Awhile back, Madison Street was smoothed out from Westmore to Grace. How nice. Why not go all the way to Main? Please smooth out Maple Avenue from Grace to Westmore. Thank you. The concrete's kind of rough.

Your question was forwarded to Village of Lombard officials, who responded: “As part of the Gatz Pond Outfall Project to separate approximately 450 acres of combined sewers near Westmore Woods Park, the village will be removing and replacing the concrete roadway on Maple between Westmore-Meyers Road and South Chase Lane. This work will be completed this year. The village will also be paving the asphalt section of Madison Street through the intersection with Main Street as part of the asphalt paving program this summer. Please visit www.villageoflombard.org/constructionmap for an interactive map of construction projects in Lombard and please feel free to contact Public Works directly at 630-620-5740 with any questions.”—JAC

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OK Mr. Trump—you suggest Congress abolish “Obamacare” now, and eventually come up with a new plan? How awful that would be for millions of people who would immediately lose their health care. Do you know how many thousands of companies eliminated their health plans and sent their employees to the government plan? Do you know how many millions of people now have insurance that never did? These people are now paying at least something into the health care system that they never previously did. My family can hardly afford health care, but with three of us having cancer, we must have some kind of insurance, and with these preexisting conditions, we can't get care anywhere else. Work on the current plan—make it better—don't start killing people because they will have no health insurance.

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I'm sorry, but I'm not convinced that Republicans don't have town hall meetings because they're afraid of being shot or being shouted down by, what are they called, “snowflakes/” It's more likely that they cannot defend legislation that takes away health care to give tax breaks to the “1 percent.” Health care needs to be improved, not denied.

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DuPage County has voted Democratic in the last three presidential elections, though for state issues we go Republican. Look at poll results and the occasional survey and overall we seem to be a middle-of-the-road bunch. Speak with neighbors and people at Cruise Nights, and they voice real concern about the same things that you read about in SPEAK OUT: drastic cuts in Social Security and health care so that billionaires can get tax breaks. Congressman Roskam was elected to represent our interests and he doesn't appear to be doing so. The fact that he refuses to hear us is shameful.

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Regarding the submission about car window tinting that asked: “Why are police departments not enforcing the darkened window ... laws?” Just last week the Village of Lombard issued a warning regarding a rash of car break-ins in the village. Spend any time driving around the village or surrounding suburbs and you will be cut off by speeders, texters and all-around dangerous drivers. Watch the news about the gang fights, shootings and random attacks that are making their way into the suburbs. Read the police blotter in the Lombardian to see the local instances of theft, vandalism and DUI/ drug arrests. Yes, by all means, the police should really concern themselves about the tinted windows on my vehicle. Especially since my windows comply with state law—which, by the way, did you bother researching before making your ill-informed call? I did my research before tinting my windows. The only time it should concern the police is if and when they pull me over. Which doesn't happen often, if at all. Even if they do, it's not so dark they can't see through. And guess what? I am sure they train for instances of dark tint.

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My church is on Main Street, Lombard. Whoever has the very large dog that leaves a “present” on the church lawn—please pick it up. It's bad enough that you are breaking the law, but you are disrespectful of a church. Thank you.

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If your tax rate went from, say, 3 percent to 6 percent, it would double, would it not? That would be a 100-percent increase. Even some Democrats should be able to figure that out. The personal income tax rate in Illinois is going up from 3.75 to 4.95 percent. Some simpletons will read this as a 1.2 percent increase. Guess again. It's a 32-percent increase.

See response/calcuations below.

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Shout out to my state Rep. Deb Conroy for reaching a compromise and taking the hard vote to bring our state from the edge of the abyss. Rep. Conroy has continuously worked on bipartisan legislation such as reducing layers of government to save taxpayer dollars which allows our communities to flourish. Lastly, it is not a 32-percent income tax in Illinois. It is a 32 percent income tax increase from the previous rate of 3.75 percent. So in reality it is a 1.2-percent tax increase from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent.

While the increase in taxes is 1.2 percent, the rate increase is 32 percent. This is obtained by subtracting 3.75 from 4.95, or 1.2. Then divide 1.2 by the old percentage, or 3.75, and you get .32. Multiply that by 100 and that gives you the rate increase, which is 32 percent.—JAC

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Calling in reference to your headline about “Warehousegate.” Please quit using "gate" for every little real or imagined scandal. Watergate was over a long time ago, and was serious on a national level. There's just too much copying and not enough creativity. I called the Chicago Tribune about the same thing. It's just too much.

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This is a Lombard taxpayer who pays a lot of money for the schools. I am just wondering why Glenbard East needs a new parking lot, a new blacktop driveway and a new roof. I would think that possibly the roof is necessary but I don't think that the parking lot and new driveway surfaces are necessary. This is costing us money and I'm sorry to say I don't think it should be done. Bye.

Your comments were forwarded to District 87. Community Relations Coordinator Peg Mannion responded: “In Glenbard District 87, we have a 10-year master facility plan and summer capital improvements at all of our buildings. In March 2014, voters approved a zero tax rate increase to finance critical repairs and renovations to our four high schools. Our buildings and grounds director and assistant principals for operations collaborate to identify and prioritize facility needs. The Glenbard East roof that is being replaced this summer was worn and leaked into our auditorium after a heavy rainstorm. This increased the chance for interior water damage that would result in more costly repairs in the near future. Glenbard East’s north parking lot was beyond repair due to the excessive potholes that have accumulated over the years, and the crumbling sidewalks presented a safety issue. These projects were bid in a single large package and not individually.”—JAC

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Hi. I just wanted to acknowledge the good Samaritan who brought my dog to the police station the other day. I'm grateful because my dog has a medical condition and I was able to get her back quickly. This is the reason why I always say that Lombard is such a great town, because of great people who do things like this. I'm very thankful and you know who you are. I hope you have a great day and a great week. Thank you.

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The Plum Library website brags about transparency. One must assume they are hiding from the public because they misled the voters that they had a "deal" with the Lombard Park District. If they can't work out their differences this year, then when — next year or the next year? Now they are apparently just wasting taxpayer money and they seemingly don't care. Vote them out if they don't stop wasting other people's money by doing nothing. Thank you.

See response below.

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Lombard calling. I just read that the Helen Plum Library is getting ready to issue $25 million in bonds but they haven't approved any project yet. Does anyone know if they're going to build a new library? Nothing has been spoken and it seems to me the library is working behind the scenes and not being very transparent. Maybe someone can find out what the deal is. Thank you.

Editor's note: See the letter to the editor on Page 4, from new library board President Jason Brandt.—JAC

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Lombard calling. Great fireworks show put on at Madison Meadow but I do have one complaint. What's the deal with all the kids on leashes? Leashes were made for pets. If you can't watch your children, maybe you shouldn't have had any. Thank you.

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Good morning, Lombard. I'm responding to the call about Peter Breen yelling during the debate on funding Planned Parenthood. We should all be yelling about what goes on in abortion clinics. 1973 was a very, very sad and tragic year in America. God bless America, Peter Breen and all the innocent babies waiting for a chance at life. Thank you.

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Last month Gov. Rauner was making and airing commercials about himself and was reported being happier than he has been in 20 years. This month he was handed four, bi-partisan veto overrides, and the Wall Street Journal called him "Governor Junk." Rather than doubling down, he should be using this as a learning experience. The state has a budget for the first time in years because of compromise — the Democrats could not have passed it on their own.  And the compromise budget was even more conservative than the one that Rauner proposed.

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Lake County experienced unprecedented flooding. A hospital was evacuated. Local news was asking citizens to fill sandbags to stem the tide. The governor was nowhere to be seen. He didn't call out the National Guard. He did not declare the area to be an emergency.  When he did arrive after several days, he was wearing makeup. Enough with the commercials.

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Thanks for all the joy your paper brings me when I read the constant complaints of Republicans who preach personal and fiscal responsibility but can't seem to hold their elected majority responsible for the balanced budget, great health care and keeping the debt limit in check that they bleated about for the last eight years. Republicans are funny. You guys have majorities in power in all branches yet still can't get anything done. Oh, yeah, it's because Democrats won't go along.

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After conducting my own independent research, I've come to the following conclusion. People who litter are losers. Unfortunately, there are too many of them out there. Why is there so much open garbage out there? Apparently there are quite a few people who are too lazy and selfish to properly dispose of their own trash.