Maybe someone can answer a question for me. Living in Lombard, I was discussing my real estate taxes with a friend who lives in Oak Brook. Her house is three times the size of my home and her taxes are one third of what I pay for property tax. She said it’s because they have Oak Brook that their taxes are what they are. My question is, we have Yorktown. How come my taxes don’t reflect the revenues from that shopping center?

Your question was forwarded to the Village of Lombard which provided the following response: “There are a large variety of reasons why taxes between two towns can vary including the number of residential vs. commercial properties. In Lombard, 78.9 percent of all property taxes paid go to supporting education in school districts 44, 45, 87, 88 or COD 502, while the village only receives about 7.5 percent of the property taxes paid. While our schools do receive property taxes from businesses in Yorktown, they do not receive any of the sales taxes generated. This would be the same situation in Oak Brook, where schools would receive property taxes but not sales taxes. Please visit www.villageoflombard.org/330/Village-Share-of-Property-Tax for more information or contact our Finance Department at 630-620-5700.”—blm

* * *

Last week’s issue had an article about the insurance company for the Village of Lombard settling a lawsuit by a former police officer and paying him $550,000. It is my understanding that the village is self insured? If so, what is their deductible, $100,000? I do not see a scenario where an insurance company pays 100 percent of a settlement without the client paying some portion. So under the Village of Lombard vast transparency policy, how much did they really pay to settle this? And why? What did the village spend on legal fees over the years to end up settling this anyway? They did not defend this lawsuit; they paid off on, and not spend any money.

Your question was forwarded to the Village of Lombard which provided the following response: “On Jan. 7, 2015, the Village of Lombard’s insurance carrier and Bruce Bradford agreed to a settlement solely on the recommendation of the insurance company and not the recommendation of the Village’s legal counsel. As such, the entire $550,000 settlement was paid for by the village’s insurance company. The amount responsible to the village was $100,000, which went solely to legal fees in this case. The settlement was not paid out of village funds and will not have an impact on the village’s budget. For more information, please contact the village manager’s office at 630-620-5700.”—blm

* * *

With issues in the state of Illinois such as a $15 billion debt, pension crisis, school funding, crumbling infrastructure, runaway taxes and unfunded mandates it is nice to know that the first priority of our newly elected district 48 representative is legalizing raw milk. I am disappointed that there are not more important issues facing our overpaid, underworked politicians than “feel good” bills that don't do a lot for the average citizen drowning in taxes and inefficient state government.

* * *

What is the temperature in Illinois right now? There isn’t an exact answer. The temperature varies from place to place. Another question—what’s the average temperature in Illinois right now? Let alone a country or the entire planet? If a person or organization wanted to manipulate data to make it appear that the state, or the planet, is getting warmer or colder, they could do it. A SPEAK OUT comment in March 25 referred to a proclamation that we just had the warmest winter on record. Sure. The global warming zealots always refer to some questionable “average” figure to show that the planet is getting warmer. There are at least 130 years of recorded temperatures in this country and others. The zealots can’t point to concrete numbers stating that this was the warmest winter ever recorded in Chicago, London, Tokyo, Moscow, or any specific location, so they resort to their nebulous and cherry-picked figures of the “average” temperature of the planet.

* * *

Happy spring. Lombard calling. We are a very happy couple on Hillcrest Lane who want to acknowledge our wonderful Lombardian paper boy, Sean. He is a very nice, polite young man. Our paper is always by our door. Or, if it is a windy day, under our mat by the door. He has been our paper boy for a couple of years and hope he can continue. Way to go, Sean, and his wonderful grandmother, who drives him in bad weather. Take care.

* * *

It’s not too early to tell what kind of governor Rauner will be, because he’s already shown us by slashing, slashing, slashing. To the person who said he or she hopes he’ll be like the governors of Wisconsin and Florida, maybe you’d better re-look at these states because they are in the toilet. The governor of Florida has banned the term “global warming.” It is not to be used because he does not believe in it, which shows his ignorance and all who do not. Look at Michigan, look at Detroit, look at Bobby Jindal. Look at what these Republican governors have done to their states. They have destroyed them. Look at California. Look at Minnesota. They have Democratic governors who have brought their states out of trouble. You’re voting for a party who calls our Medicare and Social Security entitlements. They want to slash it.

While some state employees allege that Gov. Rick Scott has ordered them not to use the terms “global warming” and “climate change,” a Miami Herald article dated March 11 states, “Scott’s office and a DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) spokesperson told FCIR (Florida Center for Investigative Reporting) that there is no such policy. After FCIR’s story was published in the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times, Scott told reporters in Miami: ‘It’s not true.’” You decide.—JAC

* * *

Lombard, the library is fine just where it is. It does not belong on a busy street like Main and Parkside. Thank you.

* * *

During the Watergate investigation by the House Judiciary Committee, Hillary Rodham was fired by her supervisor, a lifelong Democrat, Jerry Zeifman. When asked why Hillary was fired, Zeifman said, quote, "Because she was a liar, she was an unethical dishonest lawyer, she conspired to violate the Constitution, the rules of the House, the rules of the committee and the rules of confidentiality." Some things never change.

Apparently this rumor has been circulating, and a look at snopes.com refutes that rumor, in part with Zeifman saying, “If I had the power to fire her, I would have fired her.” He later was quoted in an interview when asked about the firing, “Well, let me put it this way. I terminated her, along with some other staff members who were — we no longer needed, and advised her that I would not — could not recommend her for any further positions.” As of October 2014, snopes.com concluded this: “Whatever Zeifman may have thought of Clinton’s behavior, she was let go from the Watergate committee because she was one of a number of people who were no longer needed as the investigation wound down (and Nixon’s resignation made the issue moot), not because she was “fired” over ethical issues.” Read more at http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/zeifman.asp#aVw7ib5Rqtb4FVpS.99.—JAC

* * *

This is Lombard calling. Winter was really hard this year but we are really blessed on Grove Street because we have a snow angel who keeps the driveways and sidewalks cleared every time it snows. Many thanks to you John B. You’re really a gem.

* * *

Regarding Robert Biddle’s letter to the editor proposing that Lombard’s library be moved downtown to the old DuPage Theatre site, and doing so would be the catalyst to spur redevelopment of our downtown, he sites examples of a couple of neighboring communities such as Glen Ellyn’s doing so. Yet, Glen Ellyn’s library is currently located no closer to their downtown than Lombard’s library is located to our downtown, and ever since Glen Ellyn Library moved to its current location it has not caused any stimulus in the rebuilding of their downtown from what it was, as exemplified from the closing of several businesses such as McChesney and Miller Supermarket and Giesche Shoes. So, just some facts. Thank you.

* * *

What’s going on with the DuPage County Republican organization with the consolidated election upon us? DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin and Regional Superintendent Darlene Ruscitti have been appointed to the governor’s task force on consolidation. The big question is, will they have the stomach to end the high spending synonymous with Illinois government? It should be noted that the April 7 election is designated nonpartisan. Then why has the Republican leadership endorsed certain Republican candidates? Why are they going to throw the full financial support of the party behind these candidates and exclude those Republican candidates not so anointed? It appears that DuPage County has its own machine-style politics, along with its power brokers. Both Ruscitti and Cronin seemingly have the power to stack the deck.