(Mayor, Uncontested)
Heather McArty: My first priority, upon being elected, would be to further acquaint myself with the inner workings of the departments that make up our local branch of government so that I am equipped with the knowledge necessary to lead and support them. I have already taken steps where this initiative is concerned but there is a complexity to the village dynamics that very few are aware of and only time and experience will mitigate that. It is my belief that by familiarizing myself with the history, reasoning and vision of the administration’s past I will be able to effectively and swiftly propose an admirable plan for the future. It is important to remember that most of the decision-makers, Mayors and Trustees alike, were not only elected officials but committed residents that wanted to sincerely serve their community with no agenda other than to lend a hand in making their community a better place. I hope to build upon that legacy with an informative and proactive approach. The other projects that I will focus on immediately will be the completion of the next phase of necessary infrastructure improvements of our roads, sidewalks and drainage systems and further economic development opportunities that would benefit the Village.
Trustee (Vote for 3, listed alphabetically):
RICHARD BOGESS: I Don’t have a priority really. I would believe it would be to maintain the village and help it grow. I believe there is opportunities here in the community. What direction would the residents like to see the village go?
CATHI CANNON FRITZ:
- Water quality and price!
Everyone in the community is impacted by our water quality and the exorbitant cost. Water is essential to living and residents do not have a choice in who their water provider is. It is imperative that the water issue be addressed immediately before another increase occurs.
- Safety and security of the community.
When I was growing up, Ray Thompson was the Oakwood police officer. He sat in his squad car across, from my driveway most of my life. Everyone knew Ray, he was the best example of what we refer to as community policing today. He kept the community safe and secure. He was always visible, always involved and still is to this day.
- Transparency.
I believe it is imperative that board members not have family or close friends on the same board, working for the village or benefitting through contracts or bids. I will also ensure board meetings are streamed live so that residents can see what is being discussed and voted on at meetings.
JASON ELLIOT:
Understanding our Community’s Concerns (Large and Small) – One of the most important skillsets for a leader is to listen. Are we listing to our community? Do we know what issues they feel strongly about, no matter how large or small they are? How can we prioritize these issues to impact the voice of the residents? How can I be instrumental in this process? These are some of the important questions that need to be considered to know how to best serve our community. It’s a priority for me to know the pulse of the community from the largest to the smallest of issues. This knowledge will allow me to make a greater impact if elected as Trustee.
Community Involvement – This is a major priority for me in this process. From the very beginning of this, my goal has been to generate more involvement in the selection of our local leaders. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, but rather taking part in the process and vote. I will continue to work to get more of the community involved after the election. We are stronger as a community if we are knowledgeable on the issues that we face. As we get more residents involved, the more real it gets, and we get that true pulse of the community and how we can achieve our goals based on the residents’ needs. Using word of mouth, social media and possibly a live stream option for meetings. With technology, we should have options to make this available. This will be a priority! Community involvement = Knowledge = Leadership Accountability
Building Trust – This is more of a long-term priority because trust takes time. As we listen to the residents of the community and understand their concerns, continue to promote involvement, and have accountability, then we will start to build trust in our local leaders. It will be a priority of mine if elected as Trustee, to always be transparent and honest on any concern/issue that is brought to me. Building trust isn’t about always telling people what they want to hear. It’s about giving/receiving communication, feedback, follow up, empathy and most of all honesty. I can commit to all of these if elected as Trustee.
DOUG HANNER: Did not answer
TERRY HUME:
-I would like to see the state put a left turning lane in on north Oakwood Street to help with safety and traffic flow.
-I would like to see more business in Oakwood.
-Trying to get funding to do an overlay of Oakwood St.
MITCH LEVERENZ: I have no agenda but to keep Oakwood a great place to live and a safe environment to raise a family.
DAVID LEWIS:
- Anyone can openly talk at a public meeting, without preapproval or question prescreening. – See the post from 2/9/18 on the village hall website to see how restricted you are – http://oakwoodil.org/
- As soon as the water service was sold by our Village board to a private company, our community lost control. We need to regain control and must advocate for concerned oversight to ensure that we are getting the service that was promised.
- If someone can’t mow their lawn or has a broken trailer to move debris, ask them, help them, there is no reason to issue citations and daily fine threats to them. If someone does not have the means, help them. We have a motto that we are generations of pride, this current practice does not represent something I am prideful of.
BOB PARR : There are several projects that I think need to be priorities.1st handicap accessible sidewalks along Oakwood St. 2nd replacement of Oakwood St. which is 47 yrs old, and in need of replacement, not repair. #3 More and better street lighting thru out the village which promotes a safer environment for all. #4 there is an issue of several abandon structures which needs to be addressed.
ROBERT WRIGHT: Business growth is my top priority. There are many social programs I’d like to put first, but before we can significantly update the village with better parks or public facilities, we must grow our businesses with local business owners and/or operators. As a trustee, I’d like to commission local citizens to work with the village board to evaluate similar small towns, and the pros and cons of development. The committee would evaluate similar zoning ordinances in small towns, not major cities, and how they plan for growth while maintaining the small community environment. Oakwood could have a business park, a new housing subdivision, an urgent care facility, or all the above with proper planning. Many businesses are also moving to remote facilities with better outdoor environments because workers have shown, especially over the past 12 months, that businesses can be successful without being condensed into an urban setting. Access to the University of Illinois is a major plus for green tech or agriculture companies. Second would be establishing connections between the local schools and the incoming businesses to hire young people or start apprenticeships. While in high school, attending DACC or U of I, or just wanting to start a career, our young people need help getting started. I’ve interviewed a lot of people in 20 years. The person with experience always has the advantage. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to get experience when you only have a few hours here or there to work while trying to attend school and play sports. Segue into the third priority. Sports are a way of life in small towns. From the kids to grandparents, the games draw everyone out to watch. I’d make updating our village park a priority to rival bigger communities. The opportunity is there to make the village park a possible venue for ball tournaments, festivals, and yes the 4th of July celebration.
