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June 24, 2009

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Lombard calling. Maybe you can assist me in getting some information from the Village of Lombard that I haven’t been able to get answers to. Quite a while ago I reported to village officials that an unlicensed architect was designing homes all over Lombard and Villa Park. He is listed as the architect on the homes of some village officials as well as over 60 homes in Lombard. Since this is illegal under Illinois law, as well as Lombard’s ordinances, I’d like to know what action they have taken. What is the village going to do to assure the integrity of the homes built using this unlicensed architect? Has this been reported to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations? Have they charged this architect and the builders with the numerous violations of the Lombard municipal code?

Your remarks were forwarded to David Hulseberg, village manager, who provided the following answer: “The village did receive the inquiry in question, investigated the allegations and found no irregularities in the permitting process. Building plans can be designed by a non-Illinois licensed architect, provided an Illinois licensed architect reviews and seals them prior to the building permit application submittal. All architectural plans that the village has received as part of a building permit application submittal have been sealed by an Illinois licensed architect. In response to issues raised in the inquiry in question, the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation reviewed the village’s building permit application process, and recommends (but did not require) a minor revision thereto; which the revision has been made. Whenever a potential Village Code violation is brought to the attention of the village, village staff follow up on the matter and, if the violation is confirmed, takes appropriate action to make sure that the violation is corrected.”—blm

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This is Lombard calling. With all due respect, Mr. Mueller, to say you are getting a good vibe about our downtown—give me a break. Apparently you know you almost lost the election because you have failed the people in the old downtown, myself included in those ranks, and to think you can do an article in the paper and then walk away from us again, you should be ashamed of yourself.

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To the family with the rottweiler. There is a wonderful rescue organization out of Oswego called Recycled Rots and you can find their contact information on the Web. They specialize in the placement of rottweilers into loving families and would gladly take your dog and place it into a home. We’ve adopted two dogs from them and love them very much. Rottweilers are pack animals and need to be with their families. Please do the right thing for the sake of your dog.

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This is Lombard calling for DuPage County. I went to the assessor’s office to pay my $6,000-a-year tax bill and I found out that I’m being assessed at a 2,000-square-foot house. My house is 1,200 square feet. I asked the nice lady and she printed it out immediately and it says 2,000 square feet. People of DuPage County, go to your assessor’s office and ask them for a readout and look at how you’re being assessed—whether you have two bathrooms or one bathroom, or if you have a basement, and look for all of those things.

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My family and I are pleased with the newly elected village board members. Mr. Mueller has always been the stabilizing force on the board. We are fortunate to have a president who considers the office a full-time job. The two new board members, Mr. Ware and Mr. Wilson, bring a fresh perspective and professional background to meet the challenges of the deteriorated economy. Congratulations village trustees.

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It was Friday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. It’s a gorgeous night; clear, cool, blue skies. Glenbard East should have been having its graduation then, outside, at the school. But no—it was Sunday, 5 p.m., indoors at College of DuPage, 5 miles away. It doesn’t rain every graduation night every year.

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Congratulations to the Village of Lombard and the Lombard Park District on the opening of Paradise Bay water park and swimming facility. This is something every resident in Lombard can be proud of, so congratulations.

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Hi, wake up all you people who are complaining about downtown Lombard being a ghost town. How could someone make a business exist there when we have beautiful Yorktown with the many restaurants and all the shopping? Who cares about downtown having anything? Wake up. Get with it. Get hip. Downtown is never going to be anywhere. Get realistic.

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Hi, Bill Heniff, the village’s community development director’s response in the paper from June 10 shows how woefully inadequate their efforts have been. He was saying he refuted the idea that there hasn’t been any improvement. He mentions a litany of things, but the real measure of whether a downtown is successful is by the revenue it generates and the foot traffic. Can anyone prove to the people in this town that foot traffic has increased and revenue has gone up in the form of property taxes, sales taxes? Everyone is saying the downtown is just inadequate and it shows a complete breakdown in the strategy. It just isn’t working.

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This is to the caller who complained about the red light camera at Route 83 and Wal-Mart and said it needed to stop. You need to stop. That’s the law. Before making a right turn on red you must completely stop your car and those cameras catch that. I applaud those cameras and anyone who gets a ticket deserves it. Can you find out from Villa Park how much money they’ve made so far on those cameras?

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I doubt if this will get in the paper because I always seem to be cut off. You’re not respectful enough with your neighbors having your music on loud. People do ask you to turn it down; your spouse puts it on louder, so there’s the alternative. Call the police; that’s their job. Be considerate of others, also, just like the dogs barking 24-7 and unattended. How would you like to be left out around the clock, no food and no water? Yeah, dogs bark for a reason, but not when they’re left unattended. So, keep your music down, be respectful of other people.

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I agree with the people who don’t think that large fire engines should be taken to the store. I would like to see them at the fire department where the most firemen are, not at a store. I don’t know why a smaller vehicle couldn’t be taken. If the best place for large fire engines is at the grocery store, then let’s move the fire department. We’re a smart town, we have smart employees. Otherwise, let’s keep the engines where most of the firemen are and save the gas.

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This is Lombard calling. I just wanted to say thanks for the beautiful new pool. However, it would be wonderful if someone could install some clocks at the pool so the children can see what time they need to be home. My son asked the lifeguard on several occasions what time it was and the lifeguard didn’t even know the time.

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This message is for the person who called in that people who complain about long grass should just go cut it. These real estate agents have not taken responsibility and they will take the commission on it. We have a multi-year, part-time job we never signed up for and for which we do not get paid. So you know what? Think twice.

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Just very happy that Lombard finally is doing something about people who just drive right through stoplights. The cameras at the intersections, there should be more. I feel it’s a great idea, put people in their place to understand that they’re breaking the law and should be punished for it. Too bad Lombard can’t get them around stop signs where people think that stop means go and roll right through. I hope you aren’t the one who hits some kid and then you’ll be paying for that. Just want to let Lombard know I think you’re doing a great job. I just wish they’d put more up, including stop signs.

 

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