This is a question for the president of the District 87 school board and/or any of its members. How was the recent $6,000 raise in salary given to the superintendent during these difficult economic times? Certainly the ongoing salary of $200,000 seems more than adequate, if not extremely generous. Where I’m employed all salaries have been decreased by 5 percent until further notice and health benefits eliminated. We are now required to pay a parking fee for on-site places. What cost-saving measures are being followed in District 87?
Peg Mannion, Glenbard High School District 87 community relations coordinator, responded: “Superintendent Mike Meissen’s compensation level is set by the board of education, based on a performance review cycle. The board uses a benchmark of competitive information from comparable positions of responsibility in school systems. Thank you for your interest in Glenbard’s cost savings. Glenbard is on an aggressive path for cost containment. The district is operating with a balanced budget, a priority in the district’s strategic plan, and has removed a multi-million-dollar deficit. Glenbard recently locked in electrical rates for the next two years that will save more than $400,000 from our planned budget. We implemented energy conservation measures to replace and/or renovate mechanical and electrical systems that provide for significant savings. In addition, the district continues to evaluate vendor agreements to reduce costs. Glenbard recently structured an agreement with an office supply company to save more than 40 percent on stationery and supply costs.” —JAC
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The Glenbard District 87 board will be voting on a proposal to spend $4 million on lights and artificial turf for two fields at Glenbard West High School. At this time, with the economy slowing, and with what seems like preferential treatment to Glenbard West, Glenbard citizens should speak out against it.
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In memory of Bill Moran, former Lombard Park District executive director and park board commissioner for 12 years, may he rest in peace. Bill was a very special man. He most definitely earned his right to be honored in our town. To his family, I can only say that I am appalled and upset at the current park district commissioners for having changed the name of the pool from Moran Water Park to Paradise Bay. What a slap in the face to a man and his family who was honored many years ago by having the pool named after him. Why was it necessary to change the name? I will continue to only think of the pool as the Moran Water Park. There are two park board commissioner positions that will be up for re-election next year. Maybe it’s time to get people with their mind and heart in the right place to be elected to take the positions.
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Lombard calling. On Saturday, Nov. 1, I gassed up in Brookfield at $2.49 a gallon. The same station on Roosevelt Road in Lombard was $2.689. Who’s gouging whom?
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Hi, I’m calling from Lombard. I just left the community center in the Lombard Common polling place, and was lucky to be able to place my vote, as someone from there tried to prevent me from voting. I just want to say thank you to the kind election judge who helped me out. Otherwise, I would not have been able to vote. Thank you.
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The people have spoken and the Republican Party was beaten badly. I hope you Republicans will stand behind the new president now and give him your support, because he needs everything he can do to pull out of this mess that the Republican Party has put everybody in. Hopefully he can do it.
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Hi, this is Lombard calling. My husband and I just went to Capone’s restaurant in Lombard, where the Texan Barbecue used to be, and it was fantastic service, fantastic food, and I recommend everybody check it out. Hopefully we can have a business that stays in business in downtown Lombard.
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Lombard calling. It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I’d love to take my kids for a walk. We live near the park district and I would love to go and hang out at the park there, but, is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how gross the Sunset Knoll playground park is? It is old, it is very vandalized, it is dirty all the time, it has garbage all the time. I am so surprised that the park district has not done anything about this, considering that this is their park district. You’d think they would want the whole area to be looking its best. In fact, it doesn’t. I don’t even want to bring my children there. Another tidbit. Did anyone know that the park district installed the park itself?
Lombard Park District Executive Director Paul Friedrichs responded: “First, the park district employs staff that are more than capable of building playgrounds. In fact, the district saves thousands of dollars by using the expertise of our in-house staff. Next, the Sunset Knoll playground is eight years old; its base was provided and paid for through a used tire grant. Unfortunately, this base has not held up well through the freeze and thaw cycles of the Midwest and will be removed next spring. With regard to vandalism, there was an area boarded up at the playground due to construction, not vandalism. Finally, as for garbage in this park or any other, a call to the park district would have been much more appropriate than to SPEAK OUT so the caller’s concern could be addressed immediately.” —JAC
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I’m a resident of Villa Park and I wanted to call in and make a comment about the Villa Park police. I’m a law-abiding citizen and have no problem with the police, but I do have a problem with the fact that they leave their cars running while they go into restaurants to have lunch, or wherever they may be. I know they have a lot of electronics, but in this day and age, with the price of gas, and they go to their free pump, I don’t think they should be able to do that. And also, I don’t understand why we get hassled so badly when we call in cars parked on the street from 2-6 a.m. We don’t understand why there is such an issue with people parking on the street.
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Hi, I’m a Lombard resident who lives near the high school on Main Street and I want to say that the renovations they have done are fantastic. I think it’s improved the look of Main Street and we appreciate all the efforts, and the lights add a nice effect. So, great job.
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Lombard calling. God bless our new president, and let’s pray that he’s better than the last two.
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Hi, this is Lombard calling, commenting on the new street lights on Main Street. They are beautiful. If you go through Glen Ellyn or Wheaton, the lower lights facing inward on the street are actually pivoted around the other way so they are illuminating the sidewalk. I’ve looked online at other towns and that seems to be what they’re doing also. Just curious why the decision was made to have both lights hanging over the street, versus the smaller ones lighting up the sidewalk, which appears to be their intent. Just curious.
“The main reason that the lower lights are on the street side is to keep them in the public right-of-way since some poles had to be placed at the property line. Other benefits of this orientation are to better shield the residences from glare and to access them for maintenance. The required luminance is still being met on the sidewalks,” said Dave Gorman, assistant director of the Village of Lombard Public Works Department. —JAC
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Hi, this is Lombard calling. I just want to say thanks for the memories, Sweet Street. You’ll be forever etched in our hearts. We’ll miss you.
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Hi, I live in Lombard and I heard that Sweet Street candy store is closing. It brings such a joy to my children in the downtown area and we love it. I don’t want it to close. Please say it’s not true.
According to owner Debbie Barry, “We are trying to sell. Otherwise we are going to close.” She said that after seven years, she would like to spend more time with her children. Barry also stated, “I’d love for someone to buy it. We bring so many people into the downtown area.” —JAC
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