Steve LaRock, Editor-in-Chief
SAUK VILLAGE PERSON OF THE YEAR! This award has been established to honor a
person who has made a significant impact on our Village this year. This year the choice was crystal clear, we chose Mayor Derrick Burgess as the Sauk
Villager’s 2017- Person of the Year!
Derrick Burgess, hands down, has been the one who had the biggest impact
on Sauk Village and its future.
Derrick Burgess had
been a member of the Village Board of Trustees since 2006 before being elected
this past April as Mayor of Sauk Village.
Burgess’s tenacity, drive and determination proved that the “third time
is a charm”; winning by a massive 3 to 1 ratio to become Sauk Village’s 8th
Mayor.
Burgess was sworn in
by Judge Adrienne Davis on May 9, 2017 with virtually no transition, inheriting
a Village in financial chaos. The
General Fund Deficit was over $1.8 million, with over $2 million owed to the
water fund and $1 million in unpaid bills which was far worse than his predecessor
inherited. The Village’s previous day to
day operational dysfunctions quickly become glaringly apparent. Since Day 1, Burgess has strategically and
methodically changed the “business as usual” practices. Burgess has performed a number of
comprehensive assessments and has made the necessary changes that will protect
and ensure better services for the residents of Sauk Village. Burgess’ hands-on approach on day to day
operations as well as the Village’s finances are welcome changes.
Burgess has
surrounded himself with proven industry professionals, both on his Board of
Trustees and administrative staff and in just seven months his Administration
has:
·
Made significant gains in bringing future economic
development to Sauk Village (more to come)
·
Applied for and received approval for grants to
update the Village’s outdated 1999 Comprehensive Plan
·
Implemented procedural changes to end the “past
practices’ which truly hurt the Village and cost taxpayers hundreds of
thousands of dollars in litigation.
·
Appointed capable and well qualified individuals to
manage the Village’s finances, Human Resources and Economic Development
·
Worked collaboratively with State and County
officials to:
o
Remove dead trees on Sauk Trail
o
Tear down the old Hometown Gyros (Pizza Hut) eyesore
in Surreybrook Plaza
o
Tear down a burned out house on Peterson Avenue
·
Created and presented to the Village Board for
adoption of the very first Strategic Plan for Progress
In order to achieve
these accomplishments, Burgess has committed himself to working full-time hours
as Mayor even though the position has a part-time salary. That is the mark of a person that truly is
determined to work for the people instead of looking for self-gratification.
Mayor Derrick
Burgess, you have truly earned the honor of being named the Sauk Villager’s
Person of the Year for 2017. Keep up
the good work of getting us on a Pathway
to Progress!
Past Honorees:
Click the links below to read
those stories
