments and their departments must be as efficient as possible or the personnel should be corrected or replaced. In general and especially smaller and local units, government is not a game to play. Government is an entity that provides the needed services of the community as indicated by local ordinance. Government must be in peak shape.
Here is what should be known-Taxes have gone up about $600.00 in the last 5 years on the average home in Lake In The Hills. Taxes have gone down on some homes in Boulder by over $1000.00. Lake In The Hills government collects about 7% of my tax bill. The levy in Lake In The Hills is steady for 2 years now. People must work together to better the economy and create quality and challenging jobs and we must ensure that what is needed is accessible (quality work and life opportunities). We all must work together to remove the need for fear as a tool (low home values as one example). Some leaders may argue that people are getting the government that they deserve. About 10 people complained about his/her tax bill when I went to 125 doors for my candidate’s petition. I think some of them were serious. I care.
Finally, I have not spoken to any Federal Reserve people or economists on the relationship of property tax and the overall health of various government agencies or individual quality of life issues. Economy is complicated. People could organize and budgets, personnel and surpluses could be cut. I would spend as much time needed discussing the issues. Property tax should not be raised.
Here are some of the items that cast a doubt on the overall virtue and performance of LITH Board of Trustees-some meetings last only minutes and community turnout is very low, there are projects awarded with only 1-2 bids, in my opinion government affairs should be conducted with the highest level of respect with quiet minds and moving mouths, the last contract between the police department and the village was favorable to neither party and much of this government is becoming a place of low employment turnover often indicative of unhealthy minds and inefficiency.
Mainly, I suspect the Board of Trustees to be engaged in little cutting edge debate. It is easy to disagree with that type of executive culture as exciting thought, civic virtue and needed activity can radiate from leadership. Further, outside of Parks and Recreation, I think the government is only producing what is barely needed. I carry a strong positive and healthy presence with me and advocate for progress, ideas, involvement and achievement.
Lake In The Hills is a town that could produce some amazing governing. In general, current board members have presided over some needed airport improvements, grant procurements, park improvements and festivals. The business development on the west end of town, while the structures are traditional, is interesting and serving. The budget has been awarded for about 14 years in a row and the levy is steady for 2 years. All of these things are good- maybe grant getting withstanding. To me though, an awesome and noteworthy accomplishment is not found with even some effort.
I am serious about working to better my town, county and country. Your service is needed also. My campaign website, kjttrustee.com, indicates an advanced, independent and forward thinking citizen. Hard working and honest, I will give my all to the effort and the people of Lake In The Hills. Perhaps many other citizens will realize what I have realized-that we need to give back to various institutions especially local government. Serving clients and customers and people in the community for 25 years in business, in various opportunities, volunteer activities and spiritual pursuits, I will be there when needed with a copy of the Constitution in my pocket.
