March 9, 2025 • 32 mins
Colleen is a lifelong Mokenian and a sales professional. This is Colleen's first time running for elected office. She is running for the 2 year term.
Get to know Colleen Patrick-Lenart and be sure to vote on April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th!
She is running with the Friends of Mokena. Their website is FriendsofMokena.com
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Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I'm like I just put mine on airplane.
I'm sorry.
No, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And it's rich.
Did you forget?
I had my meeting with Israeltonight.
How dare you?
I'm here now.
He just said how dare you?
This is part of the podcast now.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Colleen, thank you very much for sitting down with
me, and you're running forvillage trustee this election.
Just today I got another one ofthe mailers from the friends of
Mokina, so you guys are activecampaigning.
So thank you for taking time tosit down with me.
And first just tell me what doyou think about this?
Have you run before I have?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
not no.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So what's this been like?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
so far for you.
It's been interesting beingpart of the process.
Government is something I'vealways been interested in.
I studied out in DC for a shorttime while I was in college oh
nice.
So getting involved ingovernment is something I've
always wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, yeah.
And what has it done?
I know you guys had the meetand greets.
What else is going on?
What are you guys?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
campaigning.
We had the one meet and greet.
So far.
We have two more coming up.
We've been getting out signsand we're going to start
knocking doors soon.
So it's just all part of theprocess, Nice.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
So tell us a little bit about yourself growing up.
You grew up in Molkina, butkind of tell us about you.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, I grew up in Molkina in Brightway.
It was great.
There was a lot of kids there.
We played outside a lot.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
And your whole life.
You were born there, Born andraised here.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So yeah, mom and dad's house.
They built in 1973.
Wow, so then and I actuallystill live there I bought the
home after their passing, soit's kind of nice to keep it in
the family.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
How much has that Brightway developed or grown up
since you?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
were a kid.
Not a lot, Not a lot.
Yeah, a lot the same.
There's a few new houses hereand there, but for the most part
it's the same.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
There's some really nice houses Newer ones being
built in there.
A real mix, that's actually oneof the first areas.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Uh, we had put a bit on a house for when we moved.
It's beautiful, mature wooded,lots, so that's, I think, what's
very attractive.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah real quiet back there and you have a direct
connection to the the forestpreserve trail.
We're right next door.
Yeah, that's awesome beautifulproperty there, uh, so, um, tell
us about your family, my family.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
see, I'm the youngest of six.
Wow, so I have four sisters anda brother.
Um, so that that was alwaysinteresting.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Have they all stayed in the area?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Um no, unfortunately I did lose a sister several
years ago.
Um my brother Mark.
He lives in Florida.
My sister Renee lives inAlabama.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
My sister Sean is in Minnesota and my sister Kelly's
local in New Lenox.
Okay, wow, so what kept you?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
here.
You said you went, you kind ofyou studied government in DC for
a while.
Yeah, so I left home, I wentthrough Mokena schools, went
through Lincoln Way and attendedSt Mary's College in Notre Dame
and that's where I had theopportunity to study abroad,
abroad in DC.
Okay, so I did my senior thesisin my internship.
While I was there I worked forthe House Judiciary Committee
Really.
So that's kind of where I gotmy start Interesting, yeah, but
(03:14):
you know my interest ingovernment goes back to Mokina.
I don't know if I'm getting offtrack here.
No no please, but Mr Quinn hewas such a history buff.
He didn't need a text.
His mind is so full of allthese facts and what was your
connection to him?
He was my eighth grade historyteacher, history teacher sixth,
(03:34):
seventh and eighth grade andthen constitution class that we
were required to take fromeighth grade.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Wow, what do you remember from those classes?
What was that like?
What was Mr Quinn like?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
He was very interesting, very stern, but he
wanted you to succeed.
But he was full of factoids.
So I don't know a single loadedmuzzle, loading Springfield
rifle, you know things he wouldspit out.
It's just factoids you don'tget from a book, you know.
So he started my love forhistory and government get from
(04:07):
a book, you know.
So he started my love forhistory in in government and did
they do a dc trip then ineighth grade they did, but that
trip ended with my sister sean,oh so four years before I would
have had the opportunity to go.
Oh, that's too bad?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
yeah, because I've seen him post pictures of some
of the I think some of the dctrips he had he had hosted,
hosted in yeah, so all the oldersiblings got to go, except for
me, so okay, what?
What other memories do you haveof growing up in Molkina?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Just playing a lot, having the freedom to go around
town and it was safe All thefairs.
My parents they taught us at anearly age to be involved with
the community and they lived byexample.
So Mom and Dad.
Dad was in the Lions Club.
He worked his way through theladders, became president of the
club.
Mom was always involved in StJohn's president of the church,
(04:51):
council, girl Scouts, you nameit just being involved and
giving back.
So we were always encouraged tobe a part of something.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
With six kids, that couldn't have been easy to still
spend so much time beinginvolved.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I often wonder how they did it, because they ran a
business too.
So I really don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yeah, what was the business?
What did they do?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
It was a commercial flooring installation business
my dad started in 1966.
And actually after post-collegeI came home and was looking to
stay in my field.
I was going to go down toSpringfield and my mom got sick
and I'd always worked in thebusiness in some kind of
capacity.
But after she fell ill starteda year-long journey in the
(05:34):
hospital.
I stepped into that role andwhen was that it was in 2001.
Okay, so I was fresh out ofcollege and that was a little
daunting at first because youknow, juggling time at the
hospital and running a businesswas not easy, especially when it
was so new to me.
So it was kind of baptism byfire, if you will.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
And that was back.
Here Is the business based outof Mokina.
It was Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So I ran it for 20 years and after my dad passed,
my head was not in the rightplace to keep it going and a lot
of people told me just put on ahole, think about what you want
to do.
But you don't put the union ona hole, or insurance or overhead
.
So I made a difficult decisionto dissolve the business after
51 years.
Wow yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Wow.
So what happened then?
Did you go back to work?
Of course, I'm too young forthat.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I still stayed in flooring and I currently work
for a very small company, momand pop shop, just like working
for mom and dad.
So that's still what I'm doing,so talk a little bit about that
a little more.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
What do you do?
What does that?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
involve I'm in sales flooring, I work with
contractors.
I work with designers, builders, homeowners as well how people
choose to make selections forflooring and materials that's
right for the project.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
And what do you love about it?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I love working with people.
Yeah, yeah, I'm very much apeople person, so that's easy.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Are you going into people's homes?
Is it businesses?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
mostly A lot of businesses Commercial, we do
residential, mostly inside salesVery different from the role I
had working for mom and dadwhere I dealt with mainly
contractors and builders andarchitects.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
And you said 51 years that business was open and that
can't be.
I'm sure that was a strugglegoing through.
What kind of lessons did youlearn going through that process
?
What kind of lessons did youlearn going through that process
?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Wow, yeah, there were lean times and there were good
times, especially with sixmouths to feed.
Business wasn't always there,so you have to learn to live
within your means.
Mom and dad were veryresponsible in that way, because
to bring up six kids and haveeight mouths at the table every
night yeah, when business isn'tgreat, is can be a struggle yeah
(07:48):
, and you know, bringing that toa close.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You know, uh, as you know, you had to end that
business or you decided todissolve it.
Um, you know what do you?
What did that teach you, or anyany lessons you learned off of
that from that experience, fromdissolving the business, from,
from having to go throughshifting your career, closing
down this business?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It was a difficult time, for sure, because I say
the three hardest things to doin life is to lose a loved one,
to relocate and to start a newcareer.
And I kind of did all three atonce, wow, because I was
dissolving the business wepurchased the family home, and
then I was switchingving thebusiness.
We purchased the family home,and then I was switching careers
, oh my gosh, it was, it was.
It was a lot, because my dad wasmy business partner, my dad, my
(08:31):
friend.
We went a lot through each witheach other with my mom's
illness.
I learned so much.
There was a 11 year journeywith her wow, not being well.
So, um, yeah, we went through alot because mom had 24-hour
care for 11 years and I managedall of that too.
So, yeah, takeaways from that.
It's just sometimes a freshstart is just what you need.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, and that's what I did do you look back now and
realize I mean, are you stillhappy with the decision you
think it was?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
there are days I have regrets yeah, yeah, because
working for yourself, um, bringswith it a freedom you don't get
from working for somebody else,but at the same time, um, you
can close the door at night andgo home and not have to think
about the bills or youremployees.
So that's kind of you know andyou're married.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Tell us about your fine husband.
Yeah, I'm married to Rich.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Rich and I met in 2001.
We lived in Lansing for a shorttime where he owned a four flat
, and we decided we wanted tobuy a home.
So the first home we boughttogether was on Bryant Road here
in Mokena, where we lived for13 years before we purchased the
house in Brightway.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Nice, yeah, and Rich is my vice president of the
Lions Club and very active and agreat all-around guy.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I'll give him that.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
He enjoys his time with the club?
Yeah, we have a lot of fun.
What do you remember of yourdad talking about his time in
the Lions Club?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Oh, he enjoyed it immensely.
It's something that he waswholeheartedly behind, you know,
because there's, you know, alot of times a lot of the work
falls on a few Sure, and he madesure he was there for Candy Day
and for handing out baskets andbeing part of the meetings and
getting the firecracker dancegoing, because I know it was a
much smaller deal then and theyhelped to grow it.
(10:20):
Yeah, um yeah, and just meetingall the guys, and they used to
have a father-daughter dinnerthat we used to be a part of so
we really were intimate with theclub.
We knew all the people who werepart of it and um.
So a lot of fond memories there.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
A lot of fond memories so one thing we'll talk
a little bit more about is, youknow, the desire for change in
downtown.
But having a perspective ofgrowing up in Mokina, what are
some of your memories ofdowntown Mokina?
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Oh, how much time do we have?
Gosh, downtown, mokina.
I mean at the time there youhad Dave's Auto Body, you had
Tuttle's Moquina sales, big gyms, a pizza, all these landmarks,
but I think mainly it was it wasMoquina sales.
And then the pharmacy was rightnext door.
So many hours spent in therewith the Tuttle's, with great
(11:10):
people.
You could buy your mom aMother's Day gift and then go
get your your prescription nextdoor.
I don't know just the familyfeel, because you go in there
and you know everybody, you seeyour friends, you see your
neighbors, the people you go tochurch with.
And then just Mr Tuttle woulddress up as Santa every year.
(11:31):
Oh yeah, and you know kidsalways get to a point where they
kind of start to not believe.
And we'd walk in there and he'dsay, oh, say, oh well, here
come the Patrick girls.
And then name us one by one.
So I think you know he kept us,you know, believing just a
little bit longer.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Yeah, it was.
I thought it was cool he didthat.
It's an interesting perspectivetoo, because there's not a lot
of us there's you know, mokena'sa lot of new people in town, so
not everybody has thatperspective of a vibrant
downtown and what it could be,right um.
So I think that's aninteresting perspective for you
to have and you know I'll beable to share.
So you also serve on a villagecommission is that right the
(12:11):
community affairs commissionokay so talk about that.
What's that experience beenlike?
Speaker 2 (12:16):
that it's been great.
Um, currently, right now, we'reonly doing um cleanup day that
we organize, but we used to bein, uh, the host of
beautification awards, and thathas been temporarily suspended,
so, um, we're looking to addmore to what the committee does
you know why that?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
why they don't do the beautification awards anymore
not 100.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Sure, I know that there was some confusion with
with people moving on afterthey'd won a lifetime
achievement and maybe someconfusion in that regard.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
That little house on Front Street in Division, there
on the tracks, had a lifetimebeautification award that I
don't think it deserved.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Well, see, there you go.
That's probably part of theproblem.
There's new owners now and theydo a great owners now, but yeah
, keeping the the records likethat, so yeah, anything else
that, um, you know you got to bea part of, or I don't know what
those commissions do.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
You guys have meetings or what do?
You.
We still do just kind ofplanning meetings for the
cleanup day?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
yeah, because we try to get a lot of children
involved, because they it worksuh, community service, and it's
just a good thing for thecommunity.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Tell people what cleanup day is like.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Cleanup day.
We meet at the village hall at9 am.
We go to various parts of townand collect garbage.
We also plant wildflowers.
Right off of Wolf Road we planttrees.
We try to do it around EarthDay, so it's a nice community
event.
We serve lunch afterward andkids get their their community
service hours and the villagelooks better than it did when we
(13:45):
started yeah, what do youusually?
you know how many people youusually get coming out for that
oh 100 to 150 200 wow, yeah,it's pretty good it depends on
the year, definitely depends onthe weather well, sure, because
we've had some really nice daysand we've also been snowed on,
so yeah, oh, wow, really yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
So you get a little snow shovel and a garbage bag.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So what made you want to be a village trustee um, I
just say I've been a friend ofthe moquina for a long time, a
supporter of them uh, forprobably about 20 years, whether
it be by putting out signage orcollecting signatures.
I trust in the board.
They've done good things and Iknow, with somebody stepping
(14:28):
down, I filled that two-yearterm.
I thought it was a goodopportunity to get involved.
It's something I've wanted todo to give back to the community
.
It's given back so much to me.
It's something I've wanted todo to give back to the community
.
It's given back so much to me.
So, yeah, in the past too,while I lived on Bryant Road, I
served as judge of elections.
I was my precinct committeeman,so I just figured.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
This is just another way to give back and your race
is a little different.
It's a two-year term, as yousaid.
You're running to fill the termof trustee Germany.
No, smith, I know too manyTerrys on the board.
(15:10):
Yeah, terry Smith, sorry, terryGerman.
Terry Smith resigned and thenJim Roberts was appointed and
now it's you and Nick Clancyrunning for the two-year term,
correct?
So just maybe tell us why whatyou think you offer and that
you'd bring to the board as atrustee.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I think what you mentioned a little bit ago about
having a unique perspectiveinto the old Mokina, I think
that you know, as on alloccasions you get to a point,
whether it be in government orin your church, you see the
elders kind of passing the batonand I think that I have a deep
connection to still the oldMokina and new as well.
(15:44):
I think having a pulse on bothbrings a unique perspective to
running as trustee, to involveeverybody, hear everybody's
wants and needs for the downtownarea, for the village, hear
everybody's wants and needs forthe downtown area, for the
village, and not just you knowtaking one person's side, if
(16:07):
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
How do you think that your professional background
helps, would help you to be abetter trustee.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I think managing a business is much like running a
village or helping to manage avillage All the different roles
you take on, whether it bedealing with your patrons, your
customers, your vendors, yoursuppliers Within business.
You have to be fiscallyresponsible and that's something
I bring to the table becauseit's something I had to deal
with and then also having tomanage people and deal with
(16:34):
people.
Communicating effectively is sovery important.
The ability to listen is evenmore important.
They say you've got two earsand one mouth.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
That's a good one.
And how do you see the role ofa trustee?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
The trustees need to work together as a team.
The mayor sets the agenda andwe need to work together as a
board to make sure that we areputting forth the residents of
Mokena first and hear them,listen to them and achieve what
it is that they want to see.
We may not always see eye toeye in the board, but we work
for it as a team because we areworking for the village.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So what are some ways that you think the village
could improve how theycommunicate with residents?
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I think they're pretty transparent now and you
know you can attend boardmeetings.
Those are open to the public,which is nice, so as far as I
don't know that they really needto increase the way that they
Pause, I think they'retransparent Because I know that
(17:44):
this came up at our meet andgreet and because everything is
online, you're able to see allof that.
I think that if you'reinterested enough, you're going
to seek out that information.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Okay, as we talked a little bit about downtown,
that's something that I thinkevery resident, especially
residents that live downtown,would love to see an active
downtown.
What do you think there'ssomething that you could do as a
trustee, a real thing you coulddo that would make a difference
in our downtown?
Speaker 2 (18:15):
As far as attracting meaningful business, everyone
I've talked to when they foundout I was running for the things
you hear about are places toeat, places to shop, so that we
can keep things local.
So anything I can do in thatregard to encourage meaningful
business that's going to bemeaningful for our village, our
residents, I will certainly tryand do.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
If you could wave a magic wand over Front Street or
downtown Mokena, what would itlook like to you?
Speaker 2 (18:44):
It would look much like it did when I was growing
up it was full, it was busy,people shopped there.
People were constantly in thedowntown area.
I know things have changed overtime.
Places have come and placeshave gone.
We want to get people to stayis what we need to do, and if we
bring a meaningful business toMokena, I think that our
(19:07):
residents patronizing theseplaces people are going to have
the longevity that we need andnot just start up and then leave
in a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Trustee Matanis actually talked a little bit
about it, but also in the ideaof this, the shifting of how
businesses work and how us asconsumers work, with less going
in, actually going into a storeor walking down the front street
.
You know we're much likely toeither go online or you get in
our car and drive down to youknow Meyer or somewhere.
(19:37):
How do you think we wouldembrace that as a community or
with a downtown that's stillviable but also takes those kind
of things into consideration?
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I think, supporting shopping local.
You know, you have places suchas an English Garden I don't buy
flowers from anybody but kim um, these are places that we want
to have in towns, these small,um, not box store, brand name
stores that you can go tosomething truly unique that
you're not going to findanywhere else, something that
(20:09):
you're not going to find online,something you're not going to
find on amazon, um, andsomething with a small town
charm, you know yeah, and it'skind of that idea of you know
breeding community or havingthat be the thought right to to
go.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
yeah, not just go on ftdcom, but you know go on
englishgardencom or you knowyeah, supporting local and
walking into the store, uh, butyeah, finding ways to create
connections with people.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Which is meaningful, because I think that some people
hear the revitalization ofdowntown maybe somehow will ruin
our small town feel I don'tthink that's the case at all,
because now you're patronizinglocal business, small business.
You're going to run into yourfriends and your neighbors.
It keeps that small town feel,yeah, it keeps that small town?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
feel Any areas you?
Speaker 2 (21:07):
can think of within the village that the village
could either cut costs orgenerate new revenues.
Well, attracting meaningfulbusiness is going to generate
new revenue, that's for sure wecan do that.
As far as cutting costs, Ithink that we've been very
fiscally responsible, so that'snot a major concern.
I know people want to talkabout their tax dollars, but if
you open up that tax bill andyou look at those numbers,
what's one, two and three?
(21:28):
It's the schools.
You know schools and the firedepartment.
So I think our taxes as avillage are very low and we'll
continue to do that should weget elected.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yeah, one of the things the village is starting
to talk about is the idea ofbuilding a new, and we'll
continue to do that should weget elected.
One of the things the villageis starting to talk about is the
idea of building a new villagehall.
That's a huge effort and, as wesaw with the police station,
that took a number of years.
So I don't think it's somethingwe're necessarily talking about
breaking ground next year.
But again, if you kind of hadthat magic wand, what would you
(22:02):
like to see and where would youwant to see it?
What does it look like?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I've been asked this question before.
I think near the police stationmight not be a bad idea.
What does it look like?
I don't know.
Maybe something similar to whatit looks like now, but have it
be more modern, have it moreaccessible.
I don't know, maybe somethingsimilar to what it looks like
now, but have it be more modern,have it more accessible and
then hopefully too, in fashionwith the police station, use
very little tax dollars to buildit, just like the water
(22:29):
treatment plant, you know, keepthe cost low.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, you're running with a full slate, but you know
you talk about communication aswell.
So say you're in a scenariowhere you're elected with a
mixed slate.
What is something you can do towork to be an effective trustee
(22:51):
, even when you might havepeople in place that you don't
agree with or haven't run withor you have differences of
opinions with?
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Sure, well, that's going to happen, even with you
know, let's say the whole sitedid get elected.
There's going to be adifference of opinion.
It doesn't matter that you allran together.
That's where effectivecommunication comes in, because
at the end of the day, we haveto remember that we work for the
village of Molkina, we work forthe residents.
We're trying to bring thethings that they want to see.
So effective communication.
(23:21):
Yeah, there might bedisagreements, but then that's
when you work together to getthe hard stuff done.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
So what do you do?
What would your steps to makethat happen be?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Well, with any issue that might come up, there's
going to be two sides.
Right, You've got to weigh thepros and cons.
You have to listen to otherpeople.
Why do they believe what theybelieve?
I'll say what I believe.
Then come to some kind ofcommon ground Because, again, at
the end of the day, we do workfor the village.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Now it takes a lot of time and time commitment to be
a trustee.
Talk about, maybe, what youthink or you understand that
commitment to be.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
I know it's a time commitment, but it's not
something I would have, you know, delved into if I didn't think
that I could handle the timecommitment.
But yeah, the Monday meetings,work sessions, all of that, of
course, and there's ribboncuttings and other things that
you'll attend yeah, it's a timecommitment, but it's something
that's meaningful to me, whichis why I'm willing to commit the
(24:23):
time.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
And have you tell us about any experience, if you
have, you've had at boardmeetings any village board
meetings?
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I've been to a few here and there over the years,
not many.
I think it's great now thatthey're online, so if you don't
have time to attend, you canwatch them to come for your own
any reason you've gone aspecific thing you've gone for.
Do you remember to be nosy?
You know, sometimes they havethe hearings the public hearings
.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
So yeah, um, but nothing really like.
You need to get a proclamationfor like ribbon dancing or
anything in high school.
Okay, you never know so, as wejust start to wrap up, I have
some, you know, light, littlelighter questions.
And um uh, if you were talkingto a new resident in uh Mokina,
what advice would you give themto help them feel involved and
(25:12):
feel connected in town?
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I would say get involved with some of our local
organizations, such as Alliance.
I know that, uh, it's a greatway to get to know people.
Maybe get involved in thechamber if you're
business-minded.
We have our churches, there'sgroups, there's clubs.
There's lots of ways to beinvolved for children and adults
too.
So it's not just an adultresident growing up too, as I
(25:38):
said, it was part of the church,the youth groups that they have
.
So there's so many differentways within the community that
we can be involved.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Tell us what is your favorite breakfast restaurant
Favorite breakfast restaurant.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
We don't go out to eat a lot, but is it bad if it's
not in Mokina?
No, we do like to enjoy the,etc.
You could say your real one too.
We do like to go to ChefKlaus's Country Cooking.
Oh, that's a good one.
Yeah, yeah, Okay.
Or we could go down south andgo to a Waffle House.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Those are not bad too .
Yeah, how about you say youdon't go out much but you have a
favorite area restaurant?
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Chef Klaus's in Frankfurt.
Yes, they've issued.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
What do you have a go-to menu?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
item there.
Um, I don't, it's terrible.
I used to work for Klaus many,many years ago in the old
downtown location Um, so I'vehad everything on the menu since
.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
I don't know what it is, but we went for my mom's
birthday one year and got likethe big meat platter.
It was amazing.
I don't know what it's called,but get the big meat.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
It was like every kind of I don't know pork and
whatever beef shank the chefcalls his platter probably what
it was uh, what is your favorite?
Speaker 1 (26:58):
a Mokina community event.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Oh, it's got to be the 4th of July parade.
I'm a sucker for that that andthe firecracker dance.
I think that the Lions Clubdoes a great job.
It brings a lot of peopletogether and, honestly, as many
people as you see throughout theyear.
I find that a lot of times atthese events it's people I see
once a year, so it's alwayssomething to look forward to.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Yeah, yeah, you mentioned the parade.
What's your parade dayactivities?
Do you have a spot you go to?
There is.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
We go to right out in front of J&R Sales.
Oh okay, Since I was a littlekid I mean, of course, growing
up I didn't get to watch theparade because I was always in
band.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
But since graduating from high school, yeah, that's
what we're always at, so youwalked in some parades as a kid,
just a few.
Do you remember when the paradewas on Front Street?
I do, yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
I was just reading some old newspaper articles and
how it was such a bigcontroversy at the village when
that happened.
But what?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
do you remember about those days?
I remember people being reallyupset because we started the
high school or the grade schooland we came down wolf and went
down front and then you comeback out and around um yeah,
people were mad that it wasn'ton front street anymore what was
it like?
Speaker 1 (28:13):
you know what do you remember of it being on front
street?
How many people there were?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
they must have been like just jam-packed, but it was
the front street lookeddifferent then because the
parking was different.
Everything was set up just alittle bit different.
Yeah, I mean we're going backnow, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Well, you don't have to remember.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Well, florida wasn't as wide.
There were no streetlights,there were no sidewalks.
Oh, wow, it was much narrower.
So it was, yeah, it's adifferent time.
Wow, and that's back when LaPorte Road was a two-lane road.
So yeah, everything thelandscape has changed.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
The olden days, right yeah, what's?
Speaker 2 (28:55):
your favorite thing about Mokina?
The people, the people and thechurches.
I have a deep love for StJohn's and, just having grown up
here, I think that it's just agreat place to live.
I enjoyed how I grew up and Iwant to keep people here and
feel the way I did raising theirfamilies, having their kids
enjoy the things I did.
But it's definitely thecommunity and the events that we
(29:18):
have and it still does havethat small town feel.
I know some people make fun ofme.
They're like oh, you're fromMokina, you know, back in the
Laura Ingalls days.
We've come a long way, wecertainly have, and we can grow
and still have the small townfeel.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Now I want to loop back a little bit because we
didn't talk much about.
You mentioned DC and I'm asucker for DC, but I want to
talk a little bit about yourtime there and what you did in
government there and, you know,maybe talk about your experience
.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
It was great.
So at St Mary's we had aproject where we had to research
a representative.
So I chose Henry Hyde.
So I went to DC with theknowledge of knowing that he
chaired the House JudiciaryCommittee.
So I went to go get myinternship.
I went to his personal officeand they weren't hiring.
So I went over to the HouseJudiciary Committee and they
(30:16):
said when can you start?
My first day of work was theday the Star Report hit the
community Wow really Yep.
So, to say the least, they wereinundated.
Very exciting time to be in DCbecause of what was happening.
So, yeah, I was an intern, so Idid a lot of the grunt work,
but that's how DC works, that'show things get done by interns.
(30:38):
But it was neat being a part ofthe hearings.
I mean, we have a presidentwho's being impeached.
You learn a lot.
I enjoyed time talking with thecommittee parliamentarian.
He was so full of knowledge,being sent over to the Library
of Congress to go get the LindaTripp tapes which I had no idea
I was transporting until I gotthere.
Yes, wow.
(31:00):
So yeah, it was a very excitingtime.
They offered me a job before Icame back and I said I need to
go finish that second semestersenior year.
But that's how I knew I wouldget back and I knew it wouldn't
be in DC because that's not–while it was exciting, not for
me.
So that's why I knew at somepoint I would like to get
(31:23):
involved on the small level.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Yeah, dc was a bit much, and you never thought of
running for anything previously,prior to this.
No, no, okay.
Well, as we said, you'rerunning for the two-year term
and this one is really kind of ahead-on.
You know one-on-one, so I justwant to give you a second.
You can tell people why theythink you think you're the best
(31:43):
candidate and that they shouldvote for you.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
I think of the, the business acumen.
I bring my understanding of theinner workings of business,
having the pulse on old, mokenaand new, bringing in fresh
perspective.
I think that that's helpful andjust my deep love of the
community and I really want tolisten to people and get things
done.
I mean, we've all wanted to seea revitalized downtown area and
(32:09):
if I can be a part of thatprocess I welcome it.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Great Well, I appreciate you taking time to
talk to me and make sure you canwatch all of our candidate
interviews on the website, onour YouTube channel, and then
early voting starts March 17thand be sure to vote on April 1st
.
Thank you for doing this.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Thank you, colleen.
I appreciate it, appreciateyour time, thank you.
I'm like I just put mine on airplane.
I'm sorry.
No, that's fine.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And it's rich.
Did you forget?
I had my meeting with Israeltonight.
How dare you?
I'm here now.
He just said how dare you?
This is part of the podcast now.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Colleen, thank you very much for sitting down with
me, and you're running forvillage trustee this election.
Just today I got another one ofthe mailers from the friends of
Mokina, so you guys are activecampaigning.
So thank you for taking time tosit down with me.
And first just tell me what doyou think about this?
Have you run before I have?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
not no.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
So what's this been like?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
so far for you.
It's been interesting beingpart of the process.
Government is something I'vealways been interested in.
I studied out in DC for a shorttime while I was in college oh
nice.
So getting involved ingovernment is something I've
always wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Yeah, yeah.
And what has it done?
I know you guys had the meetand greets.
What else is going on?
What are you guys?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
campaigning.
We had the one meet and greet.
So far.
We have two more coming up.
We've been getting out signsand we're going to start
knocking doors soon.
So it's just all part of theprocess, Nice.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
So tell us a little bit about yourself growing up.
You grew up in Molkina, butkind of tell us about you.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, I grew up in Molkina in Brightway.
It was great.
There was a lot of kids there.
We played outside a lot.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
And your whole life.
You were born there, Born andraised here.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So yeah, mom and dad's house.
They built in 1973.
Wow, so then and I actuallystill live there I bought the
home after their passing, soit's kind of nice to keep it in
the family.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
How much has that Brightway developed or grown up
since you?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
were a kid.
Not a lot, Not a lot.
Yeah, a lot the same.
There's a few new houses hereand there, but for the most part
it's the same.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
There's some really nice houses Newer ones being
built in there.
A real mix, that's actually oneof the first areas.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Uh, we had put a bit on a house for when we moved.
It's beautiful, mature wooded,lots, so that's, I think, what's
very attractive.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah real quiet back there and you have a direct
connection to the the forestpreserve trail.
We're right next door.
Yeah, that's awesome beautifulproperty there, uh, so, um, tell
us about your family, my family.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
see, I'm the youngest of six.
Wow, so I have four sisters anda brother.
Um, so that that was alwaysinteresting.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Have they all stayed in the area?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Um no, unfortunately I did lose a sister several
years ago.
Um my brother Mark.
He lives in Florida.
My sister Renee lives inAlabama.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
My sister Sean is in Minnesota and my sister Kelly's
local in New Lenox.
Okay, wow, so what kept you?
Speaker 2 (02:51):
here.
You said you went, you kind ofyou studied government in DC for
a while.
Yeah, so I left home, I wentthrough Mokena schools, went
through Lincoln Way and attendedSt Mary's College in Notre Dame
and that's where I had theopportunity to study abroad,
abroad in DC.
Okay, so I did my senior thesisin my internship.
While I was there I worked forthe House Judiciary Committee
Really.
So that's kind of where I gotmy start Interesting, yeah, but
(03:14):
you know my interest ingovernment goes back to Mokina.
I don't know if I'm getting offtrack here.
No no please, but Mr Quinn hewas such a history buff.
He didn't need a text.
His mind is so full of allthese facts and what was your
connection to him?
He was my eighth grade historyteacher, history teacher sixth,
(03:34):
seventh and eighth grade andthen constitution class that we
were required to take fromeighth grade.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Wow, what do you remember from those classes?
What was that like?
What was Mr Quinn like?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
He was very interesting, very stern, but he
wanted you to succeed.
But he was full of factoids.
So I don't know a single loadedmuzzle, loading Springfield
rifle, you know things he wouldspit out.
It's just factoids you don'tget from a book, you know.
So he started my love forhistory and government get from
(04:07):
a book, you know.
So he started my love forhistory in in government and did
they do a dc trip then ineighth grade they did, but that
trip ended with my sister sean,oh so four years before I would
have had the opportunity to go.
Oh, that's too bad?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
yeah, because I've seen him post pictures of some
of the I think some of the dctrips he had he had hosted,
hosted in yeah, so all the oldersiblings got to go, except for
me, so okay, what?
What other memories do you haveof growing up in Molkina?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Just playing a lot, having the freedom to go around
town and it was safe All thefairs.
My parents they taught us at anearly age to be involved with
the community and they lived byexample.
So Mom and Dad.
Dad was in the Lions Club.
He worked his way through theladders, became president of the
club.
Mom was always involved in StJohn's president of the church,
(04:51):
council, girl Scouts, you nameit just being involved and
giving back.
So we were always encouraged tobe a part of something.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
With six kids, that couldn't have been easy to still
spend so much time beinginvolved.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
I often wonder how they did it, because they ran a
business too.
So I really don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yeah, what was the business?
What did they do?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
It was a commercial flooring installation business
my dad started in 1966.
And actually after post-collegeI came home and was looking to
stay in my field.
I was going to go down toSpringfield and my mom got sick
and I'd always worked in thebusiness in some kind of
capacity.
But after she fell ill starteda year-long journey in the
(05:34):
hospital.
I stepped into that role andwhen was that it was in 2001.
Okay, so I was fresh out ofcollege and that was a little
daunting at first because youknow, juggling time at the
hospital and running a businesswas not easy, especially when it
was so new to me.
So it was kind of baptism byfire, if you will.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
And that was back.
Here Is the business based outof Mokina.
It was Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So I ran it for 20 years and after my dad passed,
my head was not in the rightplace to keep it going and a lot
of people told me just put on ahole, think about what you want
to do.
But you don't put the union ona hole, or insurance or overhead
.
So I made a difficult decisionto dissolve the business after
51 years.
Wow yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Wow.
So what happened then?
Did you go back to work?
Of course, I'm too young forthat.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
I still stayed in flooring and I currently work
for a very small company, momand pop shop, just like working
for mom and dad.
So that's still what I'm doing,so talk a little bit about that
a little more.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
What do you do?
What does that?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
involve I'm in sales flooring, I work with
contractors.
I work with designers, builders, homeowners as well how people
choose to make selections forflooring and materials that's
right for the project.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
And what do you love about it?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I love working with people.
Yeah, yeah, I'm very much apeople person, so that's easy.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Are you going into people's homes?
Is it businesses?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
mostly A lot of businesses Commercial, we do
residential, mostly inside salesVery different from the role I
had working for mom and dadwhere I dealt with mainly
contractors and builders andarchitects.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
And you said 51 years that business was open and that
can't be.
I'm sure that was a strugglegoing through.
What kind of lessons did youlearn going through that process
?
What kind of lessons did youlearn going through that process
?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Wow, yeah, there were lean times and there were good
times, especially with sixmouths to feed.
Business wasn't always there,so you have to learn to live
within your means.
Mom and dad were veryresponsible in that way, because
to bring up six kids and haveeight mouths at the table every
night yeah, when business isn'tgreat, is can be a struggle yeah
(07:48):
, and you know, bringing that toa close.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
You know, uh, as you know, you had to end that
business or you decided todissolve it.
Um, you know what do you?
What did that teach you, or anyany lessons you learned off of
that from that experience, fromdissolving the business, from,
from having to go throughshifting your career, closing
down this business?
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It was a difficult time, for sure, because I say
the three hardest things to doin life is to lose a loved one,
to relocate and to start a newcareer.
And I kind of did all three atonce, wow, because I was
dissolving the business wepurchased the family home, and
then I was switchingving thebusiness.
We purchased the family home,and then I was switching careers
, oh my gosh, it was, it was.
It was a lot, because my dad wasmy business partner, my dad, my
(08:31):
friend.
We went a lot through each witheach other with my mom's
illness.
I learned so much.
There was a 11 year journeywith her wow, not being well.
So, um, yeah, we went through alot because mom had 24-hour
care for 11 years and I managedall of that too.
So, yeah, takeaways from that.
It's just sometimes a freshstart is just what you need.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Yeah, and that's what I did do you look back now and
realize I mean, are you stillhappy with the decision you
think it was?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
there are days I have regrets yeah, yeah, because
working for yourself, um, bringswith it a freedom you don't get
from working for somebody else,but at the same time, um, you
can close the door at night andgo home and not have to think
about the bills or youremployees.
So that's kind of you know andyou're married.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Tell us about your fine husband.
Yeah, I'm married to Rich.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Rich and I met in 2001.
We lived in Lansing for a shorttime where he owned a four flat
, and we decided we wanted tobuy a home.
So the first home we boughttogether was on Bryant Road here
in Mokena, where we lived for13 years before we purchased the
house in Brightway.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Nice, yeah, and Rich is my vice president of the
Lions Club and very active and agreat all-around guy.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I'll give him that.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
He enjoys his time with the club?
Yeah, we have a lot of fun.
What do you remember of yourdad talking about his time in
the Lions Club?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Oh, he enjoyed it immensely.
It's something that he waswholeheartedly behind, you know,
because there's, you know, alot of times a lot of the work
falls on a few Sure, and he madesure he was there for Candy Day
and for handing out baskets andbeing part of the meetings and
getting the firecracker dancegoing, because I know it was a
much smaller deal then and theyhelped to grow it.
(10:20):
Yeah, um yeah, and just meetingall the guys, and they used to
have a father-daughter dinnerthat we used to be a part of so
we really were intimate with theclub.
We knew all the people who werepart of it and um.
So a lot of fond memories there.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
A lot of fond memories so one thing we'll talk
a little bit more about is, youknow, the desire for change in
downtown.
But having a perspective ofgrowing up in Mokina, what are
some of your memories ofdowntown Mokina?
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Oh, how much time do we have?
Gosh, downtown, mokina.
I mean at the time there youhad Dave's Auto Body, you had
Tuttle's Moquina sales, big gyms, a pizza, all these landmarks,
but I think mainly it was it wasMoquina sales.
And then the pharmacy was rightnext door.
So many hours spent in therewith the Tuttle's, with great
(11:10):
people.
You could buy your mom aMother's Day gift and then go
get your your prescription nextdoor.
I don't know just the familyfeel, because you go in there
and you know everybody, you seeyour friends, you see your
neighbors, the people you go tochurch with.
And then just Mr Tuttle woulddress up as Santa every year.
(11:31):
Oh yeah, and you know kidsalways get to a point where they
kind of start to not believe.
And we'd walk in there and he'dsay, oh, say, oh well, here
come the Patrick girls.
And then name us one by one.
So I think you know he kept us,you know, believing just a
little bit longer.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
Yeah, it was.
I thought it was cool he didthat.
It's an interesting perspectivetoo, because there's not a lot
of us there's you know, mokena'sa lot of new people in town, so
not everybody has thatperspective of a vibrant
downtown and what it could be,right um.
So I think that's aninteresting perspective for you
to have and you know I'll beable to share.
So you also serve on a villagecommission is that right the
(12:11):
community affairs commissionokay so talk about that.
What's that experience beenlike?
Speaker 2 (12:16):
that it's been great.
Um, currently, right now, we'reonly doing um cleanup day that
we organize, but we used to bein, uh, the host of
beautification awards, and thathas been temporarily suspended,
so, um, we're looking to addmore to what the committee does
you know why that?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
why they don't do the beautification awards anymore
not 100.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Sure, I know that there was some confusion with
with people moving on afterthey'd won a lifetime
achievement and maybe someconfusion in that regard.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
That little house on Front Street in Division, there
on the tracks, had a lifetimebeautification award that I
don't think it deserved.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Well, see, there you go.
That's probably part of theproblem.
There's new owners now and theydo a great owners now, but yeah
, keeping the the records likethat, so yeah, anything else
that, um, you know you got to bea part of, or I don't know what
those commissions do.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
You guys have meetings or what do?
You.
We still do just kind ofplanning meetings for the
cleanup day?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
yeah, because we try to get a lot of children
involved, because they it worksuh, community service, and it's
just a good thing for thecommunity.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Tell people what cleanup day is like.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Cleanup day.
We meet at the village hall at9 am.
We go to various parts of townand collect garbage.
We also plant wildflowers.
Right off of Wolf Road we planttrees.
We try to do it around EarthDay, so it's a nice community
event.
We serve lunch afterward andkids get their their community
service hours and the villagelooks better than it did when we
(13:45):
started yeah, what do youusually?
you know how many people youusually get coming out for that
oh 100 to 150 200 wow, yeah,it's pretty good it depends on
the year, definitely depends onthe weather well, sure, because
we've had some really nice daysand we've also been snowed on,
so yeah, oh, wow, really yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
So you get a little snow shovel and a garbage bag.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So what made you want to be a village trustee um, I
just say I've been a friend ofthe moquina for a long time, a
supporter of them uh, forprobably about 20 years, whether
it be by putting out signage orcollecting signatures.
I trust in the board.
They've done good things and Iknow, with somebody stepping
(14:28):
down, I filled that two-yearterm.
I thought it was a goodopportunity to get involved.
It's something I've wanted todo to give back to the community
.
It's given back so much to me.
It's something I've wanted todo to give back to the community
.
It's given back so much to me.
So, yeah, in the past too,while I lived on Bryant Road, I
served as judge of elections.
I was my precinct committeeman,so I just figured.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
This is just another way to give back and your race
is a little different.
It's a two-year term, as yousaid.
You're running to fill the termof trustee Germany.
No, smith, I know too manyTerrys on the board.
(15:10):
Yeah, terry Smith, sorry, terryGerman.
Terry Smith resigned and thenJim Roberts was appointed and
now it's you and Nick Clancyrunning for the two-year term,
correct?
So just maybe tell us why whatyou think you offer and that
you'd bring to the board as atrustee.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
I think what you mentioned a little bit ago about
having a unique perspectiveinto the old Mokina, I think
that you know, as on alloccasions you get to a point,
whether it be in government orin your church, you see the
elders kind of passing the batonand I think that I have a deep
connection to still the oldMokina and new as well.
(15:44):
I think having a pulse on bothbrings a unique perspective to
running as trustee, to involveeverybody, hear everybody's
wants and needs for the downtownarea, for the village, hear
everybody's wants and needs forthe downtown area, for the
village, and not just you knowtaking one person's side, if
(16:07):
that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
How do you think that your professional background
helps, would help you to be abetter trustee.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
I think managing a business is much like running a
village or helping to manage avillage All the different roles
you take on, whether it bedealing with your patrons, your
customers, your vendors, yoursuppliers Within business.
You have to be fiscallyresponsible and that's something
I bring to the table becauseit's something I had to deal
with and then also having tomanage people and deal with
(16:34):
people.
Communicating effectively is sovery important.
The ability to listen is evenmore important.
They say you've got two earsand one mouth.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
That's a good one.
And how do you see the role ofa trustee?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
The trustees need to work together as a team.
The mayor sets the agenda andwe need to work together as a
board to make sure that we areputting forth the residents of
Mokena first and hear them,listen to them and achieve what
it is that they want to see.
We may not always see eye toeye in the board, but we work
for it as a team because we areworking for the village.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So what are some ways that you think the village
could improve how theycommunicate with residents?
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I think they're pretty transparent now and you
know you can attend boardmeetings.
Those are open to the public,which is nice, so as far as I
don't know that they really needto increase the way that they
Pause, I think they'retransparent Because I know that
(17:44):
this came up at our meet andgreet and because everything is
online, you're able to see allof that.
I think that if you'reinterested enough, you're going
to seek out that information.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Okay, as we talked a little bit about downtown,
that's something that I thinkevery resident, especially
residents that live downtown,would love to see an active
downtown.
What do you think there'ssomething that you could do as a
trustee, a real thing you coulddo that would make a difference
in our downtown?
Speaker 2 (18:15):
As far as attracting meaningful business, everyone
I've talked to when they foundout I was running for the things
you hear about are places toeat, places to shop, so that we
can keep things local.
So anything I can do in thatregard to encourage meaningful
business that's going to bemeaningful for our village, our
residents, I will certainly tryand do.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
If you could wave a magic wand over Front Street or
downtown Mokena, what would itlook like to you?
Speaker 2 (18:44):
It would look much like it did when I was growing
up it was full, it was busy,people shopped there.
People were constantly in thedowntown area.
I know things have changed overtime.
Places have come and placeshave gone.
We want to get people to stayis what we need to do, and if we
bring a meaningful business toMokena, I think that our
(19:07):
residents patronizing theseplaces people are going to have
the longevity that we need andnot just start up and then leave
in a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Trustee Matanis actually talked a little bit
about it, but also in the ideaof this, the shifting of how
businesses work and how us asconsumers work, with less going
in, actually going into a storeor walking down the front street
.
You know we're much likely toeither go online or you get in
our car and drive down to youknow Meyer or somewhere.
(19:37):
How do you think we wouldembrace that as a community or
with a downtown that's stillviable but also takes those kind
of things into consideration?
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I think, supporting shopping local.
You know, you have places suchas an English Garden I don't buy
flowers from anybody but kim um, these are places that we want
to have in towns, these small,um, not box store, brand name
stores that you can go tosomething truly unique that
you're not going to findanywhere else, something that
(20:09):
you're not going to find online,something you're not going to
find on amazon, um, andsomething with a small town
charm, you know yeah, and it'skind of that idea of you know
breeding community or havingthat be the thought right to to
go.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
yeah, not just go on ftdcom, but you know go on
englishgardencom or you knowyeah, supporting local and
walking into the store, uh, butyeah, finding ways to create
connections with people.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Which is meaningful, because I think that some people
hear the revitalization ofdowntown maybe somehow will ruin
our small town feel I don'tthink that's the case at all,
because now you're patronizinglocal business, small business.
You're going to run into yourfriends and your neighbors.
It keeps that small town feel,yeah, it keeps that small town?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
feel Any areas you?
Speaker 2 (21:07):
can think of within the village that the village
could either cut costs orgenerate new revenues.
Well, attracting meaningfulbusiness is going to generate
new revenue, that's for sure wecan do that.
As far as cutting costs, Ithink that we've been very
fiscally responsible, so that'snot a major concern.
I know people want to talkabout their tax dollars, but if
you open up that tax bill andyou look at those numbers,
what's one, two and three?
(21:28):
It's the schools.
You know schools and the firedepartment.
So I think our taxes as avillage are very low and we'll
continue to do that should weget elected.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yeah, one of the things the village is starting
to talk about is the idea ofbuilding a new, and we'll
continue to do that should weget elected.
One of the things the villageis starting to talk about is the
idea of building a new villagehall.
That's a huge effort and, as wesaw with the police station,
that took a number of years.
So I don't think it's somethingwe're necessarily talking about
breaking ground next year.
But again, if you kind of hadthat magic wand, what would you
(22:02):
like to see and where would youwant to see it?
What does it look like?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I've been asked this question before.
I think near the police stationmight not be a bad idea.
What does it look like?
I don't know.
Maybe something similar to whatit looks like now, but have it
be more modern, have it moreaccessible.
I don't know, maybe somethingsimilar to what it looks like
now, but have it be more modern,have it more accessible and
then hopefully too, in fashionwith the police station, use
very little tax dollars to buildit, just like the water
(22:29):
treatment plant, you know, keepthe cost low.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, you're running with a full slate, but you know
you talk about communication aswell.
So say you're in a scenariowhere you're elected with a
mixed slate.
What is something you can do towork to be an effective trustee
(22:51):
, even when you might havepeople in place that you don't
agree with or haven't run withor you have differences of
opinions with?
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Sure, well, that's going to happen, even with you
know, let's say the whole sitedid get elected.
There's going to be adifference of opinion.
It doesn't matter that you allran together.
That's where effectivecommunication comes in, because
at the end of the day, we haveto remember that we work for the
village of Molkina, we work forthe residents.
We're trying to bring thethings that they want to see.
So effective communication.
(23:21):
Yeah, there might bedisagreements, but then that's
when you work together to getthe hard stuff done.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
So what do you do?
What would your steps to makethat happen be?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Well, with any issue that might come up, there's
going to be two sides.
Right, You've got to weigh thepros and cons.
You have to listen to otherpeople.
Why do they believe what theybelieve?
I'll say what I believe.
Then come to some kind ofcommon ground Because, again, at
the end of the day, we do workfor the village.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Now it takes a lot of time and time commitment to be
a trustee.
Talk about, maybe, what youthink or you understand that
commitment to be.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
I know it's a time commitment, but it's not
something I would have, you know, delved into if I didn't think
that I could handle the timecommitment.
But yeah, the Monday meetings,work sessions, all of that, of
course, and there's ribboncuttings and other things that
you'll attend yeah, it's a timecommitment, but it's something
that's meaningful to me, whichis why I'm willing to commit the
(24:23):
time.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
And have you tell us about any experience, if you
have, you've had at boardmeetings any village board
meetings?
Speaker 2 (24:32):
I've been to a few here and there over the years,
not many.
I think it's great now thatthey're online, so if you don't
have time to attend, you canwatch them to come for your own
any reason you've gone aspecific thing you've gone for.
Do you remember to be nosy?
You know, sometimes they havethe hearings the public hearings
.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
So yeah, um, but nothing really like.
You need to get a proclamationfor like ribbon dancing or
anything in high school.
Okay, you never know so, as wejust start to wrap up, I have
some, you know, light, littlelighter questions.
And um uh, if you were talkingto a new resident in uh Mokina,
what advice would you give themto help them feel involved and
(25:12):
feel connected in town?
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I would say get involved with some of our local
organizations, such as Alliance.
I know that, uh, it's a greatway to get to know people.
Maybe get involved in thechamber if you're
business-minded.
We have our churches, there'sgroups, there's clubs.
There's lots of ways to beinvolved for children and adults
too.
So it's not just an adultresident growing up too, as I
(25:38):
said, it was part of the church,the youth groups that they have
.
So there's so many differentways within the community that
we can be involved.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Tell us what is your favorite breakfast restaurant
Favorite breakfast restaurant.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
We don't go out to eat a lot, but is it bad if it's
not in Mokina?
No, we do like to enjoy the,etc.
You could say your real one too.
We do like to go to ChefKlaus's Country Cooking.
Oh, that's a good one.
Yeah, yeah, Okay.
Or we could go down south andgo to a Waffle House.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Those are not bad too .
Yeah, how about you say youdon't go out much but you have a
favorite area restaurant?
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Chef Klaus's in Frankfurt.
Yes, they've issued.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
What do you have a go-to menu?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
item there.
Um, I don't, it's terrible.
I used to work for Klaus many,many years ago in the old
downtown location Um, so I'vehad everything on the menu since
.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
I don't know what it is, but we went for my mom's
birthday one year and got likethe big meat platter.
It was amazing.
I don't know what it's called,but get the big meat.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
It was like every kind of I don't know pork and
whatever beef shank the chefcalls his platter probably what
it was uh, what is your favorite?
Speaker 1 (26:58):
a Mokina community event.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Oh, it's got to be the 4th of July parade.
I'm a sucker for that that andthe firecracker dance.
I think that the Lions Clubdoes a great job.
It brings a lot of peopletogether and, honestly, as many
people as you see throughout theyear.
I find that a lot of times atthese events it's people I see
once a year, so it's alwayssomething to look forward to.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Yeah, yeah, you mentioned the parade.
What's your parade dayactivities?
Do you have a spot you go to?
There is.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
We go to right out in front of J&R Sales.
Oh okay, Since I was a littlekid I mean, of course, growing
up I didn't get to watch theparade because I was always in
band.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
But since graduating from high school, yeah, that's
what we're always at, so youwalked in some parades as a kid,
just a few.
Do you remember when the paradewas on Front Street?
I do, yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
I was just reading some old newspaper articles and
how it was such a bigcontroversy at the village when
that happened.
But what?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
do you remember about those days?
I remember people being reallyupset because we started the
high school or the grade schooland we came down wolf and went
down front and then you comeback out and around um yeah,
people were mad that it wasn'ton front street anymore what was
it like?
Speaker 1 (28:13):
you know what do you remember of it being on front
street?
How many people there were?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
they must have been like just jam-packed, but it was
the front street lookeddifferent then because the
parking was different.
Everything was set up just alittle bit different.
Yeah, I mean we're going backnow, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Well, you don't have to remember.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Well, florida wasn't as wide.
There were no streetlights,there were no sidewalks.
Oh, wow, it was much narrower.
So it was, yeah, it's adifferent time.
Wow, and that's back when LaPorte Road was a two-lane road.
So yeah, everything thelandscape has changed.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
The olden days, right yeah, what's?
Speaker 2 (28:55):
your favorite thing about Mokina?
The people, the people and thechurches.
I have a deep love for StJohn's and, just having grown up
here, I think that it's just agreat place to live.
I enjoyed how I grew up and Iwant to keep people here and
feel the way I did raising theirfamilies, having their kids
enjoy the things I did.
But it's definitely thecommunity and the events that we
(29:18):
have and it still does havethat small town feel.
I know some people make fun ofme.
They're like oh, you're fromMokina, you know, back in the
Laura Ingalls days.
We've come a long way, wecertainly have, and we can grow
and still have the small townfeel.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Now I want to loop back a little bit because we
didn't talk much about.
You mentioned DC and I'm asucker for DC, but I want to
talk a little bit about yourtime there and what you did in
government there and, you know,maybe talk about your experience
.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
It was great.
So at St Mary's we had aproject where we had to research
a representative.
So I chose Henry Hyde.
So I went to DC with theknowledge of knowing that he
chaired the House JudiciaryCommittee.
So I went to go get myinternship.
I went to his personal officeand they weren't hiring.
So I went over to the HouseJudiciary Committee and they
(30:16):
said when can you start?
My first day of work was theday the Star Report hit the
community Wow really Yep.
So, to say the least, they wereinundated.
Very exciting time to be in DCbecause of what was happening.
So, yeah, I was an intern, so Idid a lot of the grunt work,
but that's how DC works, that'show things get done by interns.
(30:38):
But it was neat being a part ofthe hearings.
I mean, we have a presidentwho's being impeached.
You learn a lot.
I enjoyed time talking with thecommittee parliamentarian.
He was so full of knowledge,being sent over to the Library
of Congress to go get the LindaTripp tapes which I had no idea
I was transporting until I gotthere.
Yes, wow.
(31:00):
So yeah, it was a very excitingtime.
They offered me a job before Icame back and I said I need to
go finish that second semestersenior year.
But that's how I knew I wouldget back and I knew it wouldn't
be in DC because that's not–while it was exciting, not for
me.
So that's why I knew at somepoint I would like to get
(31:23):
involved on the small level.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Yeah, dc was a bit much, and you never thought of
running for anything previously,prior to this.
No, no, okay.
Well, as we said, you'rerunning for the two-year term
and this one is really kind of ahead-on.
You know one-on-one, so I justwant to give you a second.
You can tell people why theythink you think you're the best
(31:43):
candidate and that they shouldvote for you.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
I think of the, the business acumen.
I bring my understanding of theinner workings of business,
having the pulse on old, mokenaand new, bringing in fresh
perspective.
I think that that's helpful andjust my deep love of the
community and I really want tolisten to people and get things
done.
I mean, we've all wanted to seea revitalized downtown area and
(32:09):
if I can be a part of thatprocess I welcome it.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Great Well, I appreciate you taking time to
talk to me and make sure you canwatch all of our candidate
interviews on the website, onour YouTube channel, and then
early voting starts March 17thand be sure to vote on April 1st
.
Thank you for doing this.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
Thank you, colleen.
I appreciate it, appreciateyour time, thank you.
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