Residents Glad Not To Have Appointed Trustee ‘Shoved Down Our Throats’

Oak Lawn residents and applicants interested in filling a rare village board vacancy agreed on one thing Tuesday evening during a public forum to select his replacement:

Hurckes watched the public forum hosted by Mayor Dave Heilmann at , during which applicants interested in filling his seat on the introduced themselves to Dist. 1 voters.

“As you go through politics, the temptation in this process is to say, ‘OK, now I can get my person to side with and be loyal to me,’” Heilmann said.

“I sense we’re together on this. We’re so tired and exhausted from everything in Washington to the state of Illinois to even local government,” the mayor added.

Most of the 100 residents who attended Tuesday’s public forum were pleased to be part of the process. The mayor has 60 days to make a recommendation to fill the vacancy to the village board in accordance with Illinois Municipal Law. The village board votes to accept or reject the appointment.

“It was a nice gesture,” Oak Lawn resident Pam Koziol said. “We didn’t get anybody shoved down our throat. We got to talk about it. I was just happy that we actually had a meeting.”

“nobody bowled me over,” Mike Koziol said.

Barbara Trusk, a 38-year resident of Oak Lawn, said it was sad that more residents didn’t vote in the April election.

“It was very good to be part of something positive, considering what is going on with politics lately,” Trusk said.

A resident named Sue, who did not wish to give her last name, said she was disappointed that more residents didn’t turn out to the forum.

“This is typical how elections go. People are so uninvolved and non-caring,” Sue said. “They’re the first ones to moan and cry.”

trustees are paid an annual stipend of $7,200. Trustees also have the option of selecting health insurance through the village. Those who don’t opt for the insurance earn a little extra in their stipends—about $800.

A trustee puts in a minimum of 25 hours per week serving on committees, solving villagers’ problems, and immersing himself or herself in budgets and policies.

Residents living in Dist. 1 have until Oct. 1 to let the mayor know who they would like to represent them on the village board. Residents must be registered to vote in Dist. 1.

The mayor hopes to bring residents’ recommendation to the village board for a public vote next month. To voice your preference for Dist. 1 trustee, email the mayor at dheilmann@oaklawn-il.gov.

STARTING THURSDAY, Patch will begin featuring applicants’ videotaped statements from Tuesday’s forum on why they’re the best person to represent Dist. 1 on the village board.