Friday Night out at the Library

I got this email from Candice Lutz at the library earlier this week and she asked me to write about it.

The last time I wrote to you I announced the start of the Round Lake Area Public Library’s performing arts series, Sunday Sampler. It has been a resounding success, offering top quality professional entertainment to the Round Lake area community for free.

In fact, on Sunday, February 24 at 2 our most popular performers ever, the steelpan combo Musical Steel, will return. I’m writing to you now because the library is launching another new life enrichment program. This one is called Friday Night Out, an event that will debut on Friday (!) February 29 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the library.

For our first program dance instructor Ivette Roque will teach an hour of salsa, followed by an hour of dancing those new moves to music. Ms. Roque will be on hand to help the uncertain until the program ends. We will serve light refreshments, and all are welcome. That means that families with kids, teens, singletons and couples can enjoy an evening out learning something new for no cost.

Plans are in the works to offer a “rhythm in the round” program for April’s Friday Night Out, an opportunity for all to play percussive instruments in individual groups and as a whole, with the rhythms intertwining. I’m pleased that the library is able to provide these cultural opportunities for enjoyment and enrichment at no cost to area residents, and I wanted to let you know about it.

Library Sign Goes Up and then Down

Long time in the planning process, and funded by the Friends of the Round Lake Library a long needed sign went up a few weeks ago, and after a few days while waiting for the bottom part of the sign.

A sharp gust of wind took the sign down bricks mortar and all!

I have gotten about 20 emails about this amazingly enough, more then most anything else this year! Who would have thought that!

Local Area Blood Drive at RL Library

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month

This month is National Library Card Sign up month at the Round Lake Area Library. Two-thirds of Americans have library cards, if you are in the other one-third it time to go to the library and get yours. The Round Lake Area Library and the Grayslake Library both serve our area depending on where you live!

Round Lake Library-- Sunday Sampler Series

I got this email from Candice Lutz who is a reference librarian at the Round Lake Area Library about some wonderful programs the library is offering. So naturally I decided to run with it!

I just wanted to let you know about a relatively new development at the Round Lake Area Library: we have a wonderful performing arts series here!

It’s called Sunday Sampler because:

• the performances are always on one Sunday a month and
• the program is--an hour long—enough time to “sample” a style of entertainment.

So far we have presented a jazz and chamber choir, an internationally recognized tap dancer, a professional jazz duo—vocals and guitar, and last Sunday a steelpan combo from NIU performed to a capacity crowd of 100. All events are free to the public.

In April we will be offering a sample of classical ballet combined with some classy jazz dance. Trio Los Magnificos will end our season in May. We’re taking summer off, and resuming in September with flamenco dancers accompanied by a guitarist (date is still open). Chicago Bronze, an English hand bell choir, will ring in the holiday season in December. I’ll fill in the blanks between now and then.

As you can tell, I’m rather proud of my program; it seems to be a caliber of entertainment not otherwise available in this area. Given the last attendance numbers, it also seems that it is an idea whose time has come.

What Does That Plaque Mean?

Many years ago, 11 to be exact, I read about two vacancies on the Round Lake Area Library Board in the paper. Since I am a big believer of getting involved in the community, I went and applied, the process required writing a letter of intent, and then being interviewed by the current board of trustees. Somehow the library board saw fit to choose me and a gentlemen named John Noe as the new trustees.

It was quite the thrill to be sworn into office and then of course to vote on all sorts of stuff! The then director of the library Barb Pfannkuche talked about how the board decided 10 years earlier to build the existing library building, with an eye towards expansion during my orientation. They had passed a referendum in 1989 that added nine cents to the tax rate to pay for the original building construction which was expiring and we decided on two things.

First we needed to advocate another referendum to fold the expiring nine cent rate into the general fund, and second if we could use those new funds to renovate and modernize the lower level of the library to better address the growing library needs of the Round Lake Area.
When the board decided to move forward with the referendum, I was volunteered or was volunteered (can't recall, but probably volunteered) to go to all the village halls and make a presentation to them about the needs for the referendum. In fact it was actually the first time I spoke to the Round Lake Village Board (although by that time I was on the Village Planning Commission). Well come election night the yes's got 53% and the no's 47% and we had completed the first step!

Step two was much more complex, we had to hire and retain an architect, construction manager, and then plan out how to maintain services while doubling the physical size of our library. All of this took place over 18 months and finally was complete in 2000. Barb announced her retirement in the middle of the process so we as a board decided to dedicate the renovation to Barb.

You can see that on the picture above! Every single time I go to the library I see the plaque and I always smile because I know what we did as a library board, bettered the community, was done without raising taxes, and gave us the added space that we needed!

Wireless Service Available at the LIbrary

Free wireless internet access is now available at the Round Lake Area Library! You may browse the web, read e-mail or do online research using your own wireless-enabled laptop or PDA. Our wireless network is available in the public areas of Adult Services, Young Adult Services and Youth Services as well as in thier main meeting room.

A Chronology of 47 Years!

Today is my birthday, I have been told it happens once a year! The picture captures me at my finest in mayoral excellence! Sound asleep, plotting evil on Volo, whipping the other 9 chumps in the Mayoral fantasy football league, mayhem on assorted trustee's, paving over the anti 120 forces all at the same time!

47 Years Ago-- I was born in Port Jefferson New York. (1959) Oddly enough the White Sox clinched an American League pennant that day.
46 Years Ago-- My sister Gaye showed up to steal all the attention! (1960)
38 Years Ago-- My Dad did a sabbatical in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where I went to school in a one room school house with 15 other kids ranging from 1st to 8th grade. (1968)
36 Years Ago-- My parents both took early retirement and moved to Guadalajara Mexico, where my sister and I attended Mexican schools until we went to college. (1970)
32 Years Ago-- My grandfather took me to the Montreal Olympics (hooking me on Track and Field) and the Baseball All-Star game in Philadelphia. (1976)
28 Years Ago-- I went to college, where a few years later I would emerge with a degree in History and a minor in English Literature from Texas Pan American. (1978)
25 Years Ago-- I bought my first car a white 1973 Toyota Corona for $400, it had 73,000 miles on it. Sold it for scrap 6 years later with 201,000 on it. I would still be driving it if had not self destructed. (1979)
24 Years Ago-- I got my first "real" job. I was a warehouse manager in New Orleans and then later Dallas. (1982)
20 Years Ago-- I moved from Dallas to Chicago (1986)
19 Years Ago-- I met the First Lady of Round Lake, a couple of shotguns, a few slaps upside the head and I was married! (1987)
18 Years Ago-- I played golf at Renwood with my father in law and was amazed that civilization existed outside the city of Chicago. My first exposure to Round Lake.
16 Years Ago-- The first kid arrived, my daughter Denise. (1990)
14 Years Ago-- I lost my mom to a long struggle with cancer. I miss her to this day. (1993)
12 Years Ago-- We moved to Round Lake buying a townhouse in Tree House in the Woods. I also purchased my first Big Gulp at the Rollins Road 7-11 one of nearly 100,000 since! (1994)
10 Years Ago-- I was appointed to be a trustee of the Round Lake Area Library District.
8 Years Ago-- Was appointed to be a member of the Round Lake Planning Board (1998)
7 Years Ago-- Became Chairman of the Round Lake Planning Board (1999)
6 Years Ago-- I lost my dad miss him everyday as well. (2000)
5 Years Ago-- Elected Mayor of Round Lake, what was I thinking? I also resigned from the Library Board where I had won re-election twice. (2001)
4 Years Ago-- I weighed 283 pounds (2002)
3 Years Ago-- I weighed 194 pounds (2003)
2 Years Ago-- Re-elected Mayor, this time my eyes were open, and I knew what I was getting into.
1 Year Ago-- I still weigh under 200 pounds (barely) but damn I look good.
Today-- I am 47, I look great, I have a colossal ego, and I think the world revolves around me. What else could I ask for!

Understanding Your Property Assessment

The Chief County Assessment Office of Lake County will hold two public information meetings and six tax help centers to help educate residents regarding their property assessment.

Public Information Meetings
The Chief County Assessment Officer will explain assessment procedures, outline the recommended steps to appeal an assessment and answer questions from residential property owners.

• Thursday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. - College of Lake County, Grayslake
• Wednesday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. - College of Lake County, Grayslake

Tax Help Centers
Residents will work one on one with a member of the Chief County Assessment Office staff for personal assistance with evaluating their property tax assessment.

• Tuesday, October 31 from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Lake Villa Public Library
• Thursday, November 2 from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Lake Villa Public Library
• Tuesday, November 7 from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Vernon Area Public Library
• Wednesday, November 8 from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Vernon Area Public Library
• Saturday, November 11 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Vernon Area Public Library
  

If you are unable to attend one of the above meetings, please visit the Lake County website at www.co.lake.il.us/assessor for relevant information. For more information contact the Chief County Assessment Office at (847)377-2050 or your local township assessor.

Our State Capitol

I am down in Spingfield today for a series of meetings which I am looking forward to. It's also an excellent opportunity to meet and greet people.

Springfield is an interesting place the streets roll up at 8:00 pm! That's for sure since I tried to grab a bite to eat last night around that time. I was tempted by the new Lincoln Library but I think I need more time for that.

Hopefully I will get what I need to accomplish done and then can get home before traffic builds near Chicago. Hummm maybe I should bring that subject up down here!

Is Illinois the Gerrymander State?

One of the most fascinating things about the state of Illinois is the sheer volume of taxing bodies there are. This village has an unreal amount of taxing bodies that fall inside our boundaries. I am going to list them, and I am sure I will miss some, in fact I can guarantee I will. The picture is appropriate sometimes when you deal with the number of taxing bodies in the area.

School Districts (8)

• Round Lake District 116
• Grayslake High School 127
• Community School District 46
• Fremont School District
• Mundelien High School District
• Grant High School
• Big Hollow School District
• Gavin School District

Park Districts (1)

• Round Lake Area Park District

Library Districts (2)

• Round Lake Area Library District
• Grayslake Library District

Fire Departments (3)

• Round Lake Fire Protection District
• Grayslake Fire Protection District
• Fox Lake Fire Protection District

Townships (3)

• Avon
• Grant
• Fremont

Sanitary Sewer (2)

• Lakes Region Sanitary Sewer
• Round Lake Sanitary Sewer

Countywide organizations (4)

• College of Lake County
• Lake County
• Stormwater Management
• JAWA-- Joint Area Water Agency

We are also served by 1 Congressman, 1 State Senator, 1 State Representative, 4 County Board Representatives.

State of the School-- A District 116 Progress Report

Last Thursday morning I attended the Round Lake Area School District presentation that they made in conjunction with the Round Lake Chamber of Commerce. The presentation covered and touted two major areas educational and financial. I am going to talk about the financial aspects of the turnabout here however. Five years ago when I took office, the mayors with major stakes in the district were approached, by numerous state legislators about our feeling about putting a state oversite panel in place to attempt to fix the morass that the district had become. While I had reservations about losing some local control I did recognize that something needed to be done. The appointment of the SFA (State Finance Authority) and the hiring of Dennis Stonewall as CEO, Wally Korpan as CFO and Dr. Janet Elenbogen as Chief Education Officer have shown dramatic results.

• In 2001, Round Lake Area Schools had a student population of 5,775 K-12 students.
• The assessed valuation of District 116 is the second lowest in the county with the second highest tax rate.
• Most of the taxes are generated from homeowners.
• In 2001 40% of our real estate revenue, or approximately $7,060,000 out of $17,800,000 tax distribution was intercepted by bankers who felt that we were a poor risk.
  
• In 2001, the homeowner of a $150,000 home was paying $2,630 in taxes to our school district. Of this money, $1,578 was going to pay off debt.
  
• The district borrowed $14,400,000 in short-term debt to make payroll and pay for educational supplies.
  
• There was a possibility in 2001 that the health insurance program that the district had for its employees would not be available due to a lack of funds.
  
• In March 2001 the school district tried, unsuccessfully, to pass a referendum to sell bonds to fund a health insurance program. The long-term debt was as high as $88,172,636 and $14,500,000 in short-term .
  

Today things are dramatically different.

• The long-term debt has been reduced to $77,532,228, and short-term debt is eliminated.
  
• The first step of recovery began in 2001 with the implementation of fiscal management. Business operations were established, individuals trained and procedures were followed.
• The Board received an accurate Treasurer's Report for the first time in several years.
  
• Today, Round Lake Area Schools celebrates its 5th year of a balanced budget.
  
• Buildings and grounds have improved with the help of several companies and organizations. Round Lake Area Schools provides a cleaner and healthier learning environment.
  
• Changes have occurred without the addition of new money because business policies and procedures have been communicated to the staff and the stress of accountability is behind the positive change.
  
• Many of our existing buildings have been identified for Life Safety repair. Chief among these are asbestos abatement, boiler and heating unit replacement, plumbing repair and lighting repair or replacement.
  
• Technology opportunities are behind other school districts and equipment replacement and training are paramount in improving our educational climate.
  
• There is an active participation by members of the Business Office with members of the Curriculum and Instruction Department to make sure that grants are properly budgeted, expended and accounted for.
  

However there are still things that need to be done going forward.

• Round Lake Area Schools has a very diverse population and economic structure; more than 59% qualify for either free or reduced price breakfast and lunch waivers.
• Instructional needs still include textbooks and textbook adoption testing and assessment tools. Current library books and software need to be purchased as well.
  
• Our school population is rising at a very fast pace. Currently, our schools are at their peak enrollment. The current student enrollment has prompted the consideration of adding new mobiles at Indian Hill to house students for next year.
  
• Additional teachers will need to be hired and supplies and capital outlay items need to be purchased to outfit these classrooms. These will all require additional dollars.
  
• The prospect of selling bonds is necessary. Round Lake Area Schools will be forced to have a manageable debt in order to provide the space and service the community will demand. This will be no different than other school districts. These financial improvements are important, however, the quality of education must also be improved.
  

It is important to know that in the past year Round Lake Area Schools has become the envy of other area school districts for the financial improvements it has made. Other districts have visited to ask questions on how we made improvements. These are the same districts that a few years ago lost confidence in Round Lake Area Schools.

Round Lake Library Sponsors "Night at the Movies"

The Round Lake Area Library is sponsoring nights at the movies! The films are screened at the library and have some classics!

January 12 at 6:00 p.m.
The Bandwagon
Fading movie musical star Tony Hunter, down and out in Hollywood, decides to try his luck on the Broadway stage. Starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.
NR Run Time: 112 minutes

January 19 at 6:00 p.m.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are taken in by a series of oddball relatives and others after their wealthy parents are killed in a fire. The first to take them in is the dastardly and cunning Count Olaf, who is only interested in their inheritance.
Rated PG for thematic elements, scary situations and brief language. Run Time: 108 minutes

January 26 at 6:00 p.m.
Fargo
A Midwestern policewoman investigates a series of brutal and interconnected crimes. Steadily, she tightens the net on the killers and their accomplices in a kidnapping scheme gone wildly wrong.
Rated R for strong violence, language and sexuality. Run time: 98 minutes

Thanksgiving Service

I went to the Round Lake Area Thanksgiving Service yesterday evening. It was very nice. There were 9 participating churches from the area. All of them contributed to the service in some fashion. I saw quite a few elected officials and friends among them Round Lake Park Mayor Ila Bauer, Hainesville Mayor Ted Mueller, Round Lake Beach Trustee Judy Armstrong, Round Lake Trustee's Jerry Shaw and Don Newby, Round Lake Library District Vice President Linda Kauffman, former Round Lake Clerk Lillian Frost, and I am sure many more I missed.
The picture is of the Round Lake High School Choir who were marvelous. All in all a wonderful celebration of the season!

Movie Night at the Round Lake Library

The Round Lake Area Library District is hosting a wonderful idea on Thursday nights at 6pm. Movies! Some of them are great ones. Don't miss them! To Catch a Thief is December 8th for example! See you there! Office Space is October 27th. Many many more are available at the above link.

By the way the library also has books!

Mayoral Celebration of 46!

Today is my birthday, not sure what is going on however. I am hosting Jim Betustak the Mayor of Lindenhurst on my radio show tonight from 7pm to 8pm. Otherwise no plans!
46 Years Ago-- I was born in Port Jefferson New York. (1959)
45 Years Ago-- My sister Gaye showed up to steal all the attention! (1960)
37 Years Ago-- My Dad did a sabbatical in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where I went to school in a one room school house with 15 other kids ranging from 1st to 8th grade. (1968)
35 Years Ago-- My parents both took early retirement and moved to Guadalajara Mexico, where my sister and I attended Mexican schools until we went to college. (1970)
31 Years Ago-- My grandfather took me to the Montreal Olympics (hooking me on Track and Field) and the Baseball All-Star game in Philadelphia. (1976)
27 Years Ago-- I went to college, where a few years later I would emerge with a degree in History and a minor in English Literature from Texas Pan American. (1978)
26 Years Ago-- I bought my first car a white 1973 Toyota Corona for $400, it had 73,000 miles on it. Sold it for scrap 6 years later with 201,000 on it. I would still be driving it if had not self destruct. (1979)
23 Years Ago-- I got my first "real" job. I was a warehouse manager in New Orleans and then later Dallas. (1982)
19 Years Ago-- I moved from Dallas to Chicago (1986)
18 Years Ago-- I met the First Lady of Round Lake, a couple of shotguns, a few slaps upside the head and I was married! (1987)
17 Years Ago-- I played golf at Renwood with my father in law and was amazed that civilization existed outside the city of Chicago. My first exposure to Round Lake.
15 Years Ago-- The first kid arrived, my daughter Denise. (1990)
13 Years Ago-- I lost my mom to a long struggle with cancer. I miss her to this day.(1993)
11 Years Ago-- We moved to Round Lake buying a townhouse in Tree House in the Woods. I also purchased my first Big Gulp at the Rollins Road 7-11 one of nearly 100,000 since! (1994)
9 Years Ago-- Was appointed to be a trustee of the Round Lake Area Library District.
7 Years Ago-- Was appointed to be a member of the Round Lake Planning Board (1998)
6 Years Ago-- Became Chairman of the Round Lake Planning Board (1999)
5 Years Ago-- I lost my dad miss him everyday as well. (2000)
4 Years Ago-- Elected Mayor of Round Lake, what was I thinking? I also resigned from the Library Board where I had won re-election twice. (2001)
3 Years Ago-- I weighed 283 pounds (2002)
2 Years Ago-- I weighed 194 pounds (2003)
Today-- Who knows but the ride is just getting good.

How many Taxing Bodies the Village Can, and Does Deal With!

One of the most fascinating things about the state of Illinois is the sheer volume of taxing bodies there are. This village has an unreal amount of taxing bodies that fall inside our boundaries. I am going to list them, and I am sure I will miss some, in fact I can guarantee I will. The picture is appropriate sometimes when you deal with the number of taxing bodies in the area.

School Districts (8)

• Round Lake District 116
• Grayslake High School 127
• Community School District 46
• Fremont School District
• Mundelien High School District
• Grant High School
• Big Hollow School District
• Gavin School District

Park Districts (1)

• Round Lake Area Park District

Library Districts (2)

• Round Lake Area Library District
• Grayslake Library District

Fire Departments (3)

• Round Lake Fire Protection District
• Grayslake Fire Protection District
• Fox Lake Fire Protection District

Townships (3)

• Avon
• Grant
• Fremont

Sanitary Sewer (2)

• Lakes Region Sanitary Sewer
• Round Lake Sanitary Sewer

Countywide organizations (4)

• College of Lake County
• Lake County
• Stormwater Management
• JAWA-- Joint Area Water Agency

We are also served by 1 Congressman, 1 State Senator, 1 State Representative, 4 County Board Representatives, I will blog a little bit more about them in the future.

All About the Job of Mayor

The above picture is the ceremonial carriage of the Lord Mayor of London. The other picture is the cerromonial golf cart of The Honorable Mayor of Round Lake.

The history of the position of mayor is quite interesting. In spite of its etymology, "mayor" was not a Roman office. It came into use in the large entourages that followed the barbarian leaders who succeeded to the power of the Emperor of the West. The male officer who governed a king or duke's peripatetic household was the major domus, the "major domo". In the households of the Merovingian Frankish kings, the major domus, or praefectus palatii ("prefect of the palace"), gained such power that, in the person of Pippin of Herstal, he ended by evicting his master. He was the "mayor of the palace".

The French form of the word is maire. In Germany and the Low Countries the chief town magistrate is called "burgomaster" (German Burgermeister, Dutch. burgemeester; French-speaking parts of Belgium use bourgmestre), in Italy sindaco, in Bohemia starosta and in Spain alcalde, a term derived from a Moorish post.

Closer to home, here in Round Lake, I am the 13th Mayor of Round Lake in the 97 years that Round Lake has been in existance. When you visit the village hall there is a nice framed picture of all the mayors of Round Lake that was put together by one of my predecessors Mayor Rudy Magna who served for many years.

Some of the more exotic things the Mayor of Round Lake can do.

• When you are the mayor you are a justice of the peace, in theory I can deputise, perform oaths, and marry people. I have only availed myself of these services once, when I swore in my successor on the Round Lake Area Library Board.
  
• We get called "your honor" or "the honorable" at times, we get called other less formal things much more often I have noticed.
• Along with the trustees we get to carry a badge.
• You get to pay for vanity plates specially made for Mayors in the state of Illinois.
  

Busy Friday and Busy Saturday

Did a couple of things yesterday first I attended the dedication of the new Branch Court in Round Lake Beach on Nicole Lane right off of Rollins Road. About 150 people attended the dedication. The tour of the facility was quite impressive, it has one courtroom currently. The whole facility was designed so there is a potential for an expansion as well. Good on the county for recognizing the growing need for services in western Lake County and for bringing the project in under budget and on time.

I ran over to the library to get a new book on tape (The Hunt for Red October) and ended up talking library stuff for 20 minutes or so! That's the picture on the right by the way!

As for today its all about the water! I am sailing on Long Lake, then this evening I am judging along with Mayor's Hill and Bauer the first Venetian Night on Round Lake. Following the judging Alpine Country Club will shoot off their annual fireworks. This year they have shifted to a barge in the lake so no danger to yards, homes and or people.

Registration for the boats is at 7:00pm at the Round Lake Park beach, judging takes place from the Round Lake Beach, beach park. The awards will be given out around 8:45pm.