Mayor Derrick Burgess Looking Forward To The Future; Lists Documented Accomplishments

Published by:

Taylor Media February 12, 2021 

SAUK VILLAGE | Mayor Derrick Burgess announced last October he was seeking re-election to a second term as Sauk Village’s Mayor.  Burgess took office in 2017 and was handed an administration and a community which routinely found itself with over $1 million in unpaid bills, severely mismanaged human resources that resulted in numerous employees suing the village, a mismanaged finance department with repeated and severe audit findings, unbalanced, irresponsible and unprofessionally prepared budgets.  Basically, when Burgess assumed the position of Mayor, on day one he inherited an absolute mess.  But Burgess was well aware of the difficulties he faced as he had been a Trustee for the past 11 years and three administrations.

What Burgess did not do when he took office was fire everyone immediately.  Instead, he chose to work with current personnel to assess their performance and contributions in wake of the new policies, procedures and mandates he set.  Personnel changes came later as he learned the source of the mismanagement.   

Burgess also grappled with the fact that there was no new commercial development in Sauk Village in over twenty years which became Mayor Burgess’ immediate goal to change.  Mayor Burgess and his newly formed administrative team were successful in landing a $13 million commercial development on the Northwest Corner of Sauk Trail and Illinois 394 within the first two years of his administration.  This would-be Gas-N-Wash’s largest facility built to date as of April 2019.  The Gas-N-Wash development is a 32.9-acre Truck Stop, housing a convenience store, Pops Roast Beef, Dunkin Donuts and Little Mexico Restaurant.  The Village realized a $1.3 million profit from the sale of the land and impact fees.  This resulted in the Village establishing its first ever reserve fund.

Simultaneously, Burgess and his team worked at reducing the Village’s bills with all its vendors including legal bills from 2017 to 2019; realizing a savings of over $440,000 during that period.  With this newly found surplus of funds, Burgess immediately began paying off the Village’s backlog of $1.1 million in unpaid bills while not having to tap into its water fund, a practice that had become the norm with previous administrations.  Burgess’ administration adopted the sound financial practice of operating within the Village’s current means.  Following this practice, Burgess was also able to reduce the Village’s property tax levy while being able to increase revenue to the grossly underfunded Police Pension Fund.  Burgess worked hard at getting the Village’s Finances back in order by addressing years of repeated audit findings.  Burgess hired a professional Finance Director who immediately began implementing industry best practices and for the first time in over a decade, this professional was able to prepare a balanced and responsible budget; earning the Village a Distinguished Budget Award in 2018 from the Government Finance Officers Association.

 
With the promise of improved financial management, Burgess was able to save the Village significant monies by refinancing its higher interest rate bonds to a lower rate and secure $2.5 million in proceeds that would fund and complete long over-due road and water improvements at no cost to Sauk Village taxpayers. “Because we worked hard at putting together a good team who were well versed in multiple fields including Finances, we were able in 2018 to make significant strides toward re-obtaining a bond rating.  My plan is to re-initiate that hard work after the 2021 election,” Burgess said. 

For decades before and since the housing collapse in 2008, the Village has been plagued with vacant and abandoned homes which had driven down real estate values allowing many investors to gobble up cheap homes to make quick profits.  Burgess continues to work to raise the housing standards and home values in Sauk Village by tightening its housing code and holding investors responsible for their properties.   Even though Burgess has met severe opposition for this, he continues to seek ways to make needed improvements and will continue to do so after the 2021 election.

At the onset of his administration in 2017, Mayor Burgess presented his Strategic Plan for Progress to the Village Board for adoption. Burgess had begun identifying needed changes in the Village’s nearly 20-year-old outdated Comprehensive Plan back in 2013.  His self-authored Strategic Plan for Progress was the Village’s very first plan in decades and was the springboard for the Comprehensive Plan’s successful update in 2017.   The Plan was adopted by the Village Board and the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals and will help guide the Village for the next 20 years.

“With all of the changes we implanted, we were able to finally begin saving a modest amount in our Water Fund” Burgess said.  “This has allowed us to begin repairing or replacing broken fire hydrants that have been inoperable for years. This was already identified our 2017 Strategic Plan for Progress and hopefully we can have all inoperable fire hydrants repaired in an efficient and timely manner so that every resident can benefit from it; not just a few” Burgess said.  

“I will also be directing our staff and Engineers to prepare plans to repair and replace all inoperable streetlights, cut down all dead trees on the parkways and public areas, and begin repairing our crumbling streets and have it all done by 2023.  You just don’t go out to fix a few at a time without a realistic plan that addresses the entire problem; that’s irresponsible and a great waste of money.  I stated there are no more excuses for this not getting done.  With a balance of new and professional people on the Board, we can look forward to and will get the job done” Burgess said. 

Also, during 2017-2019, the Board of Trustees and my administration were successful in securing $1.7 million in grants and assistance for Sauk Village which has not been done since.  Additionally, Burgess was able to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for a free embedded Planning Staff member who was also instrumental in assisting the Village with completing many projects and facilitating grants from 2019 to 2021.

R to L: Rodrick Grant, Mayor Derrick Burgess,
Larry Sapp and Arnold Coleman

“Look, we know we have many problems that need to be addressed and we know that many of these problems have been ongoing for decades.  My team has always believed we can rectify our problems in a relatively short time we if we have team dedicated to fixing our communities instead of our individual lives.  Residents are ready to see sustainable changes and not hear about the negative antics portrayed by people who are just looking for power and control of their tax dollars.  I am conveying to residents that I as Mayor need a team that can work together towards our stated goals and not be disagreeable on everything at every meeting and nothing gets done.  That is why I am working to get a balanced Board by re-electing Trustee Rodrick Grant, and electing Trustee Candidates Arnold Coleman and Larry Sapp” Burgess said. 

“We have a lot more to do, a lot more ahead of us and we are out aggressively asking for the residents’ support.  My team and I are up for the challenge and look forward to the next four years” Burgess said. 

ROTTEN TO THE CORE WITH NO VALUES - The Inconvenient TRUTH of Debbie Williams

The Inconvenient TRUTH of Debbie Williams- 

By: Ann Mahomes- When it comes to Debbie Williams talking about "core values" she is nothing but lies!  She is rotten to the core.  Apparently this is going to become a series of articles exposing the TRUTH about a PROVEN LIAR.  The comments in black are verbatim copy of her diatribe she posts on social media, she lies about never goin on.    The portions in RED are the response and exposure of the LIES: 

TRUSTEE VOTE 5 to 1 TO SHELL OUT $300,000 TO EX-COP

Courtesy Youtube-

Former Sgt Rebecca Vela-Sailsbery

Former Police Sergeant Rebecca Vela-Sailsbery retired May 7, 2020 after 27 years without ever achieving her goal of becoming Police Chief.  Sailsbery had joined the Sauk Village Police Department in 1993 and rose through the ranks.  She was appointed to Deputy Chief by former Chief Tim Holevis, but following Holevis' ouster on the heels the April, 2015 election ex-Mayor David Hanks took swift action to ensure that Sailsbery would not be the next Police Chief.    

Ex-mayor Hanks relentlessly and misogynistically attacked Sailsbery publicly during open meetings from 2015 until 2017 when he finally left office. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW ACTUAL VIDEO)  Sailsbery filed suit in 2015 in Federal Court against now ex-mayor Hanks and his former Village Administrator JW Fairman alleging among other things gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

In 2015, Hanks created what one Trustee at the time called a "sham" committee to pick the next Police Chief.  The committee consisted of JW Fairman, ex-Trustee Rosie Williams, the daughter of then Village Clerk and now Trustee Debbie Williams, and the late Cecial Tates a former Trustee.   Tates insisted that the whole committee selection process was a sham even saying that he had never seen Robert Kowalski's credentials, who would be appointed Chief, as part of the selection process.  Hanks moved forward anyhow with his appointment of  Kowalski as Police Chief in August, 2015 without the consent of the Village Board.  As part of Sailsbery's suit she claimed she was passed over for promotion, demoted and worked in a hostile work environment.   Hanks continued his unusual behavior attacking Sailsbery publicly at his "Meet the Mayor" rallies he held at Village Hall which were videoed (CLICK HERE TO VIEW ACTUAL VIDEO). 

This past Tuesday's Board meeting, Village Trustees voted to payout $300,000 to settle the case with Sailsbery.  Trustees voting yes were Debbie Williams, Linda Todd, Bernice Brewer, Gary Bell and Sherry Jasinski.  The only Trustee voting NO was Rodrick Grant. 

Sailsbery was named as a defendant in lawsuit against the Village No.11 C 7956 (N.D.Ill.Apr. 27, 2012) involving a now former Village employee, Susan Dobrzeniecki.  Current Trustee, Sherry Jasinski, was Dobrzeniecki’s supervisor at that time and was a witness against Sailsbery and the other defendants named in the suit including the Village.  During ex-mayor David Hanks' tenure, on January 27, 2015 Village Trustees approved a Settlement with Dobrzeniecki who claimed she was held against her will and her home searched unlawfully on November 8, 2011.  The Settlement, according to village records, was $290,000.  Dobrzeniecki also filed suit against the now shuttered St. James Hospital seeking more damages following the Village’s settlement.  (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_11-cv-07956/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_11-cv-07956-3.pdf)

According to public record no disciplinary action was taken against Sailsbery or others involved in the suit as a result of the Dobrzenieck incident in 2011 nor after the settlement of the case in 2015.  What Sailbery did get was attacks upon her from ex mayor David Hanks as you can view in the attached video.       

The settlement payouts to these two employees alone totaled $590,000.  Why Trustees Linda Todd, Bernice Brewer, Debbie Williams, Gary Bell and Sherry Jasinski have you not said a SINGLE WORD?  Taxpayers are footing the bill for a FOOLISH ex-mayor and his antics, and that entire time you sat silent.  You are clearly not watching the Village’s money.  Not a single time from 2011 to 2017 had any of them muster a single word to condemn the actions of ex-Mayor David Hank, but you just shelled out $300,000 without a care in the world.     

Now imagine what $590,000 could have done for the residents:

·         How many broken fire hydrants could the Village Fix?

·         How many broken Street Lights could the Village Fix?

·         How many dead trees could be cut down?

·         How many Police Officers could the Village hire?

·         How many Youth and Seniors programs could the Village implement along with the hiring of a much needed Director?

·         How much closer would the Village be to securing Lake Michigan Water, if not for these payouts?  

EDITORIAL NOTE AND COMMENT:   Sailsbery posted on social media "...I have received NOTHING from Mayor Derrick Burgess.... Hell I didn't even get a cup of coffee, lunch, card, email, or letter.  ABSOLUTELY nothing!!  It was nothing less than being TORTURED in HELL, working 27 years as a Law Enforcement Officer for an with some of the most unqualified, unprofessional, vindictive, racist, unethical, criminals I have ever met, in the most ridiculous and dangerous conditions you could ever imagine. Up to my very last day..." 

No cup of coffee, or free donuts either; But, $300,000 isn't a bad "thank you" don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!  We sincerely hope that the $300,000 you got on your way out is in some small way a token from the taxpayers of Sauk Village for your anguish.  As you suffer so heavily living in Indiana with your bank account and your retirement pension courtesy of the taxpayers of Sauk Village for the rest of your life!  Your anger and bitterness for Sauk Village has been evident for many years, but to blame this current Mayor for all your "WOE" and not getting anything on your way out is disingenuous, and factually NOT TRUE!  We truly wish you well in your retirement, really we do. What the taxpayers of Sauk Village should REALLY be asking, WTF?    Why are we still paying for mistakes from the last failed administration and the ripple effects continue on?    

Oh and P.S.- For all you out there who are going to say "congratulations" to her, remember that when you get your property tax bill for the next 10 years to pay for the increase in your village's liability insurance claims.  BETTER YET, remember the FANATICAL FIVE TRUSTEES at election time!  Don't let this garbage back in again.  

TRUTH ABOUT A PROVEN LIAR

by Concerned Citizens| Debbie Williams wants to be mayor so badly, but she has proven herself a liar for the last 11 years!  We can roll tape and we will!  Now let’s tear apart her malicious lies she recently put out on Facebook which do nothing but further divide Sauk Village.

 

1-      She falsely claims that Derrick Burgess “acted as dictator” when he exercised his statutory authority to block the hiring of a Village Administrator that cost you $130,000 for a job that he has been doing for $20,000 from 2017 until Debbie showed up again in 2019.  Instead of the Trustees compromising on the matter, they sued the Mayor.  The Fanatical Five Trustees brought in their handpicked unqualified and incapable Village Administrator they sued the Mayor to force their guy in.  This resulted in tens of thousands in legal fees that you taxpayers are paying!    Then in less than 10 months they FIRE the guy with no public explanation!  This proved that Mayor Burgess was RIGHT from the START and they failed.  This could have been avoided if the Divider-in-Chief had come into office in 2019 humble and willing to work with Mayor Burgess.  They had ONE GOAL- STOP ALL PROGRESS MAYOR BURGESS WAS MAKING AT ALL COSTS. 

 

2-      Debbie now changes her story to rewrite history and claims she took a “sponsored trip” to Washington DC in July, 2013.  But at that time she called it a “personal trip at my own expense….”  A PROVEN LIAR!  Debbie fought a Freedom of Information Act Request for 3 years despite the FACT that the Illinois Attorney General Issued a Binding Opinion.  Then Debbie and the taxpayer funded attorney filed suit against the Illinois Attorney General to continue to block production of documents which proved Debbie was a liar!  Then Debbie lies again and says that this was all Mayor Burgess’ fault?  REALLY DEBBIE?   You’re lying again.  FUN FACT:  you and your crew fought the ex-Mayor Lewis Towers, the guy you ran with in 2009, on bringing Lake Michigan Water to Sauk Village.  So when you are buying bottled water at the store, be sure and thank Debbie Williams and her wrecking crew for that.   

 

3-      Debbie is a powerful and productive person?  Really at what? Well you’re powerful at spending taxpayers money we will admit that as far as productive, I’m sure you’re the top producer of Avon and Pampered Chef out of anyone in Sauk Village.  As far as “lawsuits and union discussions” costing taxpayers $225,000.  DAMN!  Funny, however, a search of legal fees during 2017-2019 did not amount to near that amount in one year.  I think your math and lies are really fuzzy Debbie and are costing taxpayers far too much.

 

4-      Debbie claims her values are not to divide, however, your actions speak louder than words.  You are ROTTEN TO THE CORE!  You mischaracterize a candidate's statement to pit white against black once in hopes to RALLY the white voters like you did in 2019.  You make wild accusations about a black challenging a black in an election.  But you make no reference to your “campaign manager” or “Travelgate Companion'' Pat Couch filing a failed and frivolous challenge against Carolyn Farmer, a black candidate for the McConathy Library.   You and your foolish friends post on social media “let the residents decide” until it hits a little too close to home.

 

5-      Debbie stated many times “I don’t get on Facebook” but she has spent an enormous amount of time composing hateful messages under alias and now under her own name.  AGAIN.  She is a pathological liar.    

 

Debbie one thing is for certain, you would not know what INTEGRITY was if it was sitting on your plate of food in front of you for dinner!   A pathological liar believes their own lies, you definitely do.  Debbie YOU’RE A LIAR and it’s been proven. 

The only reason that this election will be “ugly” is because you’re in it!  You will continue with your “ugly” LIES and stretch the hell out of the truth to make yourself look better! Why? Because you do not have enough real accomplishments you have done to run on your own merit!

 

Sauk Village suffered for 8 long years with you in public office before the residents tired of you and tossed you out on your ass!  The voters will reject you and your foolish Fanatical Five again!

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 

 

FOR THE LAST TIME, IT'S NOT THE OFFICIAL SAUK VILLAGE ILLINOIS LOGO!!!

By: Joachim Mahomes

"At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas and opinions on matters of public interest and concern. "The freedom to speak one's mind is not only an aspect of individual liberty -- and thus a good unto itself -- but also is essential to the common quest for truth and the vitality of society as a whole."  The United States Supreme Court rightfully has been particularly vigilant to ensure that individual expressions of ideas remain free from governmentally imposed sanctions. The First Amendment recognizes no such thing as a "false" idea.  As Justice Holmes wrote, "When men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas -- that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.

The sort of robust political debate encouraged by the First Amendment is bound to produce speech that is critical of those who hold public office or those public figures who are "intimately involved in the resolution of important public questions, policies, and laws, or, by reason of their fame or notoriety, shape events in areas of concern to society at large."  Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter probably said it best when he stated; "one of the prerogatives of American citizenship is the right to criticize public men and measures." Such criticism, inevitably, will not always be reasoned or moderate; public figures as well as public officials will be subject to "vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks."

Of course, this does not mean that any speech about a public figure is immune from sanction in the form of damages. That groundwork was laid out as far back as 1964 when the New York Times was sued in the Supreme Court of Alabama by City of Montgomery Commissioner Sullivan, who alleges that newspaper published defamatory statements in a paid advertisement describing the maltreatment of African American students protesting segregation by the police force under Commissioner Sullivan's supervision. Sullivan argued that he was implicated in a false and defamatory advertisement because he oversaw the City police in his official capacity as City Commissioner. Commissioner Sullivan WON in the State Supreme court of Alabama, only to have that ruling over tuned by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Generally speaking the law does not regard the intent to inflict emotional distress as one which should receive much solicitude, and it is quite understandable that most if not all jurisdictions have chosen to make it civilly culpable where the conduct in question is sufficiently "outrageous." But in the world of debate about public affairs, many things done with motives that are less than admirable nonetheless are protected by the freedom of speech given in the First Amendment."

- Judge William Rhenquist

Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

"BUT THEY USE THE VILLAGE NAME AND LOGO"

With regards to using the Village Logo, whether it the OFFICIAL VILLAGE OF SAUK VILLAGE LOGO, or one that looks closely similar, this argument is baseless and meritless. This is spelled out in the Lanham Act, more commonly referred to as the Trademark Act of 1946. In this act, the general interest of the public by protecting consumers from false and misleading representations concerning the source, identity, or quality of a product or service. Secondly, the law protects the right of the owner of a trade or service mark to have his or her product or service identified by a distinct name or label.

The fact escapes Ringleader Trustee Debbie Williams, and the Fanatical 5 Trustees coalition that you CANNOT TRADEMARK A MUNICIPAL LOGO, SEAL, FLAG OR INSIGNIA! Nevermind the FACT, that the TAXPAYERS own and PAY FOR IT AND ITS OPERATIONS, this is nothing more than yet another attempt, by a desperate, contrite Trustee, to stifle speech and video taken at PUBLIC BOARD MEETINGS that is critical and opinionated in opposition of her coalition of Fanatical 5 Trustees even though that RIGHT is assured to everyone under the First Amendment.

SO JUST WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

Accordingly, the Lanham Act permits persons to apply to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") for federal trademark registration of their commercial mark(s), provided that certain parameters set forth therein are satisfied. The general rule is that a distinguishable mark on commercial goods and services can be trademarked unless the mark falls within one of five specified categories of marks as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 1052(a)-(e)

One of those 5 excluding categories specifically 1052(b) which states “a mark that consists of or comprises the flag or coat of arms or other insignia of the United States, or of any State or municipality, or of any foreign nation, or any simulation thereof” cannot be trademarked.

Tina Renna is /was a journalist in Union County, New Jersey, just south of Newark. She writes for The County Watchers blog and she also hosted a public access television program called Union County Citizen’s Forum, which seeks “to shine a critical light on the workings of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.” The backdrop for her show consistent with its stated purpose, features a spotlight shining onto the Union County Seal. The seal, which is one of the most interesting municipal insignia in the country, as it depicts the 1780 murder of Hannah Caldwell, the wife of “rebel pastor” James Caldwell, at the hands of British soldiers during the Battle of Connecticut Farms.

In 2010, Union County officials decided to put a stop to Renna’s use of the seal for a program not officially affiliated with — and critical of — the municipality. Union County filed an application to register its seal with the USPTO, and then sent a cease-and-desist letter to Renna. Even after the trademark application was REJECTED by the USPTO, the County continued to send cease and desist correspondence to Renna, insisting that the seal enjoyed federal protection.  In 2011, with the parties at an impasse, Renna filed a declaratory judgment action in the District of New Jersey.

In that court case, Judge Kevin McNulty issued his opinion on Renna’s motion for summary judgment on May 29, 2014.  Not surprisingly, Judge McNulty followed the Federal Circuit as to the interpretation of 15 U.S.C. § 1052(b) and held that Renna could not be liable for infringement of a registered mark under Section 32 of the Lanham Act, because the mark in question could not be registered.

However, Judge McNulty also declared that Renna likewise could not be liable even for infringement of an unregistered mark under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act.  Without reference to the Federal Circuit’s dicta, Judge McNulty held that, even though registration is not a prerequisite for a Section 43(a) action, the unregistered mark in question still has to be a valid and enforceable one.  “As to that issue,” the Judge continued, “I think there is a difference between a mark that happens to be unregistered, and one that cannot be registered as a matter of law.” Judge McNulty held that the former is actionable under Section 43(a), but the latter is not.

SO WHO'S RIGHT?

There is an obvious conflict between the Federal Circuit’s dicta and Judge McNulty’s ruling.  A municipality seeking to protect itself against “pirates and cheats” could argue that Judge McNulty’s opinion is an example of bad facts making bad law. As Judge McNulty recounted, Union County officials were trying to use trademark law and unauthorized use of its seal to “stifle” the First Amendment rights of citizens and, in service of that impermissible objective, made multiple “misleading” statements of fact and law in its cease-and-desist letters. Additionally, Judge McNulty was careful to point out that, even if the seal had been protectable as a trademark, Renna did not infringe it because her use was for expressive political speech and not a use in any for profit business, commerce, or marketing of any product.

IN CONCLUSION

The repeated argument and LIES consistently brought up by at Village Board Meetings by Ringleader Trustee Debbie Williams, now joined by her DAUGHTER, Director of the Nancy L. McConathy Library Rosie Williams-Baig, who STILL lacks the prerequisite MASTER’S DEGREE for running the Village’s only Library can finally be put to rest. This Facebook page does NOT use the actual Official Village of Sauk Village logo! Even if it DID use the official Village logo, this page NEVER HAS and NEVER WILL conduct any commerce or the sale of goods and services for any monetary gain, with or without a Village Logo attached to it.

Yea...we do ALL THIS...FOR FREE!

Furthermore, and in spite of the Lanham Act which prohibits copyrighting “a mark that consists of or comprises the flag or coat of arms or other insignia of the United States, or of any State or municipality, or of any foreign nation, or any simulation thereof”, this is yet ANOTHER ATTEMPT by Ringleader Trustee Debbie Williams to stifle unpopular opinions of her, and apparently now, the NANCY L. McCONATHY PUBLIC LIBRARY, or the decisions and policy making of the Fanatical 5 Trustees or the Library Board.

Make no mistake residents of Sauk Village. What was it they said they were gonna do once they were elected? SUE THE MAYOR AND TAXPAYERS? That stunt cost taxpayers AT LEAST $34,000 DOLLARS in Court, so the Fanatical 5 Trustees could hire their "Ringer" for Village Administrator, only to turn around and FIRE HIM 10 MONTHS LATER for not firing people they wanted out of the Front Office.

In their FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, Ringleader Trustee Debbie Williams, Trustee Gary Bell, Trustee Sherry Jasinski, and the coalition of Fanatical 5 Trustees joined by Trustee Berenice Brewer, and Linda Todd spent over $228,000 in LEGAL FEES with JUST ONE LAW FIRM! Yet NOW, they struggle to find money to replace FIRE HYDRANTS!

Is anyone paying attention? Maybe sitting at home and not voting wasn't such a good idea after all...OH, and by the way...Trustees Todd, Brewer, and Grant are all up for re-election April 6, 2021. Are you gonna sit this one out too Voters of Sauk Village?

 

 

 

Sauk Village Public Works Director Kevin Weller fails to notify Mayor, Village Administrator, or Village Clerk of water outage and slacks off culture testing of Sauk Village water to all water customers west of IL-394 until 7 DAYS after issue.

By: Joachim Mahomes.

On September 29, 2020 residents of Deer Creek experienced a lengthy interruption in water service, and lost all water pressure for several hours. This was later announced at the Village Board Meeting on October 14, 2020 that a new section of Water Main running under IL-394 expressway that serves all connected residents to the Municipal water supply west of IL-394 was placed into service. This resulted in a complete loss of water pressure for several hours while the new section of water main was provisioned.

In cases where water pressure drops below  20 PSI in any portion of a drinking water distribution system, or whenever a section of the water system is changed out or opened for extended periods of time, the Village Public Works department is MANDATED BY THE ILLINOIS EPA to issue a BOIL ORDER for all affected customers, NOTIFY those customers paying careful attention to Restaurants, Medical Centers and Facilities, and Nursing Homes, and submit water samples for cultural testing to a Licensed, Registered Laboratory to ensure no health hazards pose a risk to residents health and ensures safe consumption and use from any bacteriological or species parasites from entering  the public water supply while main pressure was interrupted below 20 PSI.

It wasn't until OCTOBER 6, 2020 - 7 DAYS LATER that the Public Works Department Director Kevin Weller initiated an ILEPA required BOIL ORDER, when the Sauk Village Illinois Facebook Page (NOT an official Facebook page of the Village, and NOT OPERATED by the Village) pointed this out to residents in a post dated October 2, 2020 , that action was taken by Sauk Village Public Works Department. The post referred residents affected by the water interruption to the Illinois EPA hotline to submit complaints. A Subsequent interruption in service was experienced by residents on October 3rd for some residents in sections East of IL-394, and the details of that interruption was never disclosed by Public Works.

On OCTOBER 7, 2020 - 8 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL WATER PRESSURE LOSS the Boil Order was LIFTED, citing Laboratory testing was conducted and completed, and showed no signs of Coliform Bacteria in the samples taken from 3 sites.

The Village of Sauk Village has an OFFICIAL WEBSITE, an OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE, and also pays an annual service fee for CODE RED - REVERSE 911 NOTIFICATION to notify residents in a specific area of town to emergencies, BOIL ORDERS, or other important information that is important for residents to be made aware of in a specific area, or Village Wide. It is unknown who is responsible for sending out these notifications using these methods of communication the Village has at its disposal. What IS NOT KNOW is how Public Works Director Kevin Weller notified the Mayor, Village Administrator, Village Clerk, or Trustees that this event was scheduled to take place, or that it had been completed, since these days it seems as if Public Works Director Kevin Weller doesn't answer to ANYBODY in Village Hall.

INFORMATION SOUGHT THROUGH FOIA REQUEST

Knowing the history of issues with the Water in Sauk Village, a FOIA request was submitted asking for the results of the Laboratory testing, as well as copies of any documents, emails, or other written forms of notification or communication that were made to any Administrative contacts in Village Hall by Public Works Director Kevin Weller, in respect to the opening and interruption to a major portion of the Water Distribution System. According to the response in the FOIA request, "Per Mr. Weller, there were no emails or correspondence". Public Works Director Kevin Weller's $87,000 a year salary, and brand new take home vehicle and the fuel used in it is paid for by taxpaying residents in Sauk Village, yet somehow doesn't seem to be held accountable for the lacking services in Sauk Village. But in this instance, this could have had an entirely different turn-out of making residents sick, had the Water Distribution System become contaminated, and residents weren't notified until 7 DAYS LATER they were consuming, bathing in, and cooking with tainted drinking water.

Original Email request for records related to the No Notification

Actual Laboratory Test Results

Now it has become the focus of Ringleader Trustee Debbie Williams of the Fanatical 5 Trustees to call out the UN-OFFICIAL Sauk Village Illinois Facebook Page for making the Fanatical 5 Trustees the focus of mismanagement and miscues in Sauk Village since they took their Trustee seats in 2019, and often find themselves at the chagrin of that UN-OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE, but when there is IRREFUTABLE DOCUMENTATION to show just how the Fanatical 5 Trustees and their 2nd attempt at a Village Administrator hire current Part-Time Village Administrator Jerry Hurckes whom makes $45,000 a year for about 25 hours of work per week do not work for residents. The fact remains that by Public Works Director Kevin Weller OWN RESPONSE in the FOIA request, that he made NO EMAIL, and NO CORRESPONDENCE WITH VILLAGE HALL ADMINISTRATORS OR OFFICIALS WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. There may have been a PHONE CALL, however this never resulted in proper ILEPA REQUIRED notification going out to residents until 7 DAYS AFTER THE FACT!

RESIDENTS - Don't you think you deserve BETTER? Do you think it is fair, that the Fanatical 5 Trustees, AND their Village Administrator do NOTHING to reprimand, or hold Public Works Director Kevin Weller accountable for placing the health of residents affected by this water interruption in potentially harmful bacteria in the water supply? Since the hiring of the 25 hours a week PART TIME JERRY HURCKES, the Fanatical 5 Trustees 2nd hired Village Administrator in less than 1 year, would hold Weller accountable for this and other shortfalls in Public Works Department performance and ability to complete work properly and in accordance with Illinois EPA guidelines so as to NOT place residents' health in jeopardy?

Residents should be MAD AS HELL! And don't ask Public Services Committee Chair Trustee Bernice Brewer. In the 3 YEARS she has held that Committee, she has YET TO CONVENE A SINGLE COMMITTEE MEETING for that vital area of Village Public Services to residents. She's too worried  about trying to "Watch the Money" when she clearly has NO CLUE of how Village Finances actually works.