Hi, Lombard calling. Madison Street between Westmore and Main is a very heavily traveled street and the gateway to Madison Meadow, the true crown jewel of Lombard’s parks. It’s been in a terrible state of disrepair for years. Driving through it is like driving through a mine field. Recently there have been road repairs done, but after the repairs the road is almost as bad as it was before. Could you please find out what was done and why road repairs can be done and the road is almost as bad as ever? And, I should add, if you travel east on Madison into Villa Park, as soon as you get into Villa Park, it’s as smooth as glass.

Village of Lombard Director of Public Works Carl Goldsmith responded to your comments: “The village completed concrete panel replacements on Madison Street between Grace and Westmore as part of the FY 2011 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP proposed a diamond grind project to improve the rideability of Madison. Upon further review of the existing conditions, it was determined that additional panels were in need of replacement. As a result, the village replaced a significant number of panels in the area. Concrete, unlike an asphalt surface as found in Villa Park, is placed in panel sections. Over time, the alignment of the panels may shift and cause deflection. This deflection is what creates the uneven surface. Based upon available funding, the village will program the diamond grind project for Madison Street. There is no date certain for the project.”—JAC

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When you look at the Obama Administration, evaluate it, but don’t compare it to Bush, Palin or whomever. What has he done, is he competent, are we better off? Number one, health care, that very few wanted and will increase our deficit; stimulus that did not work; added $3.7 billion to the deficit; expanded government, which limits our freedom; 9.6 percent unemployment after stimulus; lastly, but not least, a dramatic move to socialism. What kind of job is our president doing? My vote is F for failure.

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I’d like to know if it’s possible to take pictures of cars illegally parked in the handicap zone in front of the library and send them to the police department for citations to be issued.

Your question was sent to Lombard Police Chief Ray Byrne, who provided the following response: “The best procedure to follow for vehicles parked illegally in handicapped spaces is to call 9-1-1 and report them so that an officer can respond and write a ticket. Introducing photographs into evidence in court can prove problematical as the court and persons contesting their entry as evidence may demand that certain information about the photographs be made available. If a proper foundation for the use of the photograph is not met, the citations would be dismissed.”—blm

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The police department and their union are getting worked up in Naperville because the village cannot afford to keep six policemen on the job. The money just isn’t there, so they’re trying to force them to put the policemen back to work. What would happen if all us senior citizens went on strike and demanded all the politicians be fired if they don’t give us our cost of living increase? We haven’t gotten one for last year, we’re not going to get one this year. That is a lot more money than what it takes to pay for these couple of policemen. If the money’s not there, face the facts, police union. Stop getting greedy and stop forcing people to do what they can’t afford, or pay for it out of your own union dues.

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Lombard calling. Is it just me when reviewing the police blotter over the last several years, there seems to be a huge number of people getting arrested for DUI, no license, no insurance and other traffic violations. As you read on, you find that the person has been let go on an I-bond. These are serious charges, just to let the person go without posting bond, especially when you don’t know if they have the proper identification and that in itself is a crime. My question to the police department is, Who sets the policy when someone cannot show proper identification or whether they are a U.S. citizen?

Lombard Police Chief Ray Byrne provided the following answer to your request: “Persons who are arrested for not having a driver’s license or similar offenses are fingerprinted and photographed as part of a standard booking procedure. This helps to ensure the identity of the person arrested. The Lombard Police Department does not make determinations about the citizenship of anyone as that is the purview of the federal government.—blm

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I really don’t get this war on saying Happy Holidays. It’s such a traditional and lovely sounding phrase being around for so many years. I just got done watching “Holiday Inn” with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire and when Bing sings Happy Holidays, it just takes my breath away; I highly recommend watching this wonderful movie. Some people have nothing better to do then just complain about everything. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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I’d like someone to explain the absurdity in this town to me. On South Main Street with all the new streets, the lower light is on the side of the sidewalk. The argument back then was to light the sidewalk. However, on North Main Street, all the lower lights are shining on the street side, yet the lights are farther away from the sidewalk on Main Street down south. So, obviously the argument for lighting the sidewalks was wrong; perhaps the lights were all put up by mistake the wrong way on South Main Street. They look so much prettier on North Main Street the way they are. Can we get the lights changed on South Main Street and can someone from the village public works department explain why there’s this discrepancy?

Carl Goldsmith, director of public works, cited, “The Village of Lombard Board of Trustees adopted a Street Lighting Policy on Oct. 2, 2003. The policy provides guidance on the type of pole and luminaire to be used based upon the application. Main Street is classified as an arterial street and, as such, follows the standards established by the Village Standard Lighting Policy for arterial streets.  In terms of the orientation of the decorative bracket mounted fixture, or coach light, the fixtures are mounted in a consistent fashion. In some areas along Main Street the light poles are installed in front of the sidewalk and in other areas the poles are installed behind the walk. This is a function of available space in the public right-of-way. In order to provide a consistent aesthetic design, all poles are oriented with the coach light mounted on the street side of the pole. The fixtures are designed in such a manner to provide sufficient lighting to the sidewalks.”—JAC

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Happy Holidays everyone. There are worse things in the world than not believing the facts about global warming, climate change or, you know, whatever we global zealots call it. How about the poor kids who will not be home for Christmas—or ever—because of a bad war? Or, how about the children who are missing and nobody knows or tells where they are? Would it be terrible to live in a cleaner world? Would it be terrible to be civil with others with whom you don’t agree? I feel sorry for all of you people who follow word-for-word what TV and radio news people tell you. Step back and take a look at people and see what I see. I just have to say that I’m sorry that your life stinks. Do you really think that people want to hand everything over to those who won’t help themselves? Do you really honestly and truly believe that our president takes vacations and wastes money more then our past presidents? How about having a little holiday cheer and just relax a bit? This “global zealot” even wishes you a joyous holiday.

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Why is President Mueller against “term limits?” Please tell me he is not running again in 2013. Twenty- plus years is more than enough. Time for new leadership.