Hey, Villa Park. When are we going to get that Harley Davidson restaurant you guys talked about a year or so ago? It would be a good addition to the North Avenue corridor.

Mamie Yee, economic development director for the Village of Villa Park, responded, “In response to your SPEAK OUT inquiry, we are still working with Harley Davidson to bring in a restaurant. However with the current economic conditions it has been a challenge to secure a restaurant tenant. Harley Davidson has approached numerous entities. Gaining restaurant interest and one who can obtain financing has been particularly challenging.”—JAC

* * *

A rebuttal caught my eye regarding TIF. A fellow Lombardian viewed a board meeting regarding using an $81,000 transfer of TIF funds for some historical restoration. I am all for updating the historic carriage house, if we didn’t have boarded- up businesses and lack of downtown business. Village board, you should get out of your offices  and drive around the Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn and Downers Grove with thriving downtowns. When will this TIF be lifted? The condo owners downtown minimal are spending $5,000-6,000 in taxes and for what? A few months ago, I was at a Lombard Town Centre meeting and the board had a hard time finding the money for port-a-potties for the Cruise Nights. They wanted the shop owners to open their businesses so the public could use their restrooms. Are you kidding? Where is the money going? I think Mueller and his staff need to pass the reins over to a CPA and an MBA with city planning from a neighboring community that can turn this Titanic around. I feel this village is completely financially  mismanaged and really a disservice to the overtaxed downtown Lombardians.  

* * *

Feb. 23 was the Glenbard East Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra concert. Let me say what an absolutely talented group of kids these really are. The Lombard school children could not be more fortunate than to have access to such talented and dedicated music teachers. The concert tonight was so beautiful you would never know that these were high school students and not professionals. Thank you GE for an amazing concert. Thank you to the teachers for their dedication and thank you to the kids for putting on such an amazing performance.

* * *

I think there is a solution that could be remedied with the problem of the businesses on St. Charles closing early. I think what could be done is the village should just have those spots open for customers; not every spot on St. Charles needs to have the same Bel Air or whatever kind of cruise car you have. Those places should have a couple of spots open in front of them for the business, but because everyone has to have their car out on the road, no business can be done. Two parking spaces in front of a business on a Cruise Night would be an adequate number for the business to make money.

* * *

Tell your teacher I would like to provide a reality check for current teachers and those who think teachers are overworked. My teaching career was a very enlightening experience starting in the ‘50s and retiring in the late ‘80s. I taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels. Our teacher training in college covered all of the academic areas. Departmental practices were still on the drawing board. Class sizes in the public schools surpassed 30 students and the teacher aide concept was nowhere to be found. Every teacher was assigned six classes each day. All the duty activities were assigned without pay. Each month the duty roster was changed. There were dress codes for teachers and students and parents were very supportive. Technology was very basic. After decades of teaching my final salary was $25,000. Keep in mind the school year was 150 days as it is today; however, we did not have all the vacation time throughout the school year that now exists. You be the judge.

* * *

OK, Lombard, let’s ask ourselves a very simple question. Are you better off today than you were three years ago? Some of you may be. Some of you may not. Debt ceiling; every president raises the debt ceiling but we brought Obama into office to help the economy. It hasn’t worked. Gas prices; almost triple what we paid when he came into office. The cost of energy, going through the roof. The cost of groceries, going through the roof. Health care, going through the roof. Home prices have sunk dramatically. Spending is way out of control. You people need to open your eyes; what are we doing? Why in the world do we want to do this. I don’t know if this is socialism, but it sure looks that way.

* * *

Lombard calling. He may be the new kid on the block but he is sharp. Why doesn’t someone hire Peter Breen to be village manager? He seems to be more savvy and visible than anyone else to address and solve the village’s problems to move forward. Peter Breen is very alert and fair to the needs of the citizens and businesses to make Lombard shine. What more could you ask for?

* * *

My husband and I have been working for conservative candidates for years, trying to get better people in place to represent us, the taxpayers. In all the years we have walked our precinct, put up signs, knocked on doors, never have we had signs taken down. This year, our Nybo signs have been taken down not once, but twice.

* * *

Hi, I live near the Lombard Police Station and often walk past, finding police cars running for several minutes, up to 10 or 15 minutes in the lot. Now, with our gas going up, I would hope that the Lombard police station would start turning off those cars and not waste our tax dollars by leaving the cars running in the lot. Thank you.

* * *

I’m sure by now everyone heard the news where a research group did a study and declared Chicago the most corrupt city in the United States. Like we didn’t know that. Our Gov. Quinn comes out and says he wants to increase spending in education in next year’s budget. Don’t be mistaken. When he says he wants an increase in spending on education, that means he wants the teachers to get a pay raise and put more money in their pensions. None of that money will siphon down to our kids. Absolutely none of it. Thank you.

* * *

This is Lombard calling. Speaking of teachers, I’ve read that the state of Illinois is planning to stop paying teachers’ pensions and force the school districts to pick up the tab. Where is this money going to come from? That’s right, our real estate taxes. I smell another big increase referendum coming. It’s up to the school board to tell the state to honor its obligations.

* * *

Hello, this is Lombard calling. To all voters, instead of complaining about all the officials not doing their job, let’s set term limits for all the officials or incumbents who have been elected locally, Washington, Springfield. Let’s vote them all out of office this cycle, and then the cycle after that you can have a bunch of new people by setting their term limits, replacing them every voting cycle. Thank you.

* * *

Lombard calling. At the Feb. 14 meeting of the board of education for District 44 the motion to purchase iPads for every student in District 44 passed. After some research, iPads retail for $400 to $900 without educational apps. There are approximately 3,100 students enrolled kindergarten through eight. You do the math. What do you think about this purchase? Meanwhile, because of overcrowding, we are told our students must leave the Manor Hill family and be bussed to Butterfield School. There is no money for an addition to Manor Hill. Spend the money on a permanent building to house current and future students or electronic gadgets that break and need replacing every two to three years? Let’s hear your comments, fellow Lombardians.

* * *

Here’s some news for the people of Lombard. Did you know that District 44 approved the purchase of iPads for every single child in District 44, at the cost of $1.5 million? I have some questions. How much is the licensing? How much is the software? Who’s going to pay for the iPads if they are lost or stolen? Are you going to come to us and say you do not have enough money, or is it the greatest thing since sliced bread and you received them for free and this is a trial? You’ve already taken away the grading system, I believe; now you’re going to make it to where if people do not use the Apple format, they’ll almost be obligated to buy it because their children will be learning it in school.

To the above two callers, your statements about the purchase of iPads for every student are incorrect. Tod Altenburg, District 44 assistant superintendent for finance and operations, provided the facts: “At the Feb. 14 Board of Education meeting, the board approved a three-year technology plan. As part of the plan, only 189 iPads were approved for purchase using primarily grant dollars during the 2011-12 school year (FY12 Budget). For the next three school years (2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15), amounts for future iPad purchases will be based on a review of the success of the current program’s implementation along with the availability of future grant dollars. The dollar amounts approved in the three-year technology plan are closely in line to what has been spent for technology historically in District 44. Additionally, it is important for us to keep up with technology and refresh older, outdated equipment; otherwise our students will fall behind in terms of tech skills and 21st century learning.”—JAC