RODRICK GRANT - PERSON OF THE YEAR 2020

Trustee Rodrick Grant

Sauk Village, like the entire global community, has been impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  We must look hard at those who really made a difference within the community.  Nobody stood more steadfast in wanting to help move Sauk Village in a new direction than Village Trustee Rodrick Grant.  For that reason, he is selected as the Person of the Year for 2020.

 

Rodrick Grant, a single 27 year old African-American with a Bachelors in Business from Western Illinois University and a Masters in Business Administration from Roosevelt University was elected Village Trustee in 2017.  Since the retirement of former and the late Trustee Cecial Tates in 2019, Rodrick Grant has taken on the position of the Village’s Senior most Trustee, even though he is only 31 years old. 

 

Rodrick Grant came into office with Mayor Derrick Burgess and is an ardent supporter of his vision to put Sauk Village on a long-awaited and needed Pathway to Progress.  From 2017 to 2019 the Village began to make significant strides toward this goal as Rodrick Grant was appointed as Chairman of the Village’s Budget and Finance Committee.  The Village’s finances for the first time in years were on the road to a full recovery.   With the sale of the 32.9 acres of village owned land that no one even knew the Village owned and the construction of a $13 million development on the northwest corner of Sauk Trail and the Calumet Expressway, the Village was able to profit $1.3 million and was able to pay off the majority of its long standing debt, enabling the Village’s finances to be in the black for the first time in over a decade!

 

Even though the 2019 Trustee election negatively shifted the political power and any subsequent positive gains for the Village, Rodrick Grant has continued to portray professionalism and remain focused on what was best for the Village and all of its residents.  Trustee Rodrick carefully examined all departmental expenditures against budgeted expenses to ensure the Village was operating within its means, a process that had not been done in the past 10 years.  Being a first time homeowner himself and educated in finances, Trustee Grant has a vested interest in watching how everyone’s property taxes are being spent.

 

 

Trustee Rodrick Grant has consistently displayed his ability to reject politics for the benefit of all Village residents, regardless of whether he agreed with the majority of newly elected Board members or not. When the majority Board of Trustees wanted to fire the very Village Administrator they spent significant tax dollars to hire, he voted NO to their inappropriate and unprofessional process even though he had previously warned his fellow Trustees that their pick was not qualified for the Village’s needs. When the Trustees voted for a “do over” to rehire another Village Administrator, Trustee Grant explained to the Trustees AGAIN why their new selection was equally unqualified for the Village’s needs.  He voted NO against their recommendation.  When it came to passing an unbalanced and irresponsible 2019 and 2020 budgets, Rodrick Grant voted NO AGAIN!   He truly has been an advocate for the residents in the face of havoc his fellow Trustees have wreaked against the majority of village residents.  Trustee Grant and Mayor Derrick Burgess solidly stand against the practices that have stalemated Sauk Village for decades.  The opposition Trustees know it; their staunch supporters know it and as equally embarrassing, the surrounding Southland communities know it. 

 

If Village residents think this is not as simple as Black or White and which residents should control residents’ hard-earned tax dollars, then they are in strict denial!   

Mayor Burgess & Trustee Grant

It is because of Trustee Rodrick Grant’s ability to maintain his professionalism and determination to be a good steward for all the residents of Sauk Village that we award him the Person of the Year 2020 for Sauk Village!  We look forward to the success of Rodrick Grant as he seeks re-election to the Village Board of Trustees he certainly has earned a vote of confidence from the residents.  He is running as an Independent candidate but has teamed up with Larry Sapp and Arnold Coleman both honorable and professional men in their own right.  They truly support moving the Village forward along with Mayor Derrick Burgess.  We wish them all well.   

 

Rodrick Grant you are a Class Act!    

 

 

 

Past Honorees:

 

2019- Mayor Derrick Burgess’ Entire Administration 2017-2019

2017- Mayor Derrick Burgess

2016- Former Mayor David Hanks

2015- Reverend Melody Seaton, Senior Pastor Grace UCC

2014- Dr. Donna Leak, Superintendent of School District 168

2013- Derrick Burgess, Village Trustee

2012- Alan Stoffregen, Fire Chief

2011- Robert Chavez, Sr., Village Trustee 

TRUSTEES FAIL TO PASS BUDGET BY DEADLINE... DUE TO POLITICAL PARALYSIS

SAUK VILLAGE | For the second year in a row, the Fanatical Five Trustees led by Trustee Debbie Williams have once again failed to approve a budget and appropriations ordinance by the state deadline date of July 31st due to their obsessed focus on demeaning Mayor Derrick Burgess and the Village Hall office workers; putting politics before the people’s needs.  

The Village’s fiscal year ended April 30th with 60 additional days to pass a budget under Illinois law.  Even though Trustee Debbie Williams along with 4 of her closest trustees enjoy a solid 5 to 1 majority, somehow they can’t seem to get a budget completed and passed.  The Village's Treasurer cannot legally make payroll or issue any checks for accounts payable, until the Village Board takes the necessary action to authorize him to do so. The Village Board will need to institute an emergency stop gap measure to circumvent the budgeting requirement.  It appears these Trustees did not learn from their mistake last year when the identical event occurred; the first time in Village history.  

Bernice Brewer

But week after week, self-appointed finance overseer Trustee Bernice Brewer consistently cries "our finances are in a shambles, we need a forensic audit, but the bills are paid and our water fund is healthy” asks “what have we done for the residents"?  Better than that, Bernice, people are now asking her: "What are you doing TO the residents"?  Beginning in 2017, Mayor Derrick Burgess assigned Trustee Brewer to chair the Village Board's Public Services Committee.  Since that time, however, Brewer has never held a single meeting.  In 2019 she joined alliances with Trustee Linda Todd and newly elected Trustees Debbie Williams, Sherry Jasinski and Gary Bell to support their opposition to Mayor Burgess.  

All that the Fanatical Five Trustees have managed to do for the past 15 months is to move the Village from making consistent and steady forward progress to the Village erasing all positive gains and reverting to pre-2017 past practices; a divided and argumentative board, employees not being held accountable and higher unexplained legal bills. Only Trustee Rodrick Grant has routinely and intellectually opposed the actions of the coalition of Trustees against Mayor Burgess; calling their actions politically motivated and not in the best interest of Village operations.  

Many residents have stated, that for the past 15 months, these Trustees have been fighting our Mayor (Burgess) on everything.  They have refused to work with him for the good of our Village and we residents of Sauk Village are paying dearly for the arrogance of these five”.  “Mayor Burgess has accomplished more in his first 100 days after becoming Mayor than these five trustees have done over the last 14 months”, a long-time resident pointed out.  "These Trustees are a damn joke and need to go" she said.

MAYOR BURGESS ENDS IMPASSE APPOINTS FINANCE DIRECTOR AS CHAOS CONTINUES

The Village has been without a Finance Director since February, 2019 when Judith Sutfin resigned to pursue another opportunity.  Village Treasurer Anthony Finch has filled in the gap since Sutfin’s departure.

Following the election in 2019, the position of Finance Director was posted on the Village’s website and other agencies websites.  There have been no takers of the Finance Director’s job, a non-political position, given the political upheaval that the Trustee (collectively referred to as the Fanatical Five) have brought to the Village Board meetings.  Trustees have continued to thwart, impede and restrict the authority of the Mayor and fight him on virtually everything racking up tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills to carry out the Trustees’ directives.  Village Board meetings have devolved into Trustees rambling on for hours challenging the mayor on the most mundane matters as the meetings regularly drag on for two to three hours.      

Bernice Brewer "What have we done for the residents"
Our Question:  What are you DOING TO the residents

Last Tuesday evening the long impasse and inability of the Trustees to come to a consensus to fill the position, Mayor Derrick Burgess asked for a motion to appointed Michelle Royster as Finance Director.  The motion was made by Trustee Grant and seconded by Trustee Bell.  The appointment failed by a vote of 4 to 2 because the Trustees led by Trustee Debbie Williams opposed to anything that Mayor Burgess wants.  The matter would have continued the impasse until Mayor Burgess took decisive action and appointed Royster as “interim Finance Director”.  Under Illinois law a mayor may make indefinite temporary appointments in order to keep the business of the Village moving.  Only Home Rule communities can limit the Mayor’s appointment authority according to Statute.  Some may remember that the Village Trustees in 2012 lost a lawsuit against now former Mayor Lewis Towers when they attempted to restrict his appointment powers. 

Royster comes with good credentials having most recently worked since 2016 as a Program Manager for Cook County Planning and Development Department earning $92,000 according to public records.  Royster has an Accounting degree from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Masters in Business Administration from Loyola University.  It is expected that Royster will begin her job after giving notice to her current employer.    

McCoy resigns amid political retaliation and racial tension

TONYA McCOY

The political and racial tensions in Sauk Village have prompted yet another departure of a well qualified and professional Community Development Director Tonya McCoy.  McCoy announced she accepted a position with the Village of Matteson as Deputy Director of Community Development. 
 

McCoy announced her resignation during her report to the Village Board of Trustees calling it “bittersweet news” but blasting the Trustees for what she called “racism”.  “When I started here I did not know anyone in the Village, didn’t know the mayor didn’t know the clerk contrary to what some may believe.  I will say that the women in the front office have become my family.  I have come to love them.  They are very much under appreciated”. 

“Now as for the board I wish I could say the same, but I can’t.  It was more than a notion to come in and have people who were incompetent and racist people who would try to tear down what the Mayor built.  I cannot even explain how the atmosphere changed when you came in.  I’m going to quote Michelle Obama ‘When they go low we go high’ and I am going to walk out of here with my head held high” McCoy said.

 

McCoy was appointed to the position of Community Development Director by Mayor Derrick Burgess following the resignation of Joseph Wiszowaty in June of 2019, who served in a dual role of both Community and Economic Development Director.  The Trustees led by Debbie Williams cut McCoy’s pay $20,000 to $48,000 as political retaliation since she was appointed by Burgess.  The previous Community Development Director, now Trustee Sherry Jasinski, was generously over-paid $72,000 per year and had not written a single grant in her more than 12 year tenure as the department head.

McCoy and other appointments made by Mayor Burgess have been clearly targets of political retaliation and racial discrimination by the Trustees following their gain of their majority over Mayor Derrick Burgess in May, 2019. 

·         Joseph Wiszowaty- resigned

·         Alicia Straughter- terminated

·         Mary Klopp- terminated and eliminated from the budget

·         Christopher Williams (although not appointed by Burgess) terminated

·         Tonya McCoy- resigned

The power struggle has the Village Board, and the 5 to 1 majority they have had since May of 2019, obsessed with taking the powers away from the mayor and stopping any and all progress he had made.  The political circus has come back to Village Hall led by Debbie Williams with them focused on political nonsense instead of economic development, fixing streets, cutting dead trees, repairing infrastructure and more important the finances of the Village.

 

Photo: Gary Bell's Facebook Page

 

 

This racist post by GT Bell (Village Trustee Gary Bell) was posted on his personal Facebook account (photo provided).  Bell currently serves on the Sauk Village Fire Department and serves on the Village Board of Trustees.  Bell using a racial slur "TNT" or "Typical ni**er tramma".  

ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL HIRE BY TRUSTEES

Jerry Hurkes- Fanatical Five Trustees' second political
 pick for Village Administrator

Trustees being led by the ring-leader Debbie Williams are set once more to make yet another controversial hire according to this Tuesday's agenda.  Without so much as posting the position of Village Administrator, the five rogue Trustees are set to hire Jerry Hurckes.  Since sometime in early 2018, Hurckes has worked as the Village of Summit’s Executive Director.  So what do the Village of Summit and Sauk Village have in common?  Their lawyers and law firm Odelson and Sterk.

Hurckes reportedly attended a closed session of the Village Board and was the only candidate for Village Administrator presented for interview.  The Trustees did not have a search committee, the position was not posted through South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, nor was it published so it would appear that this hire is once again a politically motivated.

Hurckes held a political position with the failed Illinois Congressman Daniel Lipinski, who recently was defeated.  In fact, Hurckes, according to published reports had been seeking to become the Village Manager in Oak Lawn since sometime in 2019, his hometown.  Hurckes also ran unsuccessfully for Mayor in Oak Lawn. 

The Village Board is already poised to change the job description apparently to make accommodations for Hurckes.  Debbie Williams is no stranger to changing job descriptions to help friends and family get jobs, she was on the Village’s Library Board before taking office as Village Trustee when that board effectively "dumbed down" the qualifications so they could hire her daughter as Head Librarian.  Head Librarian’s and Director typically require a Master’s Degree; Williams’ daughter did not possess the required degree but she got the job.  The Library Board also voted to require any candidate be a resident of Sauk Village, the prior librarian lived in Indiana for years.  For the first time in the Library’s history they have an unqualified Library Director thanks to Debbie Williams. 

Hurckes, who is white, currently works part-time in the Village of Summit and earns about $35,000 according to

Resignation Letter Printed with Permission

public records.  Sauk Village has been without a full-time Village Administrator since the five Trustees fired their hand-picked guy, Christopher Williams.  Christopher Williams, who is black, was only on the job for 9 months after the Trustees fought Mayor Derrick Burgess on bringing him on.  Mayor Burgess at the time stated that he objected to the process by which the Trustees created the position of Village Administrator taking away the Mayor's ability to make the appointment like virtually every mayor has had in Sauk Village's history.  Christopher Williams offered his "involuntary" resignation claiming "There have been significant breaches of the terms of my contract, false allegations about my performance, and a steady resistance to my decision-making authority...."  Rumor has it that Debbie Williams would routinely put undue pressure upon Christopher Williams barking orders at him about firing or taking unwarranted action against certain employees of color as if she were herself alone his boss.  All of the abusive, intimidating and hostile work environmental actions by Debbie Williams went unchecked by the four Trustees which include Bernice Brewer, Linda Todd, Sherry Jasinski and Gary Bell.

 

It was reported that Debbie Williams held a pow-wow with her friend this past weekend and that she intends to run for Mayor in April, 2021.  She has been supported in her quest to shut down the progress Mayor Derrick Burgess has made from 2017 to 2019 by fellow Trustees Bernice Brewer, Linda Todd, Sherry Jasinski and Gary Bell.  Debbie Williams and her team have made some very bad decisions and it took them 6 months to put a budget together last year.  The Budget was due before the start of the fiscal year May 1^st and once again, Debbie Williams and her group of Trustees have been focused on politics over policy.

 

Only Trustee Rodrick Grant has been the voice of reason throughout this political mess that Debbie Williams has brought to the Village Board.  Williams has once again brought a circus atmosphere back to Village Hall as she did during her tenure as Village Clerk before losing in 2017. 

“Everything that Debbie and her bobble heads have done has completely lacked transparency which is what these five dunderhead Trustees complained about and lied to residents to get elected.  Funny how what they complain about their doing the exact same thing” a long-time resident said after reading the agenda. 

2019 Sauk Villager Person of the Year

2019 SAUK VILLAGER PERSON OF THE YEAR. 

This year it is an honoree deserving of distinction!   We are pleased to announce this year’s recipient is the entire Administration of Mayor Derrick Burgess from January 1, 2019 to May 14, 2019.  Mayor Burgess and his Administration worked hard to bring about his plan for the Pathway to Progress to fruition since his election in 2017.

Mayor Burgess made changes in his administration including the Community Development Department, Police Department and the Finance Department.  The Village had suffered long and hard for the prior 10 years (2007-2017) as property standards and code enforcement declined as property investors and slumlords began running ramshod through the village unchecked and unchallenged, the Village’s finances went improperly managed resulting in repeated audit findings year after year running up massive inter-fund deficits, and a police administration that lacked leadership, direction and community engagement.  Mayor Burgess made known his plan for change in his Strategic Plan for Progress when he entered office in 2017.  He committed to those changes in 2017 and continued in 2019.

Mayor Burgess’s Administration accomplished many things up until May of 2019 here are just a few: 

1. Completing a Comprehensive Plan, the very first since 1999 saving the Village $135,000 as this was funded through a local technical assistance grant;

2. Initiated the LogistiCenter Phase 1 Transportation Engineering Study to extend roadway and rail into the Village’s industrial Park saving the Village $350,000 receiving an Invest in Cook Grant;

3. Added a $13 million commercial development Gas-N-Wash to Sauk Village the village’s first Commercial Development since 1998 and the one of the only fuel station built South of I-80 in Cook County in decades! 

4. Since Mayor Burgess’ Administration took over in 2017 and until May of 2019 they have collectively received and managed $1.7 million in grants.

5. When residents opened their property tax bills all saw a decrease in their bills as a result of the decrease in the property tax levy by the Village Board of Trustees in 2018.

6. Refinanced old Bonds to save taxpayers money despite the fact that the Village had no bond rating!  Also issued $2.5 million in new Tax Increment Financing Bonds to finance long over-due improvements to retain businesses in the LogistiCenter and Sauk Pointe Industrial Park, as well as completing over-due infrastructure.

7. Sauk Village received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal year 2018-19 budget.   Sauk Village had received 16 of these awards the last one being in 2008.  The budget was balanced and met all of the requirements for the award according to the GFOA.

We congratulate Mayor Derrick Burgess and all of those involved in his Administration from January 1, 2019 to May 14, 2019 which did included:

Derrick Burgess, Mayor

Rodrick Grant, Trustee

Cecial Tates, Former Trustee and Liaison for Veteran's Affairs

Elizabeth "Beth" Zupon, Former Trustee

Ronald P. Carter, III Former Trustee

Joseph Wiszowaty, former Director of Community & Economic Development

Mary Klopp, former Assistant to the Mayor 

Malcolm White, Police Chief

Alan Stoffregen, Former Fire Chief

Allen Vavrik, EMA Coordinator

Anthony Finch, Village Treasurer (Interim Finance Director)
Judith Sutfin, Former Director of Finance
Tonya McCoy, Assistant to Community & Economic Development
Kevin Weller, Public Works Director
Maggie Jarr, Village Planner
Dr. Alicia Straughter, Former Human Resource Consultant
Timothy Lapp, Former Special Counsel to the Village
Judge Michael Stuttley, Attorney and Hearing Officer
James Czarnik, Robinson Engineering
Charles Durham, Kane McKenna & Associates
Mary Thompson, Kane McKenna & Associates

Thank you to each and everyone for your contributions from January 1st to May 14, 2019!  Your hard work and dedication to Progress were clearly being seen by the Residents of Sauk Village.  Since May 14, 2019, the Progress clearly has come to a halt.

Congratulations to all those named above for these achievement!

By: S. LaRock, Editor in Chief

SAUK VILLAGE MAKING PROGRESS AND CHANGE UNDER BURGESS

BURGESS TAKES OATH IN 2017

By Steve LaRock

SAUK VILLAGE |  He retired from his job as an engineer from the University of Illinois, Chicago and works full-time as Mayor of Sauk Village at a salary of $20,000 per year.  He opted to forego a full-time Village administrator to save the residents more than $175,000 per year.  He is Derrick Burgess, a soft-spoken, 37-year resident and homeowner.  Derrick Burgess was elected mayor of Sauk Village in May, 2017.

How did he become mayor of 10,500 residents?  Burgess came armed with a charismatic style and aura that exudes sincerity and genuine concern.  Burgess crafted a positive campaign in 2017 focused on growth and getting Sauk Village on a Pathway to Progress.  He promised to get the Village’s finances back in order, focus attention on economic development and make Village government more efficient and better organized.  Burgess mounted a forward-looking campaign that also promised an end to negative rhetoric about past administrations and to put a stop to stagnation, status-quo and business as usual practice. He presented the residents with his Strategic Plan for Progress, a multi-point plan outlining how he planned to restore Sauk Village to a cleaner, viable community.  Burgess’ competitors, however, offered no real tangible plan but instead focused on backward thinking which would have continued the status quo which residents clearly did not want. Residents expressed they were tired of the negative politics and were ready for a leader that could save the value of their largest investment; their homes.  They wanted a leader that would deliver on what they promised, without lame excuses. Many residents told him of their frustration with the lack of community development, the deterioration of homes and the lack of property maintenance.  Burgess convinced the residents of his sincerity and determination to tackle  these challenges. After the 2017 election, Burgess hit the ground running and has delivered on these promises in just 21 short months!  

Burgess’ first initiative was to get the Village Board to adopt his Strategic Plan for Progress; the very first plan ever adopted by a Village Board in Sauk Village’s history.  The Plan called for much attention toward economic development and addressing the negative impact of vacant homes.  

A huge Standing Room only crowd came out to

 support Mayor Burgess for his Inauguration in 2017.

Burgess with the help of the progressive Village Trustees Beth Zupon, Ronald Carter, Rodrick Grant, Cecial Tates and his staff have forged ahead and have realized successes in:

• ·         obtaining a grant to mow the grass of 178 vacant homes.  Some of the vacant homes had not been mowed in 10 years.  Burgess plans on working collaboratively with the South Suburban and Cook County Land Banks as well as private investors to get the 360 homes back on the tax rolls and filled with families.

·         Eliminating and consolidating staff positions position from the prior administration, netted out a savings of over $275,000 in salary and benefits.  

·         Making great strides with the Village’s finances: 

o    replaced the hold over Director of Finance,

o    virtually eliminated the Village’s aging report, 

o    balanced the Village’s budget, 

o    meeting current budget projections by living within the Village’s means, 

o    refinanced existing bonds and obtaining a new $2 million dollar bond which saved money on interest at no cost to homeowners, 

o    Received the GFAO Budget Award for the first time since 2008.  

Burgess and the Trustees who support getting Sauk Village on the Pathway to Progress have applied, received or worked on over $1.7 million in grants and assistance in less than two years!  Grants for road repair, engineering, maintaining vacant homes, demolition of abandoned homes, police equipment and other critical matters.  

Burgess and the Trustees who support moving the Village in a new direction have supported increasing our housing standards by proper enforcement of the Village’s codes.  They have taken on many projects aimed at updating and bringing Sauk Village into the 21^st century.  The Village is finalizing a new Comprehensive Plan which will help the Village with growth and planning for the next 10 to 20 years.  The most recent plan was completed in 1985 and updated in 1999.  The new plan was funded by at $135,000 grant and recently the draft was discussed at an Advisory Committee meeting which calls for a New Town Center on the site of Surreybrook Plaza and a new concept for a Central Park, Community Center and Fire Station.

The progress the Village has made under Mayor Burgess’ leadership was so impressive that the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning has provided the Village with a fully funded staff Planner for the Village for the next two years.   The goal of the planner is to assist the village with the objectives in the new Comprehensive Plan and to assist with grant opportunities among many other tasks.  

Mayor Burgess spoke about all the “progress” the Village has made during his recent State of the Village address and a $350,000 grant the Village received for a Phase 1 Engineering Study for expansion of rail spur access and roadways in the LogistiCenter Industrial Park.  Burgess also spoke about the $10 million investment that Gas-N-Wash is making in Sauk Village bringing a 12,000 square foot convenience store, a new Dunkin Donuts, gasoline station, Pops Roast Beef, Browns Chicken and a Truck Stop on the Northwest Corner of Sauk Trail and Illinois 394.  The Village sold the 32 acres of land to the developer Leonard McEnery for $1.35 million.  The Village owned the property for 14 years and did nothing to market the property until Burgess took office. Burgess and the Trustees who support the Strategic Plan for Progress did not wish to squander the profit the Village made on the land but instead put some $800,000 in reserve for a rainy day.  Recently the Village Board approved a budget amendment to allow the Police, Fire and Public Works departments the opportunity for some long overdue capital purchases and improvements.

Recently a local paper recently printed a retraction to a story in which a lone and rogue village trustee politically and personally opposing everything that Mayor Burgess and the group of progressive Trustees have been trying to achieve made untruthful, unverifiable and inaccurate information.  This last week that same publication ran their retraction in which they said “it was acknowledged that many things were said that ha been off base and inaccurate.  Allegations made against Mayor Burgess did not reflect that of verifiable truths…”  We applaud the South Suburban News for the retraction, clarification and printing the truth. 

Another local publication, with an apparent vendetta against Mayor Burgess and the progressive Trustees who support his Strategic Plan for Progress continuously puts wild inaccurate headlines and quotes only what politically motivated audience members ramble on about at the Village meetings but nothing of the content of the meetings and sends no reporter to the meeting. 

So, despite the personal attacks and wild allegations made during official Board meetings by a Trustee who has voiced her aspirations of challenging Burgess for mayor in 2021.  So this rogue trustee along with one lone publication that apparently enjoys printing negativity and misinformation created by those who politically do not support this administration, the Burgess administration will continue to focus on the progress for moving Sauk Village ahead and the objectives in the Strategic Plan for Progress. Burgess does not comment on the negativity because there is no truth to give it credence.

All in all Mayor Burgess has been doing the job and apparently well enough that he has landed a commercial development not done since 1998.  So apparently no matter how good of a job this Mayor does, there will always be politically motivated people who want to stop progress or they are simply C.A.V.E people (Completely Against Virtually Everything).

BURGESS NAMES ZUPON TRUSTEE

SAUK VILLAGE |  Elizabeth "Beth" Zupon was appointed Tuesday night to the Trustee's seat left vacant by Mayor Derrick Burgess becoming mayor.  Burgess had two years remaining on his term as Trustee and Zupon will now serve the remainder of that term.

Zupon came up only about 18 votes short of winning a seat in the April, 2017 election.  Zupon served as Village Clerk from 2007 until 2009.

Zupon is a Vice President at Northern Trust and has extensive banking experience among her many other attributes.  She has volunteered on many committees including the Beautification Committee, Zoning Board among many other things she has done.

With the appointment of Zupon, the Village Board is now up to its full compliment of six members.

Burgess also named the chairman of the Village Board's committees Tuesday night.  Trustee Linda Todd will chair the Ordinance Review Committee and the Beautification Committee;  Trustee Bernice Brewer will serve as chair of the Public Services Committee and Senior Citizen Committee; Trustee Cecial Tates will chair the Housing and Intergovernmental Relations Committee;  Trustee Kelvin Jones will retain his chairmanship of the Parks, Recreation and Youth Services Committee; Trustee Zupon will serve as chair of the Public Safety Committee and Trustee Rodrick Grant will serve as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee.

A NOTE TO SAUK VILLAGE RESIDENTS

DEAR SAUK VILLAGE RESIDENTS | Nearly 200 Sauk Villagers have already voted for Mayor in early voting.  If you have not yet early voted, this coming Tuesday, April 4th Sauk Villagers will head to the polls to elect your new Mayor, new Village Clerk and new Village Trustees. David Hanks sent out a missive to his minions asking them to rally behind his chosen candidates, which are no less than a bunch of Bobble Heads!

Hanks says "much has been accomplished without placing future generations further in debt over the last four years..." Well first of all, let's tell the residents the facts!  $10.2 million is owed to the Pension Funds, $32 million is owed in General Obligation Bonds which Hanks himself voted for during his tenure in office, Hanks's administration took over $2 million from the water fund which must be repaid!  The Village has not had a bond rating since 2011 due to the financial mismanagement which he has continued over the last four years!  If he could have, he would have plunged the Village deeper into debt!  Thank goodness he was not able to do so!  So as Hanks leaves and according to the Village's 2015-16 Audit Report the Village is some $50 million in debt!  Let's not even talk about the property tax increases Hanks himself voted for during his 18 year tenure in office!  THANKS HANKS and THANK GOD you're leaving!   

Personally, we cannot wait until he fades off "into non-political retirement" on May 9th, it will truly be a moment to celebrate!  We do agree that Sauk Village residents have a choice either to continue his legacy of failure - taking a giant leap backwards or the Village can actually vote for a New Direction and a Pathway to Progress!

Hanks points out there are three candidates running for Mayor and only one has the vision which is clearly DERRICK BURGESS and yet two other that will continue Hanks's brand of "progress", the lack of transparency and the overall failed past practices that Sauk Village has experienced the last few years. The other two candidates based on their propaganda and comments at the recent board meetings and forum want to pick up where the current administration left off and plunge the village futher into failure!

Based on Hanks's two preferred candidates' campaign promises, if either is elected they will take Sauk Village further in debt placing the additional costs on you and future generations through stealing money from the water fund, taking out high interest loans and raising resident’s fees to record highs………Everything this current administration has done to the residents over the course of the last four years!

There is no way these candidates can keep their promises without selling out the residents of Sauk Village.

Many residents have been asking us who is best to do the job!  Let me make this perfectly clear!

Next Tuesday, you, your family, your friends and neighbors should vote for the following independent candidates, who truly do care, who own homes, who all have had successful jobs, who do not need to steal your money because they have earned their own, who do not have to shake down village vendors for personal trips- they can pay their own way!  Here are the only candidates you can trust with your money:

FOR MAYOR:   DERRICK BURGESS                  Punch #1

FOR CLERK:   MARVA CAMPBELL-PRUITT   Punch #5

FOR TRUSTEE (VOTE FOR 3):

• RODRICK GRANT                              Punch #6
• BERNICE BREWER-HOUSTON      Punch #7
• BETH ZUPON                                      Punch #8

Sauk Village, if you do not want to continue the failure and continue down the Highway to Hell that the current administration has been heading with years of: disrespecting residents, excessive legal expenses caused by David Hanks and Debbie Williams, fear, bullying, shake downs, extortion, FAKE CRIME STATISTICS, unanswered Audit Findings, Criminal Indictments of Village Officials (ie Village Treasurer)!   Then join the majority of Village residents and cast your vote for CHANGE, a NEW DIRECTION and a PATHWAY TO PROGRESS and real Independent Candidates and not a bunch of BOBBLE HEADS! 

SAUK VILLAGE ENDORSED CANDIDATES

Here are the Sauk Villager News' endorsed candidates for Sauk Village.  Early voting begins tomorrow (March 20th) and we will have more information out to voters to help get you to the polls early! 

FOR MAYOR:

DERRICK BURGESS FOR MAYOR- SAUK VILLAGE

When Derrick Burgess is elected on April 4th he will face a Village that is financially worse off than when his predecessor took over in 2012.  Derrick Burgess is a TRUE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR!  Derrick Burgess led the field of candidates in 2015 earning over 60% of all votes cast in his re-election bid.  Burgess has earned the respect of the entire community and will make an outstanding Mayor.  He is passionate about Sauk Village he has a plan and vision for how he will move the Village in a New Direction as he says.  His opponents are not worthy of serious consideration as they are not serious candidates for Mayor of Sauk Village.

If you feel it's time for a New Direction, the Derrick Burgess is the only candidate who is willing to provide that leadership!  Burgess will get Sauk Village on the Pathway to Progress he has spoken about!  He is the ONLY CANDIDATE who will be able to clean up the mess at Village Hall in the wake of the Hanks Administration.

FOR VILLAGE CLERK:

MARVA CAMPBELL-PRUITT FOR VILLAGE CLERK- SAUK VILLAGE
Marva Campbell-Pruitt deserves your consideration and vote for Village Clerk.  Marva Campbell-Pruitt is the only logical choice for Village Clerk as the current incumbent has been an abject failure in doing her job.  When it comes to taking "personal trips" Marva Campbell-Pruitt said she will pay for them herself.  Campbell-Pruitt also said that having a "mother daughter" team running the Village is dangerous, we agree!

Marva Campbell-Pruitt is a professional who completed her career in education and possesses what it takes to bring the office of Village Clerk to the next level.  Marva understands that DETAILS DO MATTER!  The incumbent village clerk seems to get it wrong more times than not.  Getting dates wrong, getting her minutes wrong the current clerk is just, well, wrong for the job!  After 8 long years she still has not gotten it right?  MARVA will not need 8 years to do the job!  She will eliminate politics from the Clerks office once again and deserves a vote!

If you're tired of the Travelgate scandal and wasting taxpayer money on answering routine Freedom of Information Act requests, Marva Campbell-Pruitt should be your choice for Village Clerk.  She is definitely our choice and earned this Endorsement!  Keep on working Marva!  You're MARVAlous!

FOR VILLAGE TRUSTEE- SAUK VILLAGE

RODRICK GRANT has a combination of youth, clear focus, knowledge and understanding of the problems facing Sauk Village today.  Grant has earned a Bachelors Degree in Finance and a Masters Degree in Business Administration and comes equipped with the tools necessary to serve as  Village Trustee.   Grant brings to the Village Board a youthful perspective that has been lacking in recent years. 

We strongly suggest that you consider RODRICK GRANT for Village Trustee on April 4th

BETH ZUPON is probably the best prepared candidate for Village Trustee!  Zupon is banking executive for a major international bank and understands how finance works.  Zupon served as Village Clerk from 2008 to 2009 and knows her way around Village Hall, the village's codes and the decisions that will need to be made.  Beth will be the "watchdog" over the Village's budget and spending and will provide a balance of pro-business and pro-growth stance that the Village Board has been lacking for the last four years. 

We strongly suggest that you consider BETH ZUPON for Village Trustee on April 4th.

BERNICE BREWER HOUSTON- As for the third Village Board seat we suggest BERNICE BREWER-HOUSTON.  We feel that Bernice will be an advocate for the residents.  She will ask the questions necessary and will not settle for  nonsense.  While we were on polar opposite sides with her positions four years ago, Bernice has tempered and toned down her message but still has been tenacious about getting information from Village Hall.  A "facts and figures" person that we like in her.  While you may disagree with how the message is delivered, you probably agree with Bernice on more things than you'd disagree with her on.

You should consider a vote for Bernice Brewer-Houston for Village Trustee on April 4th.

While we found that only one other candidate for Trustee has stood out in this election, we feel that once again, it is not her time.  Sene Garrett, failed in her bid for re-election to the School Board in 2015.  Since that time she has been virtually invisible from most Village Board meetings.  If you're going to run for public office you should at least attend Village Board meetings regularly an essential part of the job.  While the youth are critically important you cannot run an one issue campaign and use clever acronyms ala Debbie Williams to win. 

We cannot recommend a vote for Garrett at this time because she has aligned herself politically with the Williams family and we feel that would be to the detriment to the Village.  While they tout themselves as "independent" they are "One Big Happy Family".  Perhaps in two years, like Brewer-Houston had done, she will be ready for the task and make herself over!  Maybe this will be a valuable, if not a costly lesson for Garrett.


SCHOOL DISTRICT 168
School District 168 taxes Sauk Village residents the most on their tax bills and residents should familiarize themselves with these candidates.  There are no less 9 candidates running for 4 seats and three political factions running for School Board which are likely to cause confusion when voting.  The School Board is clearly divided, but they are united on many more important issues. 

We are not recommending or endorsing any candidates for School Board