In January 2017, Lombard's public works director claimed that the village is always looking at ways to reduce costs. He supposedly also said that around November-December 2016—a few weeks earlier—the department launched a pilot initiative to see how the village could save money by handling street light maintenance in-house. During that time, the monthly bill to the contracted vendor went from $9,000 to $2,000. What is he saying? It took until the end of 2016 for them to discover that the village could save $7,000 in a short time period by handling street light maintenance in-house? He later said this practice could save the village about $48,000 a year. Again, they just figured this out? And they're always looking at ways to reduce costs? Look a little harder.

Your comments were forwarded to Village of Lombard officials who responded: “The village continually looks at process and technology improvements that can create efficiencies or save costs. The effort to bring a portion of the street light maintenance in-house was made available with the recent purchase of an aerial lift truck that allows that staff to perform the tasks. The truck was programmed in 2017 for purchase based upon the village’s vehicle replacement policy and approved budgets. Absent the vehicle, the village had no means to perform the task. The Public Works Department has been diligent in its efforts to reduce operating expenses, all the while being mindful of the expectations and levels of services established by the Village Board of Trustees. Since 2013, the Department of Public Works has reduced the budget or limited the budget increase to less than 2 percent increase in three out of five years.”—JAC

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Hi, Lombard. Another political comment, and yes, that is what this format is for—Lombard stuff and political stuff. Get a grip. To all the snowflakes and Democrats out there, there are good Democrats but the problem is they were back in John F. Kennedy's day. I thought I explained this before. I'm not sure who my audience is, but he was actually conservative and the Democrats in those days were actually close to Republicans and conservative as far as taxes, social issues, etc. What they have now are basically radical socialists, aka Bernie, and obviously Hillary and her clan, and the lot of them. It's beyond ridiculous. They're like little babies. When Scott Walker reformed much of the waste in Wisconsin and put them back in the black instead of the red in the budget, they all ran back to Illinois.

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Lombard calling. I'm very sick and tired of the whiners and spoiled little brats whose candidate was not elected president. You would rather see a woman elected whose entire political career has been one investigation after another. You would rather see a husband of this candidate who, back in the White House, where he can have our employees possibly provide sexual favors for him. We paid those women's salaries and he used them for his own sexual satisfaction. This is what you would have rather seen in the White House? Why can't you give Trump a chance? This is the country of free speech but anybody who speaks against Hillary or her supporters isn't allowed. You don't recognize our free speech but you can say and do whatever you want. Madonna is a travesty to say she has thought about blowing up the White House. If you don't like the United States, move out. Other than that, why don't you just accept this man and see what he can do? Enough said.

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There was a fatal accident at the corner of St Charles and Main the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 14, involving a ComEd truck.  It tied up traffic for several hours. Why is there no mention of it in the Lombardian or police blotter?

Your question was forwarded to Village of Lombard officials who responded: “There was not an accident at that location on Jan. 14. However, there was an accident involving a pedestrian that took place on Jan. 21. The accident is posted on the police blotter at http://www.villageoflombard.org/5163/01-21-2017. The Lombard Police Department does not provide public updates on the health status of private residents. Please feel free to call the Lombard Police Department with any questions you may have at 630-873-4400.”—JAC

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This is an answer to the caller who said the Democrats care more about immigrants from other countries than they do about Americans. All of our relatives came from other countries. The only true Americans are the American Indians and look what we did to them. We put them on reservations. So if your family did not come from Europe or some other country, then you must an American Indian and you should be on a reservation.

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To the caller last week who said the Democrats should change their name to the Communist Party, congratulations, you figured it out. We are all Communists. We take our marching orders from the Kremlin and we hope you Republicans appreciate the fact that you helped us get Donald Trump elected because he is apparently the puppet of Mr. Putin. Today America; tomorrow the world.

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Why are there illegals on the streets protesting every day? Shouldn't we legal Americans be on the street protesting illegals getting entitlements, free medical, college, etc.? Aw, wait. We can't. We have to go to work for what we have. That's who made America great. Workers, not protesters.

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Peter Roskam, I think it's shameful that you won't hold a town hall meeting with the public; that it has to be private or news media invited. I thought you were part of the make America great again movement. Guess not. Time for you to go. Bye bye now.

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Senators, are you serious? With all the problems facing the United States, foreign and domestic, you want a committee to investigate Gen. Flynn and President Trump? What about illegal immigration and sanctuary cities? What about violence in our cities? What about manufacturing and businesses leaving the United States? What about Social Security and Medicare solvency? What about the tax laws? What about the Affordable Care Act and its downward spiral? What about rising debt, and the list goes on. For years Congress has forsaken the people they supposedly represent. It's time you start working for the American people and put party politics on the back burner.

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Hi, Villa Park calling. Time to vote all incumbents out. They're all trying to pass outdated, outmoded improvements like a new library, like a new rec center, that other progressive cities made in the 1990s. Many rec centers are now half vacant and being used as daycare centers. Libraries, they're going by the way of electronic books. We don't need these old-fashioned money-grabbers who add more taxes. Every time we get a water bill there seems to be a new tax added on. No incumbents. Vote for new blood in Villa Park. Thank you. Goodbye.

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I’m calling about the immigrants. You say this is a nation of immigrants. You're right. It is a nation of immigrants. My parents came here, my grandparents came here, my grandmother, my cousins and a lot of other people who came here. They're the ones who made this country. They had to take a boat. They didn't just swim across to make it here. They had to get off at Ellis Island, be vetted, be screened. If they had something wrong, disease or anything, they were sent back. So, why are we making such a big stink about being vetted and why are we making such a big stink about building a wall? If you don't like the wall, then take all the fences around your house and take them down, because we don't need your fence and wall. So, if you don't like it here, find another country. Maybe you could find an island and start your own country.

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Did anyone have a problem on the day with no illegal immigrants? I didn't. With them all not working and standing in the streets, I think we have more illegals than Americans in our country. If you knowingly do something illegal and are caught years later, it's still illegal and you know you did it. Years don't erase a crime. If you don't want to assimilate, why live in the country of your choice and not change our country to yours? If you Americans wonder why your housing, medical, education, food is so high-priced, ask the illegals what they're paying for this. I never heard anyone mention this: If they had full-time jobs they couldn't stand and block our streets as often as they do. Remember I'm talking about illegals, not immigrants who came here from Germany, Italy, China, everywhere, and worked in steel mills and built railroads. There's a big difference. They did this with no entitlements.

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Hello. I'm a Villa Park resident and I'm calling to say that I think there's not enough parking at the Villa Park Library. I think the plans hoping to pass call for additional parking spaces which I would find very helpful. Thank you.

Your comment was sent to Villa Park Library Director Sandra Hill, who responded: "Currently the Villa Park Library has a total of 40 parking spaces. The library's building project plans includes 55 parking spaces. This increase in parking is contingent on a successful passage of the April 4, 2017, library referendum."—JAC

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Hey, Lombard library. I thought that was a good idea to combine the fitness center and the library in the downtown area. That's what the downtown needs is a fitness center. Maybe the park district and the village could do a land swap like the park district did with the school district and they could put the fitness center at the spot of the old DuPage Theatre. Then people could come and work out, get on the train, come home on the train and work out. That would be really nice. You could put the police station downtown, too. That would help keep the homeless people out of the library. What do you think?

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This is Villa Park. I was calling to voice my displeasure on the tree trimming that is being done by Commonwealth Edison and the Village of Villa Park on the Prairie Path. It seems there is no skill or management to this process and they are clear-cutting trees or butchering the ones remaining standing. I understand the need for the practice of clearing utility lines; I've done it to my own property where I've removed seven or eight trees and use a local tree-trimming service to manage my trees. There seems to be no management with these trees at all. It was a complete butcher drive. What was something of civic pride, the Prairie Path, is now an eyesore.

Your concern was forwarded to Village of Villa Park officials, who responded: “The tree trimming, removal and stump grinding on Villa Park's segment of the Illinois Prairie Path is part of ComEd's line clearance activities.  The village and ComEd are working together to develop a tree replacement program to replace the trees which were removed.”—JAC