Lombard calling in regard to the “road diet” hopefully planned for Westmore-Meyers Road. I think it's really great and I hope Lombard takes it all the way and does some landscaping and streetscaping, maybe planting some trees and some tree islands. My question for Lombard is, when are they going to do something to improve the aesthetics of Roosevelt Road and pedestrian access in that area? Thanks, bye.

Lombard village officials responded: “Thank you for your comments relative to the proposed Westmore-Meyers Safety and Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements Project.   As part of the village board’s strategic planning, the village has undertaken efforts to address the needs of all forms of transportation. It’s important to remember that the road diet project under consideration is being evaluated for feasibility and at this point the village has taken no steps towards the design or construction of the improvements. However, the Federal Highway Administration data indicates that a road diet would result in a crash reduction of 19 percent to 47 percent, with a significant reduction in rear-end and angle collisions due to turning movements. In regard to the aesthetics of Roosevelt Road, the roadway is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Any improvements to the roadway or the public right-of-way would need to be undertaken by IDOT. The village’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan does identify conceptual improvements on IDOT roadways, but the implementation of these proposed improvements would be carried out by IDOT. For more information, please visit www.villageoflombard.org/bikelombard."—JAC

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As a Lombard taxpayer, I have the right to voice my opinion, not as a complaint. Cruise Nights should be shared with the other residents of Lombard residing near Yorktown. The schedule should be split up with the downtown and Yorktown shopping center. As far as due diligence, most of the professionals near the train are relocated and pay a good deal in taxes. Most thought we chose a community that respected all property owners, but not the case.

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I have lived in Lombard, for like three years now, and I came from Warrenville, where we had a brand new library, upper-class library with new technology and so forth, many more books than this library has, and I just want everybody to know I voted yes for the referendum because I go to the library at least once a week. Them not having any plan for a new library really frustrates me. I think what they're doing is taking our tax dollars and saving them for a rainy day. So that's my story. I just wanted SPEAK OUT to know. Thank you, bye.

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Hi. I attend the Lombard Civil War encampment every year. Thank you to the Lombard Historical Society's Stanford's Battery and all of the re-enactors, civilians, actors, musicians and volunteers for a spectacular event. The battles and skirmishes are loud and awesome! Lombard's lucky to have such a dedicated group of historians and volunteers. Thank you so much.

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Good afternoon, Lombard. I'm calling regarding the person complaining about children on leashes at the fireworks display. I suppose the fireworks didn't catch that person's attention that much, otherwise said person wouldn't have noticed something so trivial. Kudos to the parents who are cautious and keep their children close, especially in these times when some people are waiting to grab unsuspecting children. Evidently this person doesn't watch the news and probably never had children. Thank you.

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Hey Ale Fest clarifier, don't be hypocritical. They're raising money for the turf project for the athletic department of the school? Really? I thought we had guidelines against alcohol, tobacco, other harmful products and so forth for our children. Maybe we should just get Budweiser to sponsor our field.

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Hello, Lombard. As much as I like the German Fest, I object to the closing of the street, Elizabeth, for that entire weekend. Now, the thing was closed, cars were parking there when it wasn't open, it was really an inconvenience and there doesn't seem to be any real public safety need for it.

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Hi, Lombard calling. As everyone is complaining about the current administration, I'm over here enjoying the 14 percent alone I've made in my 401k. Look at your investments and tell me you're not enjoying that. Go Trump.

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This is in reference to the person who was complaining about extending the G.I. Bill. I don't understand why you're complaining. I was in the army from 1956 to 1959 and I got my college degree for free. I don't know why your dad didn't apply to get his degree but I got mine and all he had to do was apply. If he didn't apply, that's a shame. He could have and he should have. Thank you.

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I do not like having my real estate taxes raised or the state taxes, whatever, but you call in and you immediately blame Cullerton, Madigan and Conroy. We have never in the state of Illinois had the prospect of junk status before. We have never in the state of Illinois had our colleges in such distress, our school systems down south and in Chicago in such distress. We have always managed to pay our bills on time. We have never taken things away from people who need them, like the children with special needs, the seniors who need rides. Our state has never been in the financial stress it is now and there is only one reason our state is in the straits it is now, and that's because of Gov. Bruce Rauner.

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There's a lot of hatred for President Trump. Because of the hatred, people tend to manipulate facts to try and show his inadequacies. They don't want to admit to hating someone, especially the president. I voted for Donald Trump; I didn't vote for him because he was a smooth-tongued, polished and adequate politician like we have experienced over the years. He’s a rough-speaking person, sometimes abrasive. I'm hoping he will get things moving in the right direction. He will ruffle some feathers. Obamacare is a joke on the American people. I'm not afraid with Trump as president. Trump is a breath of fresh air in a closed, decaying hierarchy of manipulation, deceit and power struggles in Washington.

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Lombard calling about the various speed limits on Main Street. It's 35 mph around Glenbard East High School, but then it drops very quickly to 25 mph by Gianorio's pizza place. I was pulled over last week going 40 when that very busy stretch was wide open and I assumed the speed limit was 35 mph like it is in most areas, instead of 25 mph, as if it was a neighborhood residential street.

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All the wailing and the gnashing of teeth; the Taiwan company Foxconn is building a factory in Wisconsin and not Illinois. The company has only committed to hiring 3,000, but Wisconsin is giving the company $3 billion in tax breaks. That is $1 million in tax break per job. Some of the rosy-eyed among us think that someday, maybe the factory will employ 13,000. Well, that's close to a quarter-million in tax breaks per job. Wisconsin can have the factory for that price.

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Hi, Lombard. Recently I was berated by a friend for being conservative, a Donald Trump supporter, a military guy, an NRA supporter and generally for my conservative views. This tolerant liberal, ha ha, really jumped on me out of the blue. Seems like these people have a problem. They're actually, as they say, progressive; again, lesson 101, they're not the Democrats of John F. Kennedy's era. They were actually sensible people who believed in many conservative values and were very similar to the conservative movement of today. These people are going around bashing Trump supporters. Talk about mean-spirited, they're taking pictures of fake severed heads that look like the president, like Ms. Griffin did, and talking about revolution and assassination. They'd never get away with it if they were talking about the president of the last eight years.

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OK, SPEAK OUT, I hope politicians and big companies read your column because they're not paying attention. You're going to see a mass exodus from this state. The health insurance companies always are going to raise their premiums substantially and the politicians are raising taxes again substantially. Where in the world is all this ending? We're going to have a total collapse or something. Nobody wants to live in the state of Illinois when all this stuff is going on. I don't care how beautiful the state is and how nice the area is, let's face it: Money doesn't grow on trees and people are going broke every day. Somebody's got to start addressing this issue. We've got to stop increasing the cost of everything. The cost of living today is prohibitive, and the taxes on our house and property are prohibitive.

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Regarding the soda tax in Cook County, the hypocrisy seems obvious. One woman speaking before the press touts the benefits of the tax saying she is “excited” to see the money go toward funding “initiatives in underserved areas.” Really? Hmm, how many of the 300 layoffs were health-care related? WGN reports the tax could bring in $67.8 million this year and $200 million next year. How much of that will be used for so-called health-care initiatives? No, as Cook County Board President Preckwinkle has stated, this is about bolstering the city's budget. For one thing, the tax is ambiguous at best—even some low calorie, sugar-free beverages are being taxed. For another, why not look at fast food and other eating establishments serving menu options that are high in fat, sodium and cholesterol, contributing to heart disease, strokes, etc.? Or grocery stores that sell said items? I'm not buying what you're selling, Cook County.

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Hello Lombard, I saw that the Sam's Club in Woodridge is closing. What effect, if any, will that have on building a new store on Butterfield Road in Lombard? What is the status of the construction of the new Sam's Club in Lombard?

According to Lombard village officials, “Per the property owner, Sam's Club has signed a long-term lease for the property. The village has approved engineering permits for the site and once Sam's Club has determined a construction start date, they will be able to move forward with development.”—JAC