Former Councilman Mike Forbes

Former Councilman Mike Forbes Former Councilman Mike Forbes Four years ago I campaigned on three issues that were at the forefront of Residents concerns. John. John Plan Commission. St.

The following is how these items were addressed:


Managed Growth: While the economy has taken care of the rapid growth in St. I have taken advantage to prepare for the future, by serving as a Town staff member of the St. State law requires that three members of the Plan Commission be elected, appointed or employees of the Town. I have brought to the Plan Commission changes to the Zoning Ordinance

which include:

Increased Housing square footage standards. Helping to protecting the value of our homes. Anti-monotony requirements. Improving the aesthetics of our neighborhoods. Improved Road construction standards. Longer lasting roads to prevent failures and potholes. The Plan Commission continues to review the Subdivision Control Ordinance to ensure proper and quality infrastructure installation. Fiscal Accountability: With the stressful economy proper planning is where most of my time was spent over the past several years. We have presented and held to a Balanced Budget for the past three years. Difficult financial decisions were made, however, those decisions placed our Town in a Positive financial position. The decision to make necessary adjustments and not run a deficit budget is where we have served the Residents to our fullest. Transparent and Conservative Government: Over the past three years I have worked diligently to increase access to information, and to present information regarding the operations of our Town which include the following areas:


Budget information is now available on the Town website prior to the approval of the budget. Meeting agendas and meeting minutes are posted on the Town website. The Haunted House event now has a clear record of accountability. The event now operates with an approved budget, records of money spent and reporting of profits. The Festival of Lights also has a budget and is funded from the profits gained from the Haunted House event and Donations from local Business. In speaking with many residents over the past several years, it is clear everyone recognizes that a more CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT has been at work in our Town. John has become an example of a community that can deliver outstanding services to our residents while still living within our means. Fiscal Responsibility now allows our Town to look positively toward the future, rather than trying to address issues of the past. Councilman Michael Forbes

10/28/2022

Everyone is so eager to believe the worst in any Candidate running for office. Any Candidate that chooses the mudslinging route in a campaign is unworthy of that. or any office. It shows weakness and an inability to show any true reasons why the Mud-slinging Candidate should hold the office.
As I have been on the receiving end of this type of Campaign I know how hard it is to convince anyone of the truth after the lies have been told.

In the end, Here is a list of Candidates currently being dragged through the mud that deserve your support despite what your being told by the Mud-slingers

Bill Manousopoulos- St. John, Ward 3
Dan Derunlc Indiana State Senate, District 1
Jennifer Ruth-Green US Congress, Indiana District 1

This post was not approved or authorized by any of the listed Candidates.

07/24/2019

Town Council – Employee Bonus Policy Statement

A few residents have asked the Town Council, to offer an explanation into the thought process
and criteria that was utilized in determining bonuses for town employees. As everyone is
aware, government operates different from a private business or corporation, in that there are
no profits to be realized at the end of the fiscal year or no dividends to distribute, and the like.
Therefore, the health of the community is based upon fiscal responsibility and a myriad of other
factors such as; maintenance of property values, stewardship of the local property tax rate,
safety of the community, quality of life, maintenance of infrastructure, delivery of services,
economic vitality, and the like. All of these factors were taken into consideration when
considering the current bonus structure and all previous bonuses that were given, to town
employees, over the past decade.
Fiscal Responsibility – How well is the staff watching the operating budget and balancing that
operational function against the anticipated revenue of the Town. This function includes,
among other things, always maintaining a balanced budget and maintaining a cash surplus. It
was suggested that the community look to the previous fiscal year, when determining a bonus
structure, for the current year. The Town Council not only looked to the previous year of 2018
but the previous 5 years and the first two quarters performance of 2019. For example; at the
end of 2018, General Fund operating receipts exceeded expectations and were over the
projected amount by almost $750,000, while expenses were under budget by almost $244,000.
This is a trend the Town has enjoyed for nearly a decade and demonstrates a culture of
financial responsibility. When compared to other communities, St. John is doing extremely well
and has a very stable outlook. Concerning individual employees, the Town Manager and
department heads function in key roles to maintain the financial stability of the community.
For example, the Town Manager also serves in the capacity of Public Works Director, HR
Director, ADA Coordinator, and purchasing agent for the Town. As the Town has operated
without a Public Works Director, for the past 10 years, the Town Manager being able to
function in this capacity has saved the community over $900,000 over this same time. In
addition, prior to 2017, the Town Manager served in the capacity of Building and Planning
Director, again resulting in a savings of at least $1.2 million over 17 years. Compared to our
neighboring communities, functioning in these department head capacities is outside of the
normal duties of the Town Manager. The heads of department of the Town work in conjunction
with the Town Manager to help achieve the goals of the Town Council. It is expected that each
department operate within certain budget parameters, maximize workforce development,
promote pride in the community, and exceed operational goals, to name a few.
Property Values and Property Tax Rates – How do the Town’s property values and property tax
rates compare to surrounding communities. This is the only real barometer to use, as to
measure the success of maintaining and increasing property values, is a comparison of this kind.
St. John has the second lowest tax rate, in Lake County, at 0.4965/$100 of assessed value. St.
John also maintains the highest median income and home values in Lake County. St. John also
has the highest percentage of owner-occupied housing units, in Lake County, comprising, a

significantly high, 98% of all households in Town. This is something the Town Council monitors
closely and the staff works very hard to maintain.
Safety of the Community and Quality of Life – These two categories tend to go “hand in hand”,
as the safer the residents feel, the better the quality of life they tend to enjoy. To measure how
the staff is going in this particular area, statistical information is a great tool to use, as it is
comprised of actual data, from reliable sources, such as FBI crime statistics. St. John started on
the path of success back in 2009, where CNN/Money ranked St. John as the 48 th Best Small
Town in America. This trend has continued for the past decade with the Town winning more
accolades than any other community in our area. Most recently, Safewise named St. John as
the No.1 Safest Place in Indiana. Again, this is a wonderful distinction for our Community and is
a statistical, tangible, and an objective way for the Town Council to measure employee
performance.
Maintenance of Infrastructure, Service Delivery, and Economic Vitality – The Town’s staff is
expected to maintain 104 miles of roadway, and do their best to keep up with maintenance.
Over the previous five years, the Town has re-paved over 25 miles of road in the community.
This is no small task and the staff is expected to keep with-in budget. It is fully acknowledged
that this is an on-going task and that there is never enough money to handle all of the roadway
challenges in the Town. The Town’s water utility consists of seven production wells, 2 water
treatment facilities, 3 water towers, and over 100 miles of water main. This system requires
constant maintenance and attention. The Town’s staff consistently facilitates utility projects
and system upgrades within budget. In fact, St. John has only raised water rates a few of times
over the past two decades! While it does occur, service delivery to the Town’s utility customers
is not often interrupted. Economically speaking, St. John is an industry leader. The Town
enjoys a AA rating from Standard and Poors, is among the fastest growing communities in the
Chicago Metro area, has a projected per capita buying income of 112% the national level, has
previously been awarded the title of Richest Town in the State of Indiana, was previously
awarded the title of having the best credit scores in the state, and maintains the highest
median income and home values in Lake County.
This outline is intended to provide residents with a “snap shot” of just some of the criteria the
Town Council monitors and looks at when considering employee salaries and wages. We strive
to maintain a dedicated and talented workforce and feel, as with any organization, that hard
work, dedication, and financial responsibility, is not only a goal, but an expectation of the Town
Council.

06/24/2019

In an effort to help everyone understand what actually occurred at the last Town Council meeting, related to the settlement agreement with BLB, I offer the following information, that was clearly presented during that meeting. If you are relying on the information presented by the Times or other Political individuals you do not have the facts in this matter.

This settlement is the result of court ordered mediation.

This case has been ongoing for 18 months.

This agreement was presented by the Attorneys from Barnes and Thornburgh, who are representing the Town in this matter.

The Town Council met in Executive session for 2 and a half hours on June 13, 2019 to discuss the proposed settlement, options, and possible counter proposals. It was made clear through our discussions no options were available. Well, it was clear to most of us in the room.

Litigation and Personnel matters are not available for public review until a decision is made in respect to the individual matter. I fail to understand the thought process of expecting details of Litigation or Personnel matters to be made public prior to a decision being made. Would you expect us to talk strategy on a legal matter with the members of the opposing side of the court case sitting in the room? Sounds quite foolish to me. So again, the details of the agreement could not be made public until it was voted on, as stated by the attorney from Barnes and Thornburgh during the meeting.

Immediately following the meeting copies of the settlement were dispersed by members of the Town Council.

The decision was made to settle this lawsuit through mediation and discontinue the costly litigation that was ongoing, and because this proposal is in the best interest of the Town. One of the benefits to the Residents is the fact that we are not handing BLB a check, which, with interest, would have amounted to approximately $5 million. Settlements of this kind require a check to be handed over for the full amount to settle the case, therefore, the Town would need to borrow this amount and because of that pay interest. Again, The Town did not agree to a cash settlement.

There was a 95% chance we would lose the case on item d. Under the Annexation Agreement, Including section 7, the project density will be 2.3 acres for 702 acres, which is 1615 units. It was clearly explained that this case is an all or nothing decision.
To expound on this item it is important to note the Town would not be talking about this question if the Apartment/Condo building to Duplex rezoning had gone through, see Plan Commission meeting minutes of Aug. 2, 2017. For as long as I have been involved as a member of the Plan Commission, the developer and I have had a mutual understanding that the Gates Subdivision would be 1450 units when completed, which, I have mentioned publicly in Plan Commission meetings on several occasions. I spent a year attempting to get the developer to eliminate the Apartment/Condo building and incorporate an equal number of units into another portion of the development. This area of attached homes would have been more consistent with the design of the entire subdivision. He finally agreed and proposed to move the 77 units in the Apartment/Condo building and create an additional area of duplexes that were proposed to have a selling point of $400,000 -$500,000. Gerry Swets, Bryan Blaczuk and members of the ST. John Homeowners PAC put an end to this discussion. Since Gerry Swets, Bryan Blayczak and the St. John Homeowners PAC insisted on building an apartment building in the Gates , the developer is now using the Apartment/Condo Building as a negotiating tool. The language in the annexation agreement, written in 2005, clearly states 1450 units or 2.3 units per acre. OR being the problematic word in the agreement. Now keep in mind that the Gates Subdivision is about out of real estate as the development is nearing completion. So where are these units going you might ask? In the Apartment/Condo building(s) that Gerry Swets, Bryan Blayzak and members of the St. John Homeowners PAC fought for. Because the building still exists, the number of units inside the building just went from a 77 unit Apartment/Condo building to a 242 unit Apartment/Condo building(s). The Homeowners PAC will probably blame the members of the Town Council and to an extent a small amount of responsibility can be placed upon some of them, but in the end, the Members were just giving those in the room what they wanted. According to what I read online that is the way some people want things to be done. Were it not for the involvement of Gerry Swets ,Bryan Blayzak and the St. John Homeowners PAC the Apartment/Condo building would be gone. Again Congratulation to Gerry Swets, Bryan Blayzak and the St. John Homeowners PAC on their victory in the rezoning matter.

The baseball fields have nothing to do with this matter. The baseball fields in this area are in no way even mentioned in the agreement.

As stated before, this agreement was brought to the Town Council by the Attorneys of Barnes and Thornburg via a mediation discussion and in no way was the legal system circumvented.

In conclusion, the Town receives two well sites and a Bike Trail that may eventually connect to the Erie Lackawana Trail. Keep in mind that all of the units agreed to in the agreement are single family homes on lots equal to a majority of those that currently exist inside the Gate Subdivision, NO multi-family units or Cottage homes are mentioned or agreed to by the last two paragraphs of the agreement. Several individuals have claimed that this agreement will cause property values to drop. I have to wonder what homeowners in the Gates subdivision feel about these folks making statements that their homes are of a lesser value and bringing down property values in Town.

04/26/2019

On Apr 25, 2019, at 5:28 PM, Allie Kirkman wrote:

Mr. Forbes –



First I want to tell you I am sorry that you and your family have to go through this. I am also sorry that I was the one that broke the news that this information had been shared with me. I honestly thought you were made aware prior to this.



Thank you for your comment and clarifying the impact this situation has had on you.



I really do feel for your family.



I will keep in touch.



Thank you and have a good night!



Allie Kirkman

Southlake County Reporter

o. 219.853.2509| c. 219.314.3336| e. [email protected]

The Times Media Co. | 601 45th Street Munster, IN 46321

Visit us at NWI.COM for the most updated news and information 24/7/365

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From: Michael Forbes [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2019 4:45 PM
To: Allie Kirkman
Subject: Re: Election profiles The Times



Allie I am still very upset that this occurred in the first place. Finding something this in my mailbox has had a notable effect on me. My concerns about my families safety are by far the most important. I am a little disappointed that this information was released. I was instructed not to discuss or release the letter and have not shared the letter or information since given that instruction. And to have it surface like this without contacting me ,prior to it's release has me a little concerned that this is going to become some political stunt and the seriousness of the situation will be over looked by the public. The PD is doing an excellent job of investigation the situation and I could not be more pleased with the dedication of the Chief and the Officer investigating the matter. I am not going to accuse anyone directly of putting the note in my mailbox but given the phone calls I have received, the outright lies posted on social media about me, visits at my place of employment by these people and the childish behavior of individuals at various meetings I do have some concerns that are related to a just few individuals. And these concerns are justified based upon behavior I have witnessed over several years. I have been told it safe to assume that because I am often vocal and rebut their mistaken claims I have become a focus of these individuals. Clearly the fact that I received the letter supports this opinion. I have offered several time to individuals an opportunity to get to know me and instead they choose to vilify me based upon their misinformed opinions. Given the recent turn of events that ship has sailed. I really have no comment about questions raised about Mr. Conn, while I am aware of some concerns related to him I am on the outside of the claims and reports made against him as i was with the release of the information that directly affects my family and myself.



Michael Forbes



On Thu, Apr 25, 2019 at 4:05 PM Allie Kirkman wrote:

Mr. Forbes –



Thank you for sending that back to me.



I wanted to let you know that Mr. Christian Jorgensen has shared information with me about police are investigating threats allegedly made by a frequent town critic, Edward Conn, against St. John council members.



He said the that council members have faced many issues since February and sent me a photo copy of the letter that was sent to you and found in your mailbox. It reads, “Resign … or else.”



I understand that due to the circumstances the letter has been turned over to the FBI for investigation.



I wanted to see if you have any comment on that incident or the reports being filed against Mr. Conn.



Thanks for your time.



Allie Kirkman

Southlake County Reporter

o. 219.853.2509| c. 219.314.3336| e. [email protected]

The Times Media Co. | 601 45th Street Munster, IN 46321

Visit us at NWI.COM for the most updated news and information 24/7/365

Stay Connected: Facebook | Twitter | RSS | Mobile | iPhone | iPad



From: Michael Forbes [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2019 3:59 PM
To: Allie Kirkman
Subject: Re: Election profiles The Times







On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 3:54 PM Allie Kirkman wrote:

That’s no problem! Please just email me back with answers to the questions by late tomorrow – I need to get this turned around for the weekend.



Here are the questions for you:



Occupation? Auto Mechanic



How long have you lived in St. John? 23 years



Military experience? None



Political/related experience? I have been involved with the Town of St. John since 1998.





What would you like the public to know about you? I became involved with the Town of St. John because I wanted to be a part of the community and keep St. John the great community I moved into.



What are two or three issues you plan to focus on if elected? I would continue to ensure the Public Safety Teams, FD, PD and PW are provided the equipment needed to ensure safety and services to the Residents. I would like to continue to expand the Bike Trail System and continue the Commercial growth of St. John with developments that serve the needs of the Residents.



Why should the citizens of St. John elect you to serve on the Town Council? I am well versed in the operations of the Town, From the finical aspects of our Town to the upgrades of our infrastructure. I have learned about the operation of our Town from some if the most dedicated individuals that have worked for this Town over the years and want to continue to build on that knowledge. I have worked to keep St. John the great home we have come to know and will hopefully have the chance to continue doing so in the future.



Also, if you have a headshot photo that you could send me to go along with the story, I would greatly appreciate it.



Thank you very much for your time!



Allie



--

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04/18/2019

Update on Shops 96.

Last evening the Plan Commission reviewed the site plan for what will become the new home for St. John Malt Brothers. This review now allows the Developer to draw a permit to begin construction on what is Lot 2 in the development. I expect construction to begin soon. There may still be some sub grade demolition that needs to be completed. This lot will contain 1 building which will house four users. Malt Brothers will have an outdoor patio and will be located on the East end of the building. A second restaurant will be located on the West end of the building and the center portion for the additional users.

To All,As you can see progress continues on the Shops 96 project. Demolition of the buildings is for the most part done...
04/11/2019

To All,

As you can see progress continues on the Shops 96 project. Demolition of the buildings is for the most part done. What remains of the Standard lumber building will remain until SJ Malt Brothers moves into their new home. The Developer for the project will be attending the Plan Commission meeting next Wednesday April 17th seeking site plan review. Once this is completed a permit can be drawn and construction of the first buildings in the development can begin.

News about the Kmart property. I had the opportunity to sit and talk with the Representative from the company that owns the property. Yes he was here in St. John. One of the most interesting things to hear about this company is that they only deal with Blue Chip tenants. This can only be a positive for St. John.
It is clear the company is showing interest in developing the property. Although no definite plans were discussed. I am aware that the Representative did meet with the company that is doing the demolition on the Shops 96 project. Just to be clear no commitment was made to tear down the Kmart building. Although it was made clear several times in the discussion that this was desirable. The Representative mentioned that he would be attending the upcoming Restaurant and Retail Convention and would be discussing the marketability of the Kmart property with attendees. In the end this is a positive step towards improvements on this property.

04/08/2019

To All,

Early Voting starts on Tuesday. Most of you know I am on the ballot and am seeking Re-Election.

Most of the rhetoric you hear as to why I should not be Re-elected sounds very familiar. Most of what is being said sounds exactly like the misinformation used by a group in 2004 called the Citizens Party. They spread their misinformation about how poorly the existing Council was running the Town at that time and how only they could do it better. I lost that election but returned in 2008, because this group spent the Town into such a deficit that they were looking for money to pay for Trash collection at the end of 2007. Since coming back in 2008 I have guided the Town to the strong fiscal position it currently enjoys. Once I was able to end the strangle hold the Citizens party had on this Town. I remember in 2008 when the Town was facing one of the worst economies in recent history the remaining members of the Citizens Party wanted to run with a deficit budget proposal, because other communities were doing the same. Fortunately this did not happen and was a keystone in the end of Citizens Party, at that time.

I now look at the collection of individuals running for office and I see several of them that owe their jobs to the former Citizens Party membership. Others have allegiances to that group or have formed close friendship with its former members. One member of the former Citizens Party group would benefit personally by having control of the Town Council. This individual has been laying silently in the weeds just waiting for an opportunity like this.
If you care about St. John you will not let this happen.

We all know the levels some of the supporters of these candidates will sink too. Abuse on NextDoor and FB because you disagree with them. Harassment at Town meeting because individuals sum up the courage to speak against them. Followed to their vehicles after meetings. I have had several conversations with Residents that completely support me and are voting for me. But they will not put out one of my signs because they are afraid of the consequences that may come along with that show of support. And I understand that. I have spoken against the misinformation spewed by these individuals before and am constantly vilified for it. Apparently Free Speech is only allowed while they are speaking.

The craziness of National politics has been brought to our Town by these misinformed individuals and used for their benefit. It has clearly worked to their benefit. As part of our Town Council I have always looked to the betterment of our community, as a whole, and in the best way possible. Balancing wants and needs makes all of the difference. We enjoy the one of the lowest tax rates in Lake County. We live in one of the safest communities in the State and Nation. #1 state and #19 nationally. All because of this decision making process.

The Town of St. John is a great place to live and why I moved here from Illinois over 20 years ago. The difference between myself and some of the newest transplants to Town is that I left everything that was Illinois behind. Unlike the Citizen Party wanna-bees and their supporters.

The Town is moving forward and in time will have the amenities some Residents are seeking. Patience is a word very few folks understand anymore. If you want everything right now it could be done. It all depends on how much you want your taxes to go up.

I love this Town and chose to be a positive, active member of our community. I became involved with the B.Z.A. and Plan Commission shortly after moving here and eventually became a member of the Town Council. I have never taken anything for myself or sought recognition for what has been accomplished during my time with the Town. I would like to continue to work for the betterment of our Town and am seeking your support in the upcoming Primary Election.

Thank you,

Michael Forbes

04/02/2019

To the Residents of St. John,

The Political landscape certainly has changed in St. John. You may have noticed that numerous individuals have been campaigning for control of St. John for several years. They have fed on the fears of individuals to build a misinformed following that only supports the ill-informed positions they hold. Instead of playing politics I chose to do the job for which I was elected and have made St. John a better place for it. Sometimes decisions I have made in the best interests of the whole Town cause individuals to be upset. Those that oppose me focus on the negative while so much positive occurs around them. The "I want it now and I want it my way attitude" is most predominate these days. This thought process is what will eventually drag our Town down.

We currently live in a Town where we enjoy one of the lowest Tax Rates in Lake County. The only Town with a lower tax rate than St. John is Winfield. (Noting they do not have a full-time Police or Fire Department.)

We live in one of the safest communities in the State and Nation, #19 nationally and #1 in the state.
Make no mistake I have never taken sole credit for this. The fact that I have made sure our Public Safety Teams have what they need to do their jobs has assisted in this honor. Yet, the political's call for more Police Officers. A study was done by the Town to determine if a need existed to add Officers. This report clearly shows that patrol requirements are covered. It only showed that we needed additional officers to complete requirements of Command Structure. There is a ratio of command Officers to Patrol officers that needed to be met. Several reports show that basing your Police staffing on population is not the best way to staff a Police Department. The report given to the Town is based upon calls for service. An actual accounting of how much work is being done by the department. One other item that was in the report that no one has commented on is that it was noted by the consultants that when the Fire Chief retires it will take 2 people to replace him. I have no doubt about this fact.

We are a growing community just like those around us. We are just about to see a major departure from the common "strip mall" developments. Shops 96 is an example of a positive direction for the Town and is constantly vilified by the misinformed. I will never forget the individual, that is affiliated with the Homeowners PAC, who said we should not have more restaurants in our Town because it draws Terrorist attacks. I have worked for years to make this development happen, and as all can see it is finally underway. Along with the commercial growth and major safety improvement that will occur with this development it is undeniable this is one of the most positive things that has happened to our Town. With the elimination of one of the most dangerous intersections on Rt. 41 you would think everyone would be on board with this improvement. Once again the small minded oppose this project and safety improvement because it is not what they want.

There is a great deal of discussion about stopping development in Town. One individual that is on the Plan Commission, that has an undeniable connection to the politically motivated, stated that the Shops 96 project should not be built because the "scenic vista" that exists there now needs to be preserved. In the end they want to stop all growth in Town. The truth is that growth causes our property values to increase, regardless of the zoning classification. Commercial development helps lock that value in place.

Another discussion that is occurring is that any zoning classification less than
R-1, 20,000 sq. ft. lots, causes the home values in Town to drop. I would think that some of the folks that live in Bramblewood, Homested Acres, Saddle Creek, Silver Leaf, Hunters Run, White Oak Manor, Weston Ridge, The Gates, Mill Creek, Grouse Pointe , Tiberoun, Sierria Pointe and North Point should take some offence to this. Based upon their opinions your properties are negatively affecting their home values. I am not opposing larger lots and live on one myself. However I do not look down on individuals that want more home than property or are looking to downsize.

ROADS. First, note we live in the Midwest our roads are no better or no worse that communities around us The weather conditions we experience do not promote a long life for our roads. Like other communities we have issues that affect our drive through Town. In truth, Developments in other communities have a far greater affect on us that anything being built within the Town limits. Another problem is design flaws that existed long before most of us lived here. Some of these are now impossible to overcome. Railroad crossings, a lack of thoroughfares and members of the Plan Commission ignoring connections to roads that will provide relief. Lately, their solution has is to install four lane roads through the center of our Town. I do not support this philosophy. It is documented that this approach does not work. It will have the appearance of success in the beginning but in the end it will draw more traffic through our Town. Improvements that would serve our Town and keep our community quiet would be to improve the heaviest traveled intersections. Drivers look for the shortest fastest route. Ultimately, turning 93rd avenue into a 3 or 4 lane road will only draw more traffic to our Town, looking for the fastest route home. In addition to intersection improvements I have been looking for ways to reroute the traffic from other communities around our Town. This is why I supported improvements on 101st and Calumet in order to keep traffic on the edge of Town and not in it. One stop sign can have a significant impact on the decision making process of a motorist when selecting a route. Timing of the lights at intersections will cause the flow of traffic to follow the path of least resistance and reduce the burden on our Town.

As I stated before, the ill-informed want to stop all development until the Town installs all of the infrastructure needed to support the growth of the Town. At the same time they complain that developers keep taking from our Town. Using your Tax dollars to install roads, water mains and sewers to provide infrastructure needed by developers sounds a bit ridiculous to me. Currently when a development comes into Town the Developer installs all of the infrastructure previously mentioned, and some that prevents or corrects existing issues. Sounds like the politically motivated want to do the work for the developers that we currently have them do for you. Maybe so they can continue to complain about the Developers taking advantage of the Town.

On several occasions I have been accused of profiting by Developments in Town. Nothing could be further from the Truth. If you look at my Campaign Finance Reports you will see that I do not accept money from anyone other than Family members and a few select close friends. I have never held a fund raiser and have always relied on my own money to run for the Council. Those that do not know me will and have accused me of accepting money from developers are among the least informed individuals I know of. This just shows of a level the politically motivated and ill informed will sink to.

The nonsense I have witnessed over the past four years has exceeded the level of anything I thought possible. I have witnessed individuals lie on public record only to be supported by the crowd they brought with them. I have responded to these lies with facts only to be called a liar myself. I have seen individuals that have spoken in favor of something or made a supportive comment victimized by those who oppose almost everything in Town. I have seen people harassed during meetings and as they walk to their vehicles after a meeting. Individuals will move from one side of the room to sit behind these people and talk about them. If anyone wonders why Officers are present at meetings the answer is above. Many people who care about the Town no longer attend meeting because of this harassment. The same harassment occurs on social media to those that make comments that do not support the position of these ill-informed groups. What is most disturbing about all of this is that many of these individuals that harass the Residents that do not agree with them are now running for Town Council.

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Riverwoods, IL

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