Sunday 17 May 2015

Sauk Village Blue Ribbon Walk - May 30, 2015


Memorial Day Service - May 25, 2015


Sauk Village Dispatch Center

It was no secret that Sauk Village had been working on cost cutting initiatives given the Village’s current finances, along with decreased revenues from the State of Illinois and the potential 50% loss of LGDF that Governor Rauner is proposing.   

Earlier this year, the Village began negotiations with the FOP and the Village’s dispatch bargaining unit.  A full cost analysis of the Village’s dispatch center was completed and the yearly costs are as follows:

·         Labor- Wages $298,000   Overtime $54,000
·         Health insurance- $100,00
·         Social Security/IMRF- $76,000
·         Workers compensation coverage- $9,244
·         Consultant fees- Attorney fees (negotiations, grievances, litigation) $7,500
·         Uniform allowance- $3,150

Total projected yearly costs to run the dispatch center this year would have exceeded $600,000.00.

This Cost Did Not Account For: 

Overhead/Equipment Upgrade- $500,000 (federal mandate). Equipment is near the end of its useful life- replacement is $1.5 - $2 million.

Future increases- wages, insurance etc. 2%-7% annually ($10,500 to $37,000 annual increase)

Their costs were discussed with the Village board.  The Village board requested comparison costs of contracting out the Village’s dispatch services.  When the board reviewed the costs, the entire board, all agreed contracting out was the direction the Village had to go. By contracting out we eliminate wages, overtime, healthcare, and retirement contributions the Village currently makes. This means an immediate savings of approximately $300,000 per year. 

Because the village was in the midst of negotiations I or the board could not speak publicly about possibly outsourcing our dispatch services.  Moreover, we had to give the union and its members an opportunity to meet or beat the savings the Village would see if it privatized its dispatch center.  After meeting with the union, the union was unable to meet or beat the savings the Village presented to them.

I want to be clear, on behalf of myself and the board, this move is no way a reflection on the work performed by our dispatchers or them individually.   This was purely a financial decision and had nothing to do with our dispatchers’ abilities or work performed over the years.  In fact, we have advised the FOP we will do whatever we can in finding them work with other dispatch centers.

With the advancement of technology many communities are moving in this direction.  No longer do municipalities’ need its own dispatch center or have a dispatch center within its municipal boundaries.  Dispatch centers are essentially high tech call centers that can be located anywhere without a reduction in response time to those in need.

Again this is purely a financial decision.  This will save the Village approximately $300,000 a year, over $1.5 million in 5 years, and $3 million over ten years.

In closing, Sauk Village had five full time dispatchers whose union contact was not renewed, with a budget that was projected to exceed $600,000.00 a year. Two out of the five dispatchers live in Indiana and one lived in Sauk Village. All full and part timers were offered employment with the new Joint Dispatch Center and all refused.

Mayor David A. Hanks
Sauk Village, Illinois


Meet the Mayor Q&A March 2015

1.      Last Tuesday’s board meeting brought up some interesting questions.
Why have the last Mayoral appointments to various boards and commissions lacked diversity?
Good question! The simple answer is – a letter of interest must be submitted in order to be considered for an appointment.

  1. Information Transparency: that the public understands the workings of their government (including freedom of information initiatives; open data and Big [Public] Data efforts, including open data portals; procurement, budget, and policy transparency (e.g. voting records, meeting minutes, political finance transparency);

  1. Public engagement: that the public can influence the workings of their government by engaging in governmental policy processes and service delivery programs (including e-government services; open311 and service delivery feedback loops; stakeholder and participatory processes – e.g. participatory budgeting, town hall meetings, both online and offline; electoral processes); and

  1. Accountability: that the public can hold the government to account for its policy and service delivery performance (including anti-corruption mechanisms – e.g. auditing, ombudsmen; conflicts of interest and influence peddling safeguards).


7.      Q – Is there any way to keep people from placing cameras in resident’s faces at village board meetings? A – It is the Mayors responsibility to keep order and decorum at village board meetings. The board and I do not agree with bullying or harassing residents. This issue will be reviewed and if it persists the board may need to consider changing its policy on cameras in the board room however, that would be a board decision.

8.      Q - What is up with the car washes? A – While looking for cost savings initiatives Trustee Morden looked at what the Police Department spends on car washes each year and suggested re-negotiating the current cost to a lower cost.

9.      Q - Is anything happening with Crime Free Housing? A – Crime free housing in non-home rule communities was challenged. Currently, Sauk Village’s crime free ordinance is in place however, landlords can volunteer to be involved. On a good note, there is a bill in Springfield which would allow non-home rule communities to adopt/enforce crime free housing ordinances (SB 1496).  

10.  Q - What is happening with Economic Development? A – Sauk Village is a growing community with an aggressive plan for enrichment and economic development. The Village has worked diligently to prepare properties near its border for mutually beneficial development. Community planning for growth has led the Village to create three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts. All of the Village’s industrial areas are also located in a State Certified Enterprise Zone. Sales and property tax incentives are available and subject to negotiation.

The Village actively encourages economic development to maintain and expand its property and sales tax bases. The Village's economic development efforts are directed at business attraction and retention.

The Village has implemented the following business attraction/retention activities:
·         Enterprise Zone
·         TIF Districts
·         Cook County Classification Incentive
·         Potential Sales/Sharing Tax Incentives
·         Workforce Tax Incentives

11.  Q - What is the new debt recovery committee and what will they accomplish? A – Thanks to Trustee Myers the Sauk Village debt recovery committee was formed. While looking for cost savings initiatives Trustee Myers questions the outstanding fines and fees owed to the village and started researching what action the village could take. The purpose of this new committee under the direction of Trustee Myers is to work with our collections agency and to expedite recovery of debt owed to the village. The committee along with Trustee Myers will consist of individuals from administration, finance, IT, legal and the collection agency.

12.  Q - When does the village draw the line between resident help and outside help? A – Sauk Village has always depended and looks to its volunteers and this administration continues to support and appreciates our volunteers.

13.  Q - What is the status on well #3? A - On March 3rd Village Engineer Jim Czarnik presented on the current status of our water and the presentation can be found on the village’s website at: http://www.saukvillage.org/PDF/2015/COW_Presentation_030315.pdf

14.  Q - What is Sauk Village doing about kids walking in the streets, and is it being enforced? A – This remains a challenge and the Sauk Village Police Department continues to enforce this issue however, it’s especially challenging in the winter when sidewalks are full of snow and the only clear area to walk is our streets.

15.  Q - Are tickets issued to the kids or the parents? A - Currently, tickets are issued to the individual breaking the law. Trustee Myers and his committee (Ordinance Review Committee) is reviewing Sauk Village’s parental responsibility ordinance. 

16.  Q - What about the poor street lighting throughout the village? A - Sauk Village is pleased to announce our comprehensive program to replace all of our community's 520 road way streetlights. Sauk Village has 100-400 watt fixtures (465 fixture watts) being replaced with 200 watt Induction fixtures. We also have 420-250 watt fixtures (300 fixture watts) being replaced with 100 watt induction fixtures. Couple with high efficiency photo cells, the total project will save an estimated $60,000 per year in energy cost.

Besides the energy savings, Sauk Village citizens will be safer with the crisp white light and very high visual acuity of solid-state induction lighting.

Working with American Green Technology (AGT), Sauk Village won an Illinois Clean Energy Foundation grant of $35,000. The grant, coupled with a leasing program through a financing partner of AGT, Sauk Village will complete the project with no cash out of pocket. The terms of the lease will actually result in a positive cash flow, even during the term of repayment.

The Mayor and Board are pleased to bring these benefits to the citizens of Sauk Village: significant energy savings, eliminate routine lighting maintenance, better quality lighting, and a greener more environmentally responsible community.

17.  Q - Do you feel like we have a bobble head village board? A - Sauk Village does not have a bobble head board. Board members are free thinkers and do a lot of research prior to voting. Just because a Trustee doesn’t ask a question in a board meeting doesn’t make them a bobble head. It is the Trustee responsibility to do their homework prior to the meeting and know the subject at hand. There may be some final clarification questions at a village board meeting however, it is also the Mayors job to provide as much information as possible so the board is well informed. Example, when you were in school you didn’t come the day of a test and ask the teacher to explain the subject. 

18.  Q - What would have happened if this administration wouldn’t have moved forward with the Attorney General and IEPA’s direction concerning our wells? A – Sauk Village was looking at more litigation and was on the verge of the State and Attorney General coming in and taking over Sauk Village. I am pleased to inform the residents that this administration is working to resolve the issues by working with the Attorney General and the IEPA instead of working against what is right.

19.  Q - Is there any way for Sauk Village to gain control of Cook County Forest Preserve property? A – Sauk Village does have Cook County Forest Preserve property to the South and East of Sauk Village. Forest Preserve property cannot be acquired or built upon (residential, commercial, retail, etc.) however, Sauk Village has reached out to Cook County to request an intergovernmental agreement for recreation and open land space for additional park space.

20.  Q - How does openings in committee and commissions get communicated to village residents? A – When there are openings announcements are made at village board meetings. If residents would like to volunteer they can submit letters to the Mayor. The Mayor informs the board of those interested and the Mayor makes the appointments with consent and approval of the village board.

21.  Q - What are the plans for the upcoming budget? A – Trustees have received the current budget through December which is 67% through the budget year. Trustees will have time to review and the board will start budget hearings in February or March. I have also already asked department heads to submit their proposed department budget for 2015/2016. Below is a stoplight view of our current budget through January 2015
     

22.  Q - What is the village doing about misleading information? A – There are those that mislead and do their best to slow Sauk Village from “Moving Forward.” These are bitter individuals that are looking for attention and this administration does not recognize them as most of them and their followers are not even Sauk Village residents. All I can do is to encourage residents to participate in village board meetings, meet the mayor events and ask questions. As one of the presenters stated at a recent town hall meeting...remember and consider the source.

23.  Q - Is there a budget surplus? A - Sauk Village has never nor does it have a surplus and the budgets are based on the projected revenues (property taxes, sales, taxes, licenses, fines, fees, etc.) for the following year. As we look at his year’s budget we will continue to work towards reducing our debt as we have for the previous two years.

24.  Q - What is the village doing about communicating to the residents? A – Sauk Village communicates through the following:
a.      Village board meetings
b.      Sauk Talk
c.       E-Blast
d.      Village website
e.       Sauk Village information Facebook page
f.        Village marquee
g.      Notices posted at village hall and library
h.      Mayor and Trustees meeting with residents, newsletters and their personal Facebook pages
  
25.  Q - Infrastructure projects A – See chart below



Other projects include:
·         Fire hydrant repairs/replacement.
·         Street light replacement with energy efficient fixtures
·         Repairs of areas located in leak detection survey
·         Replacement of curb boxes (B-boxes) and jetting
·         Tree removal

26.  Q - What programs does Sauk Village have for children? A – Trustee Poskin could answer this question the best. His committee has increased the programs for Sauk Village children every year for the last two years and are providing more programs than any committee prior. To name a few programs under Trustee Poskin and the Parks and Recs Committee:
a.      Basketball (Winter & Summer Programs)
b.      Corn & Dog Roast
c.       Trunk or Treat
d.      Santa Parade
e.       Easter Event
f.        Game Nights
g.      Cheerleading
h.      Movie Night
i.        Right Start Sumer Youth Program
j.        Baseball Camp

Under the direction of Trustee Poskin the committee are planning more programs for Sauk Village youth in FY2015 

Meet the Mayor Q&A February 2015

Administration:
1.      Q – Is there any way to keep people from placing cameras in resident’s faces at village board meetings? A – It is the Mayors responsibility to keep order and decorum at village board meetings. The board and I do not agree with bullying or harassing residents. This issue will be reviewed and if it persists the board may need to consider changing its policy on cameras in the board room however, that would be a board decision.

2.      Q - What is up with the car washes? A – While looking for cost savings initiatives Trustee Morden looked at what the Police Department spends on car washes each year and suggested re-negotiating the current cost to a lower cost.

3.      Q - Is anything happening with Crime Free Housing? A – Crime free housing in non-home rule communities was challenged. Currently, Sauk Village’s crime free ordinance is in place however, landlords can volunteer to be involved. On a good note, there is a bill in Springfield which would allow non-home rule communities to adopt/enforce crime free housing ordinances (SB 1496).  

4.      Q - What is happening with Economic Development? A – Sauk Village is a growing community with an aggressive plan for enrichment and economic development. The Village has worked diligently to prepare properties near its border for mutually beneficial development. Community planning for growth has led the Village to create three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts. All of the Village’s industrial areas are also located in a State Certified Enterprise Zone. Sales and property tax incentives are available and subject to negotiation.

The Village actively encourages economic development to maintain and expand its property and sales tax bases. The Village's economic development efforts are directed at business attraction and retention.

The Village has implemented the following business attraction/retention activities:
·         Enterprise Zone
·         TIF Districts
·         Cook County Classification Incentive
·         Potential Sales/Sharing Tax Incentives
·         Workforce Tax Incentives

5.      Q - What is the new debt recovery committee and what will they accomplish? A – Thanks to Trustee Myers the Sauk Village debt recovery committee was formed. While looking for cost savings initiatives Trustee Myers questions the outstanding fines and fees owed to the village and started researching what action the village could take. The purpose of this new committee under the direction of Trustee Myers is to work with our collections agency and to expedite recovery of debt owed to the village. The committee along with Trustee Myers will consist of individuals from administration, finance, IT, legal and the collection agency.

6.      Q - When does the village draw the line between resident help and outside help? A – Sauk Village has always depended and looks to its volunteers and this administration continues to support and appreciates our volunteers.

7.      Q - What is the status on well #3? A - On March 3rd Village Engineer Jim Czarnik presented on the current status of our water and the presentation can be found on the village’s website at: http://www.saukvillage.org/PDF/2015/COW_Presentation_030315.pdf

8.      Q - What is Sauk Village doing about kids walking in the streets, and is it being enforced? A – This remains a challenge and the Sauk Village Police Department continues to enforce this issue however, it’s especially challenging in the winter when sidewalks are full of snow and the only clear area to walk is our streets.

9.      Q - Are tickets issued to the kids or the parents? A - Currently, tickets are issued to the individual breaking the law. Trustee Myers and his committee (Ordinance Review Committee) is reviewing Sauk Village’s parental responsibility ordinance. 

10.  Q - What about the poor street lighting throughout the village? A - Sauk Village is pleased to announce our comprehensive program to replace all of our community's 520 road way streetlights. Sauk Village has 100-400 watt fixtures (465 fixture watts) being replaced with 200 watt Induction fixtures. We also have 420-250 watt fixtures (300 fixture watts) being replaced with 100 watt induction fixtures. Couple with high efficiency photo cells, the total project will save an estimated $60,000 per year in energy cost.

Besides the energy savings, Sauk Village citizens will be safer with the crisp white light and very high visual acuity of solid-state induction lighting.

Working with American Green Technology (AGT), Sauk Village won an Illinois Clean Energy Foundation grant of $35,000. The grant, coupled with a leasing program through a financing partner of AGT, Sauk Village will complete the project with no cash out of pocket. The terms of the lease will actually result in a positive cash flow, even during the term of repayment.

The Mayor and Board are pleased to bring these benefits to the citizens of Sauk Village: significant energy savings, eliminate routine lighting maintenance, better quality lighting, and a greener more environmentally responsible community.

11.  Q - Do you feel like we have a bobble head village board? A - Sauk Village does not have a bobble head board. Board members are free thinkers and do a lot of research prior to voting. Just because a Trustee doesn’t ask a question in a board meeting doesn’t make them a bobble head. It is the Trustee responsibility to do their homework prior to the meeting and know the subject at hand. There may be some final clarification questions at a village board meeting however, it is also the Mayors job to provide as much information as possible so the board is well informed. Example, when you were in school you didn’t come the day of a test and ask the teacher to explain the subject. 

12.  Q - What would have happened if this administration wouldn’t have moved forward with the Attorney General and IEPA’s direction concerning our wells? A – Sauk Village was looking at more litigation and was on the verge of the State and Attorney General coming in and taking over Sauk Village. I am pleased to inform the residents that this administration is working to resolve the issues by working with the Attorney General and the IEPA instead of working against what is right.

13.  Q - Is there any way for Sauk Village to gain control of Cook County Forest Preserve property? A – Sauk Village does have Cook County Forest Preserve property to the South and East of Sauk Village. Forest Preserve property cannot be acquired or built upon (residential, commercial, retail, etc.) however, Sauk Village has reached out to Cook County to request an intergovernmental agreement for recreation and open land space for additional park space.

14.  Q - How does openings in committee and commissions get communicated to village residents? A – When there are openings announcements are made at village board meetings. If residents would like to volunteer they can submit letters to the Mayor. The Mayor informs the board of those interested and the Mayor makes the appointments with consent and approval of the village board.

15.  Q - What are the plans for the upcoming budget? A – Trustees have received the current budget through December which is 67% through the budget year. Trustees will have time to review and the board will start budget hearings in February or March. I have also already asked department heads to submit their proposed department budget for 2015/2016. Below is a stoplight view of our current budget through January 2015
     

16.  Q - What is the village doing about misleading information? A – There are those that mislead and do their best to slow Sauk Village from “Moving Forward.” These are bitter individuals that are looking for attention and this administration does not recognize them as most of them and their followers are not even Sauk Village residents. All I can do is to encourage residents to participate in village board meetings, meet the mayor events and ask questions. As one of the presenters stated at a recent town hall meeting...remember and consider the source.

17.  Q - Is there a budget surplus? A - Sauk Village has never nor does it have a surplus and the budgets are based on the projected revenues (property taxes, sales, taxes, licenses, fines, fees, etc.) for the following year. As we look at his year’s budget we will continue to work towards reducing our debt as we have for the previous two years.

18.  Q - What is the village doing about communicating to the residents? A – Sauk Village communicates through the following:
a.      Village board meetings
b.      Sauk Talk
c.       E-Blast
d.      Village website
e.       Sauk Village information Facebook page
f.        Village marquee
g.      Notices posted at village hall and library
h.      Mayor and Trustees meeting with residents, newsletters and their personal Facebook pages

19.  Q - Infrastructure projects A – See chart below
Other projects include:
·         Fire hydrant repairs/replacement.
·         Street light replacement with energy efficient fixtures
·         Repairs of areas located in leak detection survey
·         Replacement of curb boxes (B-boxes) and jetting
·         Tree removal

20.  Q - What programs does Sauk Village have for children? A – Trustee Poskin could answer this question the best. His committee has increased the programs for Sauk Village children every year for the last two years and are providing more programs than any committee prior. To name a few programs under Trustee Poskin and the Parks and Recs Committee:
a.      Basketball (Winter & Summer Programs)
b.      Corn & Dog Roast
c.       Trunk or Treat
d.      Santa Parade
e.       Easter Event
f.        Game Nights
g.      Cheerleading
h.      Movie Night
i.        Right Start Sumer Youth Program
j.        Baseball Camp

Under the direction of Trustee Poskin the committee are planning more programs for Sauk Village youth in FY2015