Hi, SPEAK OUT, I’ve got a question. We just received a new tree in front of the house and on the brochure it says we should water it once every five days for half an hour by letting a hose run on it. My question is, with the price of water and sewer and administrative costs in the Village of Lombard for water, are they going to make an exception on my bill for the water I’m watering their tree with, on their parkway? If not, I think it’s an awful consideration on their part. Thank you.

Your concerns were forwarded to the Village of Lombard which provided the following answer:  “Thank you for your question about watering new trees in the parkway.  Due to the devastation of the emerald ash borer, the village has replaced a significant number of trees in the last couple years and will continue to do so for a couple more years. The brochure that is given to homeowners states ‘during the dry summer months (June, July, August)…let the hose run slowly at the base of the tree for 1/2 hour every five days, depending on precipitation.’  New trees typically need 5 to 10 gallons of water per week. If we get an inch or more of rain, then the tree doesn’t need additional water that week. Assuming the tree is given 10 gallons of water every week during the 13 weeks of dry summer months, this is a total of 130 gallons. With the current water and sewer rate, this would come out to a total of $1.70 for the 13 weeks of water.  The administrative time of determining who would receive this credit would cost more than the credit itself. Also, we do provide residents the option of opting out of having a replacement tree planted when we send them the list of tree choices, if they do not want to pay for this water or for any other reason. Trees that have to be removed are replanted to help maintain Lombard’s high standards of forestry and horticulture within our community. As a Tree City USA, the Village of Lombard is committed to providing a diverse and healthy tree population. It is our hope that the trees we plant will grow to shade our communities and provide our residents with a lifetime of enjoyment. Please contact our Public Works Department at 630-620-5740 with any tree-related questions or concerns.”—blm

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This is Lombard calling. Reading in the Lombardian about Sam’s Club intending to move forward with a new store in Lombard, wouldn’t it be logical, instead of wanting to put another store on Butterfield Road, to work with Sam’s Club and see if they can put the store at the old Kmart on Roosevelt Road and Finley? That is an empty eyesore where there is more than enough land for Sam’s Club to build and it will be able to revitalize that area, the corner where it’s been sitting empty for quite a while. Lombard President, Giagnorio, see if you can work with Sam’s Club and see if that can work out with everybody to put it on Roosevelt Road instead of putting another business on Butterfield, where it’s already crammed. Thank you.

Your concerns were forwarded to the Village of Lombard which provided the following answer: “The proposed Sam’s Development has been in discussion phases with the current property owner even before the Kmart store closed. The store would be constructed on land that has been largely underutilized or vacant over the past decade and it was previously identified by the [Lombard] Village Board in its adopted Economic Development Strategies Report as a key redevelopment site. The development itself is a partnership between the existing property owner and Sam’s, in which both parties did reach an agreement on the long-term development of the site. Sam’s sought its proposed location due to the favorable roadway network around the site, as well as its general desire to be in the Butterfield Road retail corridor. They have not expressed any desire to be located elsewhere. We are pleased that of all the retail sites available along Butterfield Road, they chose a site within Lombard as their preferred location. In terms of the former Kmart at Roosevelt and Finley, the village also recognizes this as a key development opportunity and actively markets it to potential users. While the property is not currently for sale by the Sears Holdings Corporation (it is under a long-term lease), we do regularly contact the controlling interests and make them aware of potential opportunities and interested parties that are looking to develop along Roosevelt Road. In addition, considering the property at the corner of Finley and Roosevelt is currently owned by Sears Holdings, it may be reasonable to assume, with a corporate mindset in focus, that the current owner would not be easily inclined to sell their property to a direct competitor such as Sam’s Club.”—blm

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Lombard. At the Sheldon Homestead museum, there were four very old, very large trees cut down. I didn’t know why. I thought only two of the trees were elms. Why did the village cut down four trees? Does anyone know?

Your concerns were forwarded to the Village of Lombard which provided the following answer: “The village contractor removed three ash trees which were in poor condition—one from the parkway and two from the Sheldon Peck House property. The condition of these trees was assessed as poor last summer when the trees were in ‘full leaf’ and all three were significantly dead with large dead limbs overhanging the property and roadway. The village contractor is about one third complete on the removal of 1,300 infested ash trees. A private contractor removed an ash tree from the property just west of the Peck House, which was very close to the property line. I think that tree as well was infested with emerald ash borer. The three trees which were removed by the village contractor will be added to our list of sites for replacement trees.  Currently, we are anticipating being able to complete the ash replacement project in two or three years starting in 2016, dependent upon nursery availability and funding. Please contact our Public Works Department at 630-620-5740 with any tree-related questions or concerns.—blm

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Would people at SPEAK OUT please answer my question and the question is this: Why are we, the taxpayers, still paying taxes for the DuPage County Airport? None of us receive any benefit from it. Only certain private individuals are flying their planes out of there, but year after year after year we are being taxed to subsidize the wealthy for using the DuPage County Airport. I think this is ridiculous and I think it should have been stopped a long time ago. Now is the time to stop it and I think Gov. Bruce Rauner ought to get in on this and get in on it fast. Please, get an answer.

Unfortunately, previous requests for an explanation from DuPage Airport officials were unsuccessful. However, according to the Web site www.welowertaxes.com, 20 years ago the airport levied $20 million in property taxes, whereas last year the levy was lowered permanently from $6.4 million to $5.9 million. The site also notes that airport authority “officials say the ultimate goal is to someday end the airports’ reliance on property tax dollars.” The site explains that the property tax money is “set aside to help pay for improvements to the airport.”

As for your statement that no one but the wealthy benefits from the airport, here is what the DuPage Airport Authority Web site claims to do: “To provide general aviation facilities and services to the suburban Chicago area, including corporate aviation service, recreational aviation, charter service, local commuter service and air cargo while fostering aviation related business on the field; and to develop and lease or sell surplus vacant land in a manner compatible with airport uses in order to generate significant long-term income which, along with increased aviation revenues, will stimulate the local economy; provide for the creation of jobs; bring outside revenues to local businesses; increase tax revenues for local communities; and reduce the airport’s reliance upon property tax levies until the airport operates profitably without using revenue from taxpayers.”—JAC

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Study the data and it soon becomes obvious that downstate Republicans vote very different from DuPage County Republicans. Their voting consistently shows their support of working families, employee rights and organized labor. Rauner has it backward.  About a third of the Republicans who sit in Springfield are from downstate. They don't support organized labor because organized labor supports them, they support organized labor because the families they represent believe in organized labor. The governor in pushing his Turnaround legislation tells us that it will be good for working families. Think about it.  The ones who benefit are businessmen who would have no need to increase their work forces, but could substantially decrease their payroll, while stripping workers of vital protections.

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A heartfelt thank you very much to the Helen Plum Library director and board for placing the painting of former library Director Charles Herrick (1965-88) in a place of honor and prominence at the library. It is very much appreciated.

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Are we prepared, Illinois? ISIS has just said they are here in Illinois, California and Virginia. Are police going to be monitoring? Are we prepared, citizens of Illinois, Villa Park, Lombard?

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I'm so happy the village is letting Ale Fest happen again. It was fun last year. Great job, Village of Lombard.

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If you blame Pam Geller for the terrorist attack, they win. People, it's a cartoon. Did you see Christians killing people who went to the art show or the artist who put a crucifix in a glass of wine? Come on, free speech is free speech, and they should never, never be mad enough to kill over a lousy cartoon.

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I love Lilac Time in Lombard. There's so much to see and do. It is such a great time of the year. A great way to show your support of Lilac Time is to visit local businesses in town. We have a lot of great restaurants and shops, so show your love for Lilac Time and support Lombard.

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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I'm just calling to let the people know, the post office know, our letter carrier, Sonia, has done just a fantastic job for us and that the post office should know how much of a great asset she is to the company. Hope she stays where she's at and we just enjoy having her with us. Thank you, bye.

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This is Lombard calling. Thank you to Kathleen from Potted Petals on South Main Street for hosting our garden club meeting, Twig and Bloom. Kathleen showed us how to put together a fairy garden. The gift shop is very unique and has all the supplies needed. If you need a special gift, shop in Lombard at Potted Petals. Thank you.

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Received my tax bill, and surprise, surprise, it went up again this year. Don’t understand how we can continue to increase the tax rate when we are experiencing our sixth year of decreases in assessed values.  And furthermore, with the decrease in property values, don't you think we have a responsibility to hold the tax rate where it is and not allow it to go up? Forty-six percent of our taxes funds District 44 and 27 percent funds district 87 and while I absolutely support quality education, it seems like the leaders of our school districts could figure out how to do more with less as a lot of us have had to do. But, when it comes to the educational system, it appears that they are much more padded and protected from the fluctuations in the economy than perhaps others. In today’s economy, we should all try to be more cost efficient, less wasteful and accomplish more with less resources. Maybe then our tax bills could go down next year. Let's start with the schools.

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With all the posturing from the Breuder naysayers, aka new trustees, I can’t help but wonder why they gave him a paid administrative leave—after taxpayers loudly protested his retirement package. I read that this occurred after he announced taking a medical leave, for which he would have used paid sick and vacation days. Then he could have used the 12-week medical leave act, I also read. So, why the clamoring about the retirement package and then the board puts this man on paid leave? Unless there’s a legal reason, I think it’s terrible.