Hey, Lombard. I want to know the reason you put your bike lanes in down Madison so far away from the curb that you made the actual lane smaller. So, what you're going to do now is cause people to get hurt. Maybe you ought to take a look at what you did because it's really confusing. Thank you.

Your comments were forwarded to Village of Lombard officials, who responded: “The shared lane markings that are located away from the curb are marked so as not interfere with parked vehicles. This location is in accordance with national standards that require the placement of the markings to be located a minimum of 11 feet from the curb where street parking is permitted. The markings are intended to remind motorists to share the road and do not decrease the lane size. Per state law, bicycles are permitted on all Village of Lombard streets and motorists must give a 3-foot passing distance to bicyclists when in a shared lane area. This applies to all roadways in Lombard, and no traffic restrictions have changed with this Bicycle and Pedestrian Project. For more information please visit www.villageoflombard.org/bikelombard or call Public Works at 630-620-5740.”—JAC

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Lombard calling about the bike lanes on Madison. I think they're a great idea. I think biking around town is good exercise and good for global warming. However, east of Grace Street on Madison, it appears the center line is too close to the south curb. If you go by there when there are cars parked in front of Madison Meadow, which there are most afternoons and evenings during sports season, you can't pass those cars without crossing the center line. There's just no room. It seems like the center needs to be moved north or no parking on the south side of Madison, which I don't advocate. I think those people need someplace to park to take their kids to sports. Thank you.

See above response.—JAC

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The auditor general is part of the executive branch of our state government. Back in 2014, Judge Mikva—who is sympathetic to the idea of having independent map reform—wrote that the proposed referendum, by allowing the auditor general a voice in the redistricting process, would not be “independent” and would violate the constitution’s procedure for a citizen's initiative. How could Rauner have botched this one so badly?

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Remember President Obama's claim that his health care plan would save some families $2,500 per year on premiums? The Affordable Care Act is proving to be anything but affordable. Look at the recent headlines—Obamacare rates in Illinois and other states are soaring. The Illinois Department of Insurance just stated it has submitted rate increases to the federal government that for some types of plans average 43 percent to 55 percent. Yet another boondoggle, courtesy of President Obama and his apparently dishonest cohorts.

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Good afternoon, northwest Lombard calling again. Hey, you guys, Trump seems to be a goofball but he's got a lot of ideas that will help this country. Hillary is apparently crooked, and if you can't figure that out, you've got issues. Trump doesn't always say the right things. As far as Trump goes, he's created wealth. Wealth creates jobs. Look at the big cities, Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago, lots of murders, lots of gun control. Lots of government aid, lots of housing projects, lots of misery. Look at where there are jobs being grown, there's now unemployment, like North Dakota.

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I was curious if it would be possible to have what streets are being worked on in Lombard. It seems that every day there is a different street closed. It's getting a little difficult to plan how to get around town. There should be some schedule among the contractors to let us know what is going on.

Avis Meade, communications coordinator for the Village of Lombard, said residents can go to www.villageoflombard.org/notifyme to get e-mail alerts of upcoming projects; www.villageoflombard.org/construction to learn about projects; or www.villageoflombard.org/constructionmap, which is an interactive map of projects going on in Lombard. The Web site is updated “as often as anything happens,” Meade said, adding that residents can call public works at 630-620-5740 or the communications office at 630-620-5718 for information on how to navigate the village’s Web site.—JAC

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With the addition of Mariano's on Roosevelt Road there will be three grocery stores within a about a mile. On North Avenue? Nothing. It feels like we are second class citizens up on North Avenue. No grocery store, one drug store. There is plenty of undeveloped space where they could build a grocery store. Why are we seemingly treated like second-class citizens?

Officials from the village previously responded to similar inquiries related to getting retail businesses to come to Lombard and their locations, such as the sale of Mr. Z’s. The answer is this: “A common misconception is that the village dictates which specific businesses can occupy a specific location. The village’s role is purely as a facilitator and informational resource. For more information on how retail stores come to be in Lombard, please view our new online series titled “From Ground Breaking to Grand Opening: Retail in Lombard” available at www.villageoflombard.org/retail.”—JAC

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Lombard calling referring to the article in the Lombardian about the village board passing a measure to generate some revenue. Instead of increasing taxes on the backs of restaurant owners with the 1-percent increase, and also hurting seniors by eliminating the taxi subsidy, why not revisit and charge a nominal fee for village stickers? Surely there are other options. The Lombard Village Board ought to take notice. Surrounding suburbs have lower tax rates and Lombard restaurants have to be competitive. As for the taxi subsidy, it is a travesty to hurt seniors and low-income residents. Now they will pay more to eat out and pay more to get there. Way to go, Lombard. These actions will hurt our restaurants and vulnerable residents. Shame on you. If the vote on this was unanimous, all the current board should be voted out. Thank you.

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What happened to Lombard pride? In one area of Lombard there are approximately 10 houses that have a decent lawn. Everybody else seems to think clover and dandelions represent a lawn. Why isn't the village doing something about this? I know they come by periodically and give out Lombard Pride awards, but this is ridiculous if people can't take time to cut at least their front lawn to look decent.

In response to questions pertaining to the Village of Lombard’s Code of Ordinances or potential code violations, please call the village’s Code Enforcement phone line at 630-620-5757, and someone will return your call. You may also view the village’s Code of Ordinances at villageoflombard.org/ordinances or visit villageoflombard.org/reportaconcern to submit your concern at any time of day.—JAC

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Hi, Lombard. I'm calling in regard to the extra 1 percent that our Lombard village trustees voted to add on to our restaurants in the Village of Lombard, charging their customers another 1 percent to come and sit down. How convenient restaurants that provide carry-out only don't get hit with the tax. Very interesting, I would say. I would think those people would be the ones that would get hit with the 1 percent instead of the other ones who need to have traffic driven to them. Thank you.

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This is Lombard calling. I just want to congratulate Lombard; the coordinators of Cruise Nights, all the volunteers, for having the most spectacular last Night Cruise Night in the 18 years Cruise Nights have been in existence. The band, American English, closing down St. Charles Road from Main Street to Park, having a massive amount of space so people wouldn't step on each other, having a kids corner on South Park, it was spectacular. If anybody complains, they need to look at themselves because this was the most amazing, totally excellent Cruise Night that has ever been held. Thank you.

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Jeers and humbugs to the Lombard Village Board for killing a program which was helping low-income senior citizens who are trapped in their homes without transportation, seniors who are unable to ride buses or walk well enough to have the mobility needed to have any chance of leaving their home and experience any sense of normal life—things that most people take for granted. Granted, killing this program will affect the savings of $40,000, according to figures supplied by the village. Hardly a staggering amount considering the millions the board is routinely spending. It seems the board went deep into the list to find what they considered a point of least resistance and the least chance of electoral pushback. After all, a large number of the seniors who are affected by this act will probably be deceased before the next trustee election. A sad day for low-income seniors in Lombard.

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Lombard drivers, what do the words “no through traffic,” “detour,” “road closed” mean? This is not covered in the “Rules of the Road”?

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English may not be the official language of our country, which comes as a big surprise to me, because all of the legal immigrants spoke English and worked hard to become Americans. That's what made America great. Everyone speaking a different language doesn't work. If you're in the country illegally, you shouldn't be changing our country to yours. If don't want to be an American, why come to America?

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Lombard calling. All drivers, please don't block the sidewalks when parking. I know it's against the law but you need to enforce it because it seems the police don't do that. Drive carefully, and please don't speed down Taylor. That's the big detour and we get extra-fast traffic. Thank you. Bye.

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Villa Park calling. I'd like to respond to the person who quoted Thomas Jefferson in the Thursday, Sept. 1, newspaper. Just remember, Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner, so I don't think you should be quoting somebody who actually owned people. Thank you.

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This is Lombard calling in regard to this issue across the whole United States about not having to show an ID to vote. I don't understand. You have to show an ID to get cigarettes, you have to show an ID to get liquor. I don't understand why you don't have to prove who you are to vote. Anybody can walk in there and pretend they are another person and vote. It is the most secure thing to show an ID when you vote. I  don't think it's a crime, I don't think they have to ban it. I don't think they have to go through the courts and the problems they're causing about showing a simple ID when you vote. Thank you.

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This is Lombard calling. To the person who's complaining about Cruise Nights not having to be every Saturday night and wants a little peace and quiet, put some earplugs in your ears. This is what summer is for, for people to be outdoors, enjoy the summer, enjoy the cars, enjoy the bands. If you really want quiet, go to a nursing home. Thank you.

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I find it ironic that state Sen. Cullerton is disgusted with the decision to block the independent maps initiative from this November's ballot when it is his own state political party's leader, Speaker Madigan, and his cronies who initiated this decision. Sen. Cullerton needs to lead an initiative to relieve Madigan of his powers that allow him to dictate the entire state's future. Sen. Cullerton should be disgusted by his own party leader's actions that affect the entire state's future. In a related matter, we should support Comptroller Munger's efforts to initiate no-budget-no-pay legislation that would withhold pay to state legislators if they can't reach a budget for this state. They deserve no pay if they can't perform for the citizens of the state. Thank you.