March 17, 2025 • 52 mins
Dan Gilbert teaches in Mokena 159 schools and is a Mokena Park District Commissioner. He is running with the Friends of Mokena slate, who's website is www.friendsofmokena.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Dan, thank you very much for sitting down and
talking with me.
You're running for VillageTrustee this election, so we
wanted to get to know you andgive you an opportunity to have
people get to know you a littlebetter.
So you want to just start bytelling us about yourself and
your family.
Where'd you grow up?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, first I want to say thank you.
This is an amazing thing thatyou're doing and I think it's
really needed.
So thank you for doing such anamazing thing for this town and
this community.
I have been a Mokina residentpretty much my whole life been a
(00:46):
Mokina resident pretty much mywhole life.
I grew up in Arbury Hillsacross the street over there by
Fleckenstein's or by Hecht Park.
My mom is actually stillfriends with Barb Hecht.
Wow really.
I remember going when Darwinwasn't there.
There was that farmhouse.
We would play at that farmhouseand Barb owned that house and
that farmhouse.
And, uh, barb owned that houseand that property and the whole
(01:07):
family owned that.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So um, do you know anything about?
I mean, is that directly whoit's named after?
Is that her family, or likeparents or no?
Yeah, her her family.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I think it's named after her farm was there.
Yeah, yeah, so pretty cool yeahyeah, um, and then I think they
have a, or they had a housewhere that I forget the name of
the car dealership is, butthere's a car dealership on
191st on the north side, or thisyeah, there's two now.
Yeah, uh I don't remember eitheroffhand, but I think their,
(01:41):
their house, was there, so itwas just kind of.
You know, it's funny seeing allthe changes or seeing the
growth in the community.
But yes, getting back to thepoint that I've been a lifelong
resident of Mokina and couldn'tsee myself living anywhere else,
Any memories of growing up,like what do you think of Mokina
(02:04):
, of your childhood years um?
well, honestly like so the wholeuh, what is it now?
Tara hills and in arbury, thatwas nothing.
That's where I learned how todrive when there was nothing
there.
I think I was like 12 years old.
My, my dad and my grandma wouldtake me back there in like a
1991 Ford F-150.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And there was nothing , just fields.
There was just fields.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So seeing that get built up was sad, but also it
was fun to watch.
You know, it was fun to seelike, oh, they're building
another block, they're buildinganother block.
Also riding my bike up toBozo's Hot Dogs I don't know if
you remember when that was onRoute 30.
Going through the ForestPreserve, getting a hot dog and
(02:51):
riding back home was like youwere something special because
you had the freedom to ride yourbike.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So you always hear people.
Well, maybe not always, butthere's kind of the idea of the
Arbery Hills and it's adifferent school district.
You're on the other side ofLaGrange.
How was it then?
Did you feel connected to thecommunity?
I did.
Did it feel different.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I've been fascinated with the downtown area.
I thought it was again likeriding my bike over that way and
just thinking that the downtownarea was so cool and old-timey.
So yeah, there were a lot oftimes we just kind of hung
(03:34):
around by the train tracks orhung around in the downtown area
.
But yes, crossing LaGrangewasn't always something that my
mom was pleased with.
So a lot of the adventures andwhatnot did happen in Arbery.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
What schools did you go to over there and then high
school?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I went to Arbery Hills for grade school, then
Hill to Walker and Summit Hilland then Lincoln Way East.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Okay so, yeah, and tell us about your family, oh
yes, of course, I've got abeautiful wife, Sherry.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
We've been so, we've been married, for this year will
be 14 years.
We were just we were justhaving this conversation the
other day.
Next year we will be together20 years, you know, like dating
and all that.
So 20 years, and then we havetwo children, Grayson and
Brayden, 12 and 10.
Basically they're what keeps uspretty busy in the baseball
(04:35):
world, but also they're kind ofbranching out into other sports
as well.
So you see us at a lot ofbaseball fields, but I think you
might see us on, you know, onvolleyball courts and basketball
games and things like that.
It's fun to have our kidsinvolved in sports.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, what does that change?
Even just becoming a parent intown?
How does that change, maybe,who your circles are or who you
meet?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Your circles change.
I feel like we're always having, um, like you have, like this
season we're really close withthis family, and the next season
you're close with anotherfamily, and um, I remember, and
then and then you kind of allcircle back and and become
friends all again like, oh yeah,I remember when our kids were
four and they played soccertogether and things like that.
The sports help with gettingthat community feel and having
(05:31):
common ground.
Because I'm not going to be outthere running around on the
soccer field anytime soon, butit's nice to be able to watch
the kids grow up and do it.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, what do you do for fun up?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
and do it.
Yeah, Uh, what do you do forfun?
Um, I feel like there's a lotof I read.
I read a lot just to kind of,um, ease, you know, take the
stress of the day off.
I like, what do you read?
I everything.
Um, what's his name?
Ryan holiday.
I, Ryan holiday.
He's a.
He's a stoic.
I try to read everything onstoicism and and and things of.
(06:12):
Then I did.
I was one of the like.
I forget how many millionpeople bought that inner
excellence because of the whatwas it say?
It's not Saquon Barkley, was it?
It was the other guy who was.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I don't know it.
No, the, the eagles guy.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I forget what his name was.
It wasn't saquon barkley, itwas one of the other guys, um,
but they had this book oh, thisseason, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
And I was like, so I was like well, I'm gonna get
that so I got that.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
That thing was a quick read.
That was pretty cool, um, butwhen the weather's nice, I enjoy
fishing.
I'm at Lake Tampere, just offof Wolf Road.
That's where I like to spend mysummers it's a great place to
kayak.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, absolutely.
I love it out there, great,yeah, so you're on the Park
District, yes, so I want to talka little bit about that.
Tell me about what do you likeabout it and what have you
learned and how you've made adifference there.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I love it.
I love it is not what I thoughtit was going to be.
I thought, you know, when it wasfirst pitched to me I thought
we were going to be justbuilding parks everywhere, and
that is not what it is.
There's so much more to it andthere's like intricate little
details, like you know, helpingthe staff pick an insurance plan
(07:35):
that's going to benefiteveryone and kind of taking into
account, you know, who hasfamilies, who's single, who's
but doesn't have kids, andwhat's like the best insurance
plan to offer, um, the the staffmembers updating payment plans,
like we we were um and phonesystems, like there's things
(07:58):
that like I never thought thatthis was going to be part of the
part of the job title but, um,it's beneficial, but it's
beneficial and it's part of theplan.
But then there's fun things likehelping decide what goes on at
Halloween Hollow or helpingdecide which bands are going to
be at the band shell, and theredesign of the barn or the
(08:24):
inside of the barn, and I don'tknow if you've been seeing the
updates with that, but the barnis going to look really nice
when it's finally completed.
Learning so much and makingconnections with very
resourceful people there are somany great people that work
there that you can just kind ofsit down like this, ask and have
(08:46):
a conversation and say you know, how does this work, how does
that work, how has that workedin the past, and just really
build those relationships withthe people.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Have you had to have any interaction
intergovernmentally with, maybethe village or other taxing
bodies that you've worked withor cooperated with?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
So not me personally Our board, so the director, greg
, and usually the president,have more direct relationship
with the village and then thatinformation is kind of brought
back to us as a board.
So I have never been thepresident of the park board.
(09:29):
If I ever were to become, thenI would have more interminglings
between the village and thedirect relationships with the
village.
But currently, as it sits, I'mkind of I'm receiving the
information secondhand and thenwe mull over what information
(09:49):
we're given and then and thenkind of make decisions as a as a
board.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
So talk about that process.
What?
What happens when something'spresented to you, or an idea or
the agenda?
You know something's presentedto you, or an idea or the agenda
.
How do you?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
if you have questions or you're unsure, what are you
doing to go about and, you know,get those questions answered.
Yeah, we have a veryunderstanding board right now
there's.
We've all become verycomfortable and close in terms
of working together andfriendships.
So, simply asking and sayingyou know whether it's in the
(10:30):
meeting itself or there's acouple guys on there Well, jeff
Apel lives, you know, a blockaway from me.
I can you know mosey over andtalk to him.
Or Mike Gandy, on there is oneof the greatest guys and I can
you know ask him anything and wehave.
(10:50):
We can call each other and sayyou know we talked about this
and I still don't understandthat.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
So, or there's more I want to talk about that being
in conversation in the meetingitself is very comfortable, but
then also having the ability tocall somebody up and say, hey,
(11:17):
let's talk more about X, y, z.
So maybe talk about how you'vebeen able to individually make a
difference, whether it be withan individual issue or maybe
something you brought, oranything like that, where you
may be taking a leadershipposition.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Yeah, so individually , I have, you know, we're never
a split vote, we always seem toagree on things.
But I have ties to MBSA as well,the Mokina Baseball Softball
(11:49):
Association, and I'm kind of theliaison there between the two
boards and there's things that I, you know, anytime you have two
entities discussing and there'sfinancials between the two,
someone's always feeling likethey an opportunity to kind of
(12:14):
explain where money is beingspent to MBSA and explain things
to the park district and say,hey, you know, we're collecting
payment, we need to do X Y Z orwe need to make sure that we're
(12:37):
doing X Y Z for this.
You know, entity that isessentially a client, um, and
then, in terms of like, directlyon the park board, I feel like
with this barn, the barnrenovation has been like the,
(12:58):
the focus or the focal point, um, so not necessarily like having
it my way, or or, you know,saying like, oh, we need to do
this, but also but presenting anidea and saying like, well,
what if we did it this way?
Or what if?
What if there was, what ifthere was this instead of that?
Um, and and bring that up tothe board and then have it be
(13:20):
discussed.
And and I don't necessarilyfeel like I was responsible for
that, but also that we broughtit to the table and we talked
about it and it got discussedand now we're moving forward in
that direction.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yeah, so how about?
You know, one of the thingsthat has kind of grown and
changes as technology becomeseasier is, you know, the idea of
making meetings more accessible.
And the school district wentthrough this kind of during
covid, by force, if nothing else, but uh, and you know, found a
(13:55):
way.
How do you feel about?
Do you think those meetingsshould be more public?
Do you think there's a way thepark district could um draw more
community involvement oranything?
Any suggestions or thoughts youmight have?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
So one that I haven't presented to the board but have
had thoughts about.
Is I really like what DrOlanitis does every Friday?
He presents like a weeklywhatever.
It is YouTube video and it's indifferent platforms.
You can read it and you can seethe YouTube video.
(14:30):
I always watch the YouTubevideo every Friday.
I look forward to it.
I don't think that that would bea terrible idea for every
Friday or every Monday orhowever, whatever the timeframe
would be just to make a60-second video that could be
put up on the Facebook page orput up on the website and say
(14:52):
this is what we've done thisweek.
You know, have a great week, orthis is what we've done.
This is what has been discussed.
You know our meeting is thefourth Tuesday of every month.
Come on out.
I think that would be a decentidea.
Or just to kind of mimic whatthe school system does, where
they text you as something'shappening or as something's
(15:14):
going on.
That would be something I wouldhave to learn about, but I
don't think that that's aterrible idea where the park
district could send out a textmessage and and update people.
That was actually something Iwas going to present to George
too.
I haven't talked to him aboutit, but I don't think that's a
terrible idea for whoeverbecomes the mayor to to throw
(15:36):
out the same thing, same thingthat Dr Rollinitis does, where
the you know a two or threeminute video just updating the,
the public, the public do.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
What do you think about?
What are your thoughts on theidea of record it, having, uh,
those meetings recorded?
The park district boardmeetings.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I personally don't have any problem with it being
recorded, I mean, you think itprovides a benefit to the
community or something theyshould do?
Or do you think it provides abenefit to the community or
something they should do, or doyou think it causes a hindrance?
I mean, I've heard both.
I've heard both ways.
Even you know, school boardsays sometimes you put people in
front of a camera and they'renot going to speak as freely or
they might.
You know, maybe you getsomebody that wants to be more
political than another.
(16:18):
But you know, it seems the waythat a lot of the boards and
things are moving nowadays, andso maybe you don't think that
way though.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I personally don't.
I think it would be perfectlyfine to record.
I know, like you're saying, thevillage does it, the school
board does it.
I think you should be able tospeak freely but also
appropriately, and whetherthere's a camera there or not, I
(16:49):
think you should behave the wayyou're going to behave.
But no, personally, I thinkmaybe the reason why, or one of
the reasons why it might not berecorded, is we don't we
honestly don't get a lot ofturnout to to those meetings.
But I hear what you're sayingtoo is like people might.
People would rather watch itrather than show up to a meeting
(17:10):
at six o'clock at night.
So I think it's definitely anidea worth exploring and an idea
worth presenting to the boardand to Greg.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
And you know, it just seems kind of the way taxing
bodies I mean you can go onTinley Park's YouTube page and
watch their zoning and planningmeetings.
I mean it's just, you know,people want, in my opinion,
people want more transparency,and across our village I think
it just gives people the ease ofmind to you know.
(17:43):
Okay, well, it looks like theyat least know what they're doing
or they can peek in whensomething's of interest.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
But yeah, and to that point I feel like everything
explodes around election time.
And then you're saying well,we've been doing this, we've
been doing this, we've beendoing this.
And then sometimes people arelike well, why haven't you been
telling us that or why haven'twe been made aware of this prior
?
And then it almost feels likeeverything, all the information
(18:12):
that's being given is for theelection.
It's not necessarily an update,it's a political move.
So I would agree with you.
I agree that it's very.
It's something we should lookinto.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah, and maybe some of that comes from the lack of a
consistent communication.
You know if you're consistentlyhearing from, say, the school
board or you know getting anadditional communication from
the village you know our mailerwe get in our water bill, you
know.
Maybe that's enough enoughalong with the opportunity you
know for that exposure.
(18:47):
But I think having those twomight be ways to draw people in
and get people more involved.
You know a number of trusteecandidates talked about the lack
of people at their meetings andmaybe that's not necessary.
Maybe you can get informationother ways.
But it's a good sign of, Ithink, local engagement and
(19:08):
interest and good ways to getpeople more interested and
seeing different ideas.
Like you said, a lot of itcomes up during the election and
it's only presented or talkedabout at that time.
But the idea to keep an ongoingconversation, I think helps in
a lot of ways.
How?
do you have.
You had talk about anyexperiences.
(19:29):
You've had a village boardmeeting.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I have gone in for meetings with Brent and
Christoph.
When I was, I had communitydealings with them and they were
fantastic to work with Greatguys trying to help me with a
business we were running andbuilt relationships with those
(20:12):
two guys and just found them tobe incredibly knowledgeable and
helpful.
They wanted our business togrow and to flourish and to be
part of the community and it wasa great time working with those
(20:36):
two fine gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Talk about your experience and what you believe
that would add value to you andhow you could be a better
trustee.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Yeah, I believe I'm a people person and I'm an honest
person.
I'm not going to lie and saythat I've watched every village
board meeting and just to covermyself and sound more.
You know, sound more than I am.
I think I'm honest to a faultand I think I enjoy listening to
(21:07):
people and I enjoy hearingideas.
I know that I'm I don'tnecessarily have the right
answer, but by talking to thepeople in the community and
talking to find people likeyourself, you get these great
ideas.
And I continually end up inthese roles where differences
(21:27):
can be made or ideas can bebrought up.
I think I'm a person that isn'tit's not going to be my way or
the highway, it's not going tobe something that know my way or
the highway, or, and it's notgoing to be something that I.
I enjoy listening to people, Ienjoy talking to people, I enjoy
hearing both sides of it.
(21:49):
Um, I love debating and and Ihonestly don't don't care if I
win or not, you know it's justfun to um to have conversations
that better both sides and Ithink I'm very comfortable
having conversations.
I'm comfortable withuncomfortable conversations and
(22:12):
hearing things from both sidesand kind of taking a minute to
mull it over and then come backtogether and present the best
idea or go with the best idea,even if it's not my own.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
So in this election there's a chance that maybe you
have a split result.
So say, you're in a situationwhere Mayor Fleischer is
reelected and you're elected asa trustee.
You're elected as a trustee.
How do you go about still beingeffective and getting things
done with somebody that mightnot agree with you or be on the
(22:47):
same page as you?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yes, these conversations with my wonderful
(23:11):
wife, I like to stay.
I feel like I've learned mylesson with elections and saying
things in an election time whenit didn't necessarily need to
be said and then it kind of, youknow, harms a relationship down
the road.
So if, if Frank were to win andI were to win, I, like Jim
(23:35):
Schlegel was saying at at ourmeet and greet, you know there
are things that that Frank hasdone.
He did get hospitals built, hedid get doctor's office built,
he did bring things into thiscommunity.
So I think I'm not plugging forFrank, but I'm friends with
Mokina all the way.
But I think I think there'srecognition of of both sides.
(24:01):
There are things on both sidesthat that have been done.
I think there's, I, I thinkthere's, you know, from from
watching the videos that you'veposted, there's all of the
involved.
People want the same thing iswhat it seems like.
(24:22):
All of the people involved.
What is that?
What do you think?
What is that Growth?
I think everybody seems to betalking about growth for our
community a viable downtown area, a walkable downtown area with
you know, like I was saying,about the Bozo's hot dogs or
Steamboat Steamboat hot dogthere we go.
About the bozos hot dogs, orsteamboat steamboat hot dog
(24:44):
there we go, um, something youcan go up and enjoy and send the
kids to, and um, have thatcommunity feel.
I, I feel like the, I feel likeboth sides want that.
I think the question of gettinggetting it done is is what's in
question and I think, if I'melected trustee, I think I would
(25:08):
continue to push for thatbecause it's been said in
multiple interviews and multiplethings yes, the downtown area
has been what it is for multipleyears, so getting it done is
what needs to happen and I thinkthat I would be able to have
(25:30):
those conversations and, likeMelissa said, yes, whoever the
mayor is is the one that setsthe agenda.
So, but as a trustee, we cansuggest and push what needs to
be on the agenda, based off ofcommunity request.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
So if you had a magic wand that you could wave over
Front Street and Mokinasdowntown in general, what does
that look like to you?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
What does that look like to you?
Well, I never want to say thatanything needs to go.
There's things that I woulddefinitely.
I wish it was a little bitlonger of a street, because I'm
so excited that Doc's going inmy idea of what that building
could have been and I'm veryhappy that it's going in my idea
(26:20):
of what that building couldhave been and I'm very happy
that it's going to be arestaurant, very happy and proud
.
I think a children's museumwould be cool.
I like what Frankfurt has in achildren's museum and I think
that would definitely bringpeople down to our area and it
(26:43):
would be a destination.
I remember taking my kids tothe Frankfurt Children's Museum
every Saturday before they're insports.
You just all right, let's goplay at the museum.
I think that would be somethingamazing to add.
I think restaurants would beamazing to add.
(27:03):
I think some green space.
I like you know somewhere whereyou can get some ice cream and
go sit and enjoy your snack andjust kind of take in the train.
I know the like the summer is.
I live on McGovernie and I getto sit out there and and watch
the train go by, but I also getto watch people bring their
(27:27):
little kids down and and stareand wave at the train.
Um, so if they could, you know,stare and wave at the train and
then go get some ice cream andjust maybe hit the children's
museum on the way out.
I think that would be a way tomake the downtown area a
destination.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
So a big part of downtown is the Yunker Farm and
the field there, and there'salways been a lot of talk there.
How do you think that playsinto downtown and what do you
think?
What would you like to seehappen with that?
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I like the idea of moving the train station um and
then having the park districtand the and the village work
together to to split it intothirds where the?
Uh, what would that be?
The north north third, I think,if I'm getting my, the north
north third, I think, if I'mgetting my directions right,
(28:23):
north third would be more forthe village and then the
southern.
Am I doing my directions?
Speaker 1 (28:30):
right, Mm-hmm yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Two thirds would be more of green spaces and again
keeping it with a destinationwhere they come down and enjoy
that park area and then keepmoving on to all the wonderful
things that we could have indowntown.
I think those conversationshave been had enough times to
(28:54):
where it sounds like thingsmight hopefully be in motion for
that.
I know that would be a lengthyprocess, but I think starting
the process is the only waywe're going to get it done.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, yeah, and you've heard a number of people
talk about the idea ofconnecting trails and you've got
a way to connect through, youknow, potentially down to the
Hickory Creek Preserve with thepark district's property.
I mean there's a lot ofopportunity there and connecting
downtown.
You think you can get on yourbike from the Forest Preserve
(29:29):
and get into downtown Frankfurtor downtown New Lenox or the
Village Hall.
We should have a similar trailof bikes, a bike trail.
So I want to talk you mentioneda little bit, but talk about
your business and you had, youknow that experience and kind of
what happened there.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Yes, so I was a teacher for 12 years.
I had you know six years sixyears of experience in third
grade and then just about sixyears of experience in fourth
grade, and my wife and I werewere, um, you know, just kind of
kicking around ideas of likebusinesses to start and, um, we,
(30:12):
we came across, uh, an idea ofwatching dogs from our house,
similar to Rover.
Well, pretty much, pretty muchwhat Rover is, a rovercom.
But what's that?
Is that I don't know of Rover.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Sorry.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Rover is.
It's literally there's twothings there's there's Rover and
there's wag, and it's literallywhat we, what we did.
You could sign up to be a Roverpet sitter, but there's
incredible fees and taxes andjust it's not so.
(30:47):
Branching out and doing ityourself is the way that we
thought was the best way to go.
So we had built quite theclient list.
We had when did you start doingthe business?
To 2022, january, january of2022.
(31:08):
And then we, we went toSeptember of 24.
So, just about three years, wewere Watching, watching people's
dogs from our house.
It was great.
We had some days, you know,some days we'd have four, some
days we'd have significantlymore than that.
(31:29):
We had a client list of 360.
I think it was 361 clients,obviously not all at once, but,
like through the years, we had,you know, some dogs would come
three days a week.
Some dogs would stay with usfor four a week or more and
(31:53):
unknowingly, like I said,because of Rover and Wagon and
those websites that promotedthis type of business, um, we,
we were under the impressionthat it was um, you know, okay,
we're, we were paying our taxes,we were we were doing.
You know everything that weassumed you were set up as a
(32:14):
corporation.
Yeah, yeah, we have an llc.
We were playing with pups LLC.
We, we, um, you know we wereregistered with the state and um
had no idea that this was, um,you know, a zoning issue.
So, um, part of the part of thereason why I had a had a great
(32:35):
conversation with, uh, brent andChristoph was they let me know
that that was not a businessthat zoning-wise, or because of
zoning codes was allowed in thevillage.
But they helped me look forproperty, they helped me
(32:57):
navigate codes.
They helped me.
They were incredibly helpfuland it wasn't like they didn't
come and like shake their fistand say you have to be done,
blah, blah, blah.
They actually were.
You know they provided a lot ofleniency and saying like you
(33:19):
need to be done.
But we understand, like wecan't just you know, cut the
cord right now.
Today, they, they very muchworked with me on um options and
um so far, we we have not, uh,found an option that is viable
yet, uh, but we're still, we'restill working and trying to
(33:42):
figure out what the next stepsare.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
So what was that?
I mean, you get this news andthis is.
You know how do you deal withthat?
What do you do?
That's a big deal.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Yeah, I was actually coaching.
I was at a baseball practice.
I was coaching a baseballpractice at Heck Park, heck 4,
and my wife came up with aletter you know, a certified
letter saying like, hey, we gotto stop the business, you just
take it in, you take it instrides.
(34:13):
At first I were, you know, it'stime to be done and, as
disappointing as it is, like Isaid, I very much enjoy the
(34:36):
stoic reading, but I'm very mucha person of what's going to
happen or what's supposed tohappen is going to happen.
We saw the brighter side ofthings.
We saw the.
We saw like we essentially andI don't mean to you know, we
(34:56):
loved our dog clients, but wedid slightly create our own
prison.
I couldn't really go, I couldn'tleave my house because we had,
you know, numerous dogs and wecared about their safety and we
didn't want to.
We can't leave, we can't tellpeople, hey, we're going to
(35:20):
watch your dog and then and gosomewhere.
So, like, even on holidays,like that, there were many
reasons why, um, like I mentallyaccepted it.
Um, I mean, it was definitely afinancial hit, but, um, but
mentally I I bounced back ratherquickly, um, and it provided me
(35:40):
with an opportunity to, to getin the community.
I've been, um, like Josh wassaying, I've been in the Mokina
schools, uh, since October.
Um, getting to know the kids,getting to recruit kids to come
out and be umpires for uh, mbsaum and and making relationships
(36:01):
with with more people that Inever, never, would have had the
had the business continued.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
What do you think you know that process taught you
and how do you think it makeswould make you a better trustee?
Do you think there's anythingyou look at and say this was
unfair or something should bedifferent?
Speaker 2 (36:20):
No, I think the Well, not no to the unfair.
That was human error on myfault.
I should have looked into thecodes.
I should have, you know, Ishould have done a little
digging on my own or made sure Iknow we were registered with
(36:42):
the state.
I guess I I just, you know, ina, in a silly lack of thought,
uh, didn't, didn't register withthe, the village, um, so I
think it's just one of thosethings that that makes me now I
know.
Now I know, okay, we got todouble check with every,
(37:02):
everything.
So, you know, as it ties to thevillage, I have that extra
caution step.
You know, like, if we're goingto do this, we got to what, what
is the red tape behind it, orwhat is the, what is the process
in involved in doing whateverit is, um, so, and and seeing
(37:23):
and seeing the brighter side ofthings, you know like, not
necessarily, I think that alwayshaving a positive outlook is
gonna be a great way to getthings done.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
How do you think Mokina can be more welcoming to
businesses?
Speaker 2 (37:49):
I think the process in starting needs to be
streamlined and, to becompletely honest, this is an
area where I can develop alittle bit of experience.
I'm so glad to have Josh on ourteam because I think he has
(38:14):
great ideas on how to streamlinethe process, so my resource
would be him.
I would reach out and kind oftalk to Josh and say, hey, what
can we do to make businesses notonly want to be here but stay
here?
I don't know if that involveslike providing incentives for
(38:35):
coming to the community orproviding tax breaks for coming
and staying, but I think usingour Friends of Mokina slate as a
resource and kind of tappinginto everyone's specialty, it
would be a great start.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
The village has purchased some of the vacant
lots that come up or like thetariff and kind of right near
your house there that they'repotentially hopefully developing
into a restaurant, and there'sa couple more vacant properties
sitting on front street.
What are your thoughts aboutthe village purchasing some of
the vacant properties as theycome up?
(39:16):
Do you think that's somethingthe village should be involved
in or not?
Speaker 2 (39:20):
I would ask, I would want to know the reason behind
it, and I think thoseconversations would come up in
meetings.
What is the plan?
Is the plan to sit on it andresell it for a higher value?
Or is the plan to like, likeyou said, begin to develop it?
Speaker 1 (39:44):
um, so I would, I would want to know the the plan
before, before I, you know,decided whether or not that's
something the the village shouldwell like the terrapin lot the
village bought with the hopesthat they could control what was
going on there, and so so Ithink that would be the general
idea.
You have the lot right next tothe old Ozinga building, in
(40:05):
between the Hustle and Heart,that whole thing, and then you
have the old barbershop lotthat's a half acre, sitting
there.
That's been for sale, and Idon't necessarily say encourage
one or the other.
The village has done it in thepast.
But I think the idea there isyou control maybe who develops
(40:26):
it, or you bring in and offer it.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
I would definitely want to learn more about that,
but I think you're going to havesuccess.
When there's a free market andthere's competition, I think
it's okay to have competitionwithin.
You know, if, if another, ifanother, um, you know clothing
store wanted to come right nextdoor to Hustle and Heart, I
(40:53):
think that would be okay.
I think there's there'sprogress in competition.
Um, I don't know that a that avillage should kind of handcuff
property to to pick and choosewhat goes in there.
I think, um, if a businesswants to come in and be part of
(41:15):
the community and it's somethingthat that is in line with the
values of the community, I thinkthat would be beneficial.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
Any areas that you know of or could think of, that
you think the village couldeither cut costs or maybe
generate new revenues.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
I think bringing in businesses would take down or at
least stop the rise of taxes.
I think if businesses like thetax revenue that we get from the
Shell station and the BP andeven Schilling, the tax revenue
that we get from businesses likethat keeps our taxes from
(42:02):
growing.
So bringing in businesses thatcan help with that I think is a
positive.
Obviously, I don't think any ofthose businesses would be good
for Front Street.
I think that would be a 191stStreet conversation.
But bringing in businesseswould continue to bring down
(42:23):
taxes for the people of Mokina.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
One of the things that came up at the meet and
greet the other night.
Somebody was very passionateand upset about marijuana in
town and cannabis but thevillage, shortly after it was
approved statewide, voted to notallow those businesses
recreational and Mokina.
(42:46):
We had a medical marijuanadispensary that then moved to
New Lenox when they offered up.
So now we have New Lenox,joliet, orland Hills, mattson,
kind of all the surroundingareas embracing it.
Do you think it's somethingthat the village should
reconsider or take another lookat, or do you think it should be
(43:07):
left alone?
Speaker 2 (43:09):
Me personally, I would not be in favor of those
in Mokena, definitely not aspart of the front street
businesses.
I think if that's a businessthat is being welcomed by other
(43:33):
towns, I think all the power tothose other towns, but for
Mokina I personally would notwant those here.
What do you believe are thebiggest challenges that the
(43:54):
village faces over the next fiveto ten years?
I think, living up to whatwe're all saying, front Street
has been what it's been for many, many years.
So there's obviously thingsthat need to be done there and I
think it's getting fresh eyes,the fresh set of eyes, in there
to move things along.
(44:15):
It's asking questions about youknow why has it taken so long
to do you know Z Y Y Y and let'sfix it.
So it seems stagnant and Ithink both George and Frank have
(44:36):
said day one or day within thefirst month or whatever it is, I
think, holding us all to it,holding all of the people
running, holding us accountablefor doing what we say we're
doing or make sure that we'redoing it.
So developing Front Street isfirst and foremost the thing
(45:02):
that we all want, but might comewith some challenges.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
The next thing after the police station was built is
the villages started to talkabout the idea of building a new
village hall.
Yes, so that's obviously a hugeexpense and not something we'll
see, probably next year.
But down the road and you startto see the planning progress.
Starting with that, what wouldyou like to see, where would you
like to see and what do youthink the village should plan
(45:31):
for with the new village?
Speaker 2 (45:34):
hall.
The discussions that I've hadare just on the other side of
the police station, I think thenew police station, putting the
village hall behind that, sothat we kind of have it all
right there.
And then I don't necessarilywant to speak for my entire
(45:55):
slate, but I think the idea ofin the village hall possibly
having a court system option,like Frankfurt has, where they
can handle their trafficcitations right there in-house,
(46:26):
that I would present to Georgeand our board and say you know,
what do we think of the idea ofincluding a court system, and
kind of open that conversation.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Would that be a replacement to like going to
Will County Court?
Yeah, All right.
So I have a couple kind ofquick questions a little lighter
.
We'll ease you out of this alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (46:42):
But if you were to talk to a new resident in Mokena
, what advice would you givethem to help get connected into
the community?
Well, I would definitely givethem a Park District book and
invite them to join MBSA and gettheir kids out there playing
(47:04):
baseball and enjoying the manythings that the Park District
has to offer.
Kind of point them in thedirection of people that they
could talk to about you know thedifferent classes that they
have at the Park District andjust welcome them with open arms
(47:25):
.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
What is your favorite breakfast restaurant?
Speaker 2 (47:29):
Oh, man, etc all day.
You know I like them both, butI prefer the one right here by
the train tracks.
I agree, I agree.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
How about your favorite restaurant?
Train tracks?
Speaker 2 (47:41):
I agree, I agree.
Uh, what?
How about your favoriterestaurant?
My favorite restaurant?
Uh, lately the one we frequentthe most has been legends, um,
up there on 191st, but uh, butfor a long time we were going to
Mindy's.
Mindy's was was a good one, butum, I want, I want a barbecue.
(48:02):
I want, like, a barbecuerestaurant.
Like what is it called?
Hard Eight?
There's one down in Texas.
It might be everywhere, butI've only been to it in Texas.
Hard Eight is a fantasticbarbecue restaurant where I want
to bring that to Mokina.
That would be amazing.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
How about?
Speaker 2 (48:27):
your favorite.
What's your go-to fast foodrestaurant?
Pot Belly's.
I think we're constantly at PotBelly's.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
And what's your favorite Mokina community event.
Speaker 2 (48:41):
Our goodness, the 4th of July.
You know being right there onMcGovernie and waking up early
to watch the emergency servicesshut down the street and line
the street with the fencing andthen the build that the parade
(49:05):
has become, and then thefireworks at night.
I mean the 4th of July is just,it's a we I'm sure you guys do
too have a 4th of July party andit just like the whole town is
taken over by celebration andthat is there's so much energy,
and then right after the paradeit's so wild.
Speaker 1 (49:26):
Just to feel it dispersed throughout town and
our streets are lined with cars.
Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
Do you have a place you set upto watch typically?
Speaker 2 (49:35):
Typically, we are at the cemetery right there, right
by the fire station, across fromAurelio's.
Speaker 1 (49:46):
Good spot.
A lot of people, a number ofpeople said, with Aurelio's and
the VFW on the other side, youhave prime food and drink
options during the parade.
Going on too.
Absolutely, now, that's a greatevent.
What's your favorite thingabout Mokina?
Speaker 2 (50:04):
a great event.
What's your favorite thingabout Mokina?
It feels like home.
My favorite thing about Mokinais you know, you go, you can go
anywhere, but this, this is,this is home.
This is this has a home feeling.
I I could never imagine livinganywhere else.
Um, it just has a has a feel ofhome.
Speaker 1 (50:24):
What business, what local business, do you support
the most?
Speaker 2 (50:28):
Uh, well, probably, et cetera.
Uh, my kids have sleepovers andthen their friends are always
they.
They don't even call it, etcetera.
They call it the restaurant.
Can we, can we get breakfastfrom the restaurant?
But yeah, I would say EggCetera.
Is you know if we could investin Egg Cetera?
(50:49):
We would maybe get some of thatmoney back.
Speaker 1 (50:52):
Well, great, I appreciate you sitting down with
me.
If you understand, you can takea minute and share why people
should vote for you, and youwant to promote your slate, too,
as well?
Speaker 2 (51:00):
Okay, you know I'll keep it short.
I, uh, I'm a, I'm a peopleperson.
I like, I like havingconversations with, with anyone
and everyone.
I I understand the value ofpeople and I understand, um,
that I don't necessarily haveall of the answers, but I
(51:23):
probably have a contact thatdoes have an answer or know
someone that can help me find ananswer.
So, and I think our slateprovides those answers, I think
we have some very knowledgeablepeople on our slate.
I think Friends of Mokina hasgreat people.
That would be great for Molkina.
Speaker 1 (51:43):
Okay, Dan.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate you taking sometime.
Make sure to watch the rest ofthe candidate interviews and all
the election updates on ourwebsite.
Thank you.
Dan, thank you very much for sitting down and
talking with me.
You're running for VillageTrustee this election, so we
wanted to get to know you andgive you an opportunity to have
people get to know you a littlebetter.
So you want to just start bytelling us about yourself and
your family.
Where'd you grow up?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, first I want to say thank you.
This is an amazing thing thatyou're doing and I think it's
really needed.
So thank you for doing such anamazing thing for this town and
this community.
I have been a Mokina residentpretty much my whole life been a
(00:46):
Mokina resident pretty much mywhole life.
I grew up in Arbury Hillsacross the street over there by
Fleckenstein's or by Hecht Park.
My mom is actually stillfriends with Barb Hecht.
Wow really.
I remember going when Darwinwasn't there.
There was that farmhouse.
We would play at that farmhouseand Barb owned that house and
that farmhouse.
And, uh, barb owned that houseand that property and the whole
(01:07):
family owned that.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
So um, do you know anything about?
I mean, is that directly whoit's named after?
Is that her family, or likeparents or no?
Yeah, her her family.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I think it's named after her farm was there.
Yeah, yeah, so pretty cool yeahyeah, um, and then I think they
have a, or they had a housewhere that I forget the name of
the car dealership is, butthere's a car dealership on
191st on the north side, or thisyeah, there's two now.
Yeah, uh I don't remember eitheroffhand, but I think their,
(01:41):
their house, was there, so itwas just kind of.
You know, it's funny seeing allthe changes or seeing the
growth in the community.
But yes, getting back to thepoint that I've been a lifelong
resident of Mokina and couldn'tsee myself living anywhere else,
Any memories of growing up,like what do you think of Mokina
(02:04):
, of your childhood years um?
well, honestly like so the wholeuh, what is it now?
Tara hills and in arbury, thatwas nothing.
That's where I learned how todrive when there was nothing
there.
I think I was like 12 years old.
My, my dad and my grandma wouldtake me back there in like a
1991 Ford F-150.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And there was nothing , just fields.
There was just fields.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
So seeing that get built up was sad, but also it
was fun to watch.
You know, it was fun to seelike, oh, they're building
another block, they're buildinganother block.
Also riding my bike up toBozo's Hot Dogs I don't know if
you remember when that was onRoute 30.
Going through the ForestPreserve, getting a hot dog and
(02:51):
riding back home was like youwere something special because
you had the freedom to ride yourbike.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So you always hear people.
Well, maybe not always, butthere's kind of the idea of the
Arbery Hills and it's adifferent school district.
You're on the other side ofLaGrange.
How was it then?
Did you feel connected to thecommunity?
I did.
Did it feel different.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I've been fascinated with the downtown area.
I thought it was again likeriding my bike over that way and
just thinking that the downtownarea was so cool and old-timey.
So yeah, there were a lot oftimes we just kind of hung
(03:34):
around by the train tracks orhung around in the downtown area
.
But yes, crossing LaGrangewasn't always something that my
mom was pleased with.
So a lot of the adventures andwhatnot did happen in Arbery.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
What schools did you go to over there and then high
school?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I went to Arbery Hills for grade school, then
Hill to Walker and Summit Hilland then Lincoln Way East.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Okay so, yeah, and tell us about your family, oh
yes, of course, I've got abeautiful wife, Sherry.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
We've been so, we've been married, for this year will
be 14 years.
We were just we were justhaving this conversation the
other day.
Next year we will be together20 years, you know, like dating
and all that.
So 20 years, and then we havetwo children, Grayson and
Brayden, 12 and 10.
Basically they're what keeps uspretty busy in the baseball
(04:35):
world, but also they're kind ofbranching out into other sports
as well.
So you see us at a lot ofbaseball fields, but I think you
might see us on, you know, onvolleyball courts and basketball
games and things like that.
It's fun to have our kidsinvolved in sports.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Yeah, what does that change?
Even just becoming a parent intown?
How does that change, maybe,who your circles are or who you
meet?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Your circles change.
I feel like we're always having, um, like you have, like this
season we're really close withthis family, and the next season
you're close with anotherfamily, and um, I remember, and
then and then you kind of allcircle back and and become
friends all again like, oh yeah,I remember when our kids were
four and they played soccertogether and things like that.
The sports help with gettingthat community feel and having
(05:31):
common ground.
Because I'm not going to be outthere running around on the
soccer field anytime soon, butit's nice to be able to watch
the kids grow up and do it.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, what do you do for fun up?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
and do it.
Yeah, Uh, what do you do forfun?
Um, I feel like there's a lotof I read.
I read a lot just to kind of,um, ease, you know, take the
stress of the day off.
I like, what do you read?
I everything.
Um, what's his name?
Ryan holiday.
I, Ryan holiday.
He's a.
He's a stoic.
I try to read everything onstoicism and and and things of.
(06:12):
Then I did.
I was one of the like.
I forget how many millionpeople bought that inner
excellence because of the whatwas it say?
It's not Saquon Barkley, was it?
It was the other guy who was.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I don't know it.
No, the, the eagles guy.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I forget what his name was.
It wasn't saquon barkley, itwas one of the other guys, um,
but they had this book oh, thisseason, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
And I was like, so I was like well, I'm gonna get
that so I got that.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
That thing was a quick read.
That was pretty cool, um, butwhen the weather's nice, I enjoy
fishing.
I'm at Lake Tampere, just offof Wolf Road.
That's where I like to spend mysummers it's a great place to
kayak.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, absolutely.
I love it out there, great,yeah, so you're on the Park
District, yes, so I want to talka little bit about that.
Tell me about what do you likeabout it and what have you
learned and how you've made adifference there.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I love it.
I love it is not what I thoughtit was going to be.
I thought, you know, when it wasfirst pitched to me I thought
we were going to be justbuilding parks everywhere, and
that is not what it is.
There's so much more to it andthere's like intricate little
details, like you know, helpingthe staff pick an insurance plan
(07:35):
that's going to benefiteveryone and kind of taking into
account, you know, who hasfamilies, who's single, who's
but doesn't have kids, andwhat's like the best insurance
plan to offer, um, the the staffmembers updating payment plans,
like we we were um and phonesystems, like there's things
(07:58):
that like I never thought thatthis was going to be part of the
part of the job title but, um,it's beneficial, but it's
beneficial and it's part of theplan.
But then there's fun things likehelping decide what goes on at
Halloween Hollow or helpingdecide which bands are going to
be at the band shell, and theredesign of the barn or the
(08:24):
inside of the barn, and I don'tknow if you've been seeing the
updates with that, but the barnis going to look really nice
when it's finally completed.
Learning so much and makingconnections with very
resourceful people there are somany great people that work
there that you can just kind ofsit down like this, ask and have
(08:46):
a conversation and say you know, how does this work, how does
that work, how has that workedin the past, and just really
build those relationships withthe people.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Have you had to have any interaction
intergovernmentally with, maybethe village or other taxing
bodies that you've worked withor cooperated with?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
So not me personally Our board, so the director, greg
, and usually the president,have more direct relationship
with the village and then thatinformation is kind of brought
back to us as a board.
So I have never been thepresident of the park board.
(09:29):
If I ever were to become, thenI would have more interminglings
between the village and thedirect relationships with the
village.
But currently, as it sits, I'mkind of I'm receiving the
information secondhand and thenwe mull over what information
(09:49):
we're given and then and thenkind of make decisions as a as a
board.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
So talk about that process.
What?
What happens when something'spresented to you, or an idea or
the agenda?
You know something's presentedto you, or an idea or the agenda
.
How do you?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
if you have questions or you're unsure, what are you
doing to go about and, you know,get those questions answered.
Yeah, we have a veryunderstanding board right now
there's.
We've all become verycomfortable and close in terms
of working together andfriendships.
So, simply asking and sayingyou know whether it's in the
(10:30):
meeting itself or there's acouple guys on there Well, jeff
Apel lives, you know, a blockaway from me.
I can you know mosey over andtalk to him.
Or Mike Gandy, on there is oneof the greatest guys and I can
you know ask him anything and wehave.
(10:50):
We can call each other and sayyou know we talked about this
and I still don't understandthat.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
So, or there's more I want to talk about that being
in conversation in the meetingitself is very comfortable, but
then also having the ability tocall somebody up and say, hey,
(11:17):
let's talk more about X, y, z.
So maybe talk about how you'vebeen able to individually make a
difference, whether it be withan individual issue or maybe
something you brought, oranything like that, where you
may be taking a leadershipposition.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Yeah, so individually , I have, you know, we're never
a split vote, we always seem toagree on things.
But I have ties to MBSA as well,the Mokina Baseball Softball
(11:49):
Association, and I'm kind of theliaison there between the two
boards and there's things that I, you know, anytime you have two
entities discussing and there'sfinancials between the two,
someone's always feeling likethey an opportunity to kind of
(12:14):
explain where money is beingspent to MBSA and explain things
to the park district and say,hey, you know, we're collecting
payment, we need to do X Y Z orwe need to make sure that we're
(12:37):
doing X Y Z for this.
You know, entity that isessentially a client, um, and
then, in terms of like, directlyon the park board, I feel like
with this barn, the barnrenovation has been like the,
(12:58):
the focus or the focal point, um, so not necessarily like having
it my way, or or, you know,saying like, oh, we need to do
this, but also but presenting anidea and saying like, well,
what if we did it this way?
Or what if?
What if there was, what ifthere was this instead of that?
Um, and and bring that up tothe board and then have it be
(13:20):
discussed.
And and I don't necessarilyfeel like I was responsible for
that, but also that we broughtit to the table and we talked
about it and it got discussedand now we're moving forward in
that direction.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yeah, so how about?
You know, one of the thingsthat has kind of grown and
changes as technology becomeseasier is, you know, the idea of
making meetings more accessible.
And the school district wentthrough this kind of during
covid, by force, if nothing else, but uh, and you know, found a
(13:55):
way.
How do you feel about?
Do you think those meetingsshould be more public?
Do you think there's a way thepark district could um draw more
community involvement oranything?
Any suggestions or thoughts youmight have?
Speaker 2 (14:07):
So one that I haven't presented to the board but have
had thoughts about.
Is I really like what DrOlanitis does every Friday?
He presents like a weeklywhatever.
It is YouTube video and it's indifferent platforms.
You can read it and you can seethe YouTube video.
(14:30):
I always watch the YouTubevideo every Friday.
I look forward to it.
I don't think that that would bea terrible idea for every
Friday or every Monday orhowever, whatever the timeframe
would be just to make a60-second video that could be
put up on the Facebook page orput up on the website and say
(14:52):
this is what we've done thisweek.
You know, have a great week, orthis is what we've done.
This is what has been discussed.
You know our meeting is thefourth Tuesday of every month.
Come on out.
I think that would be a decentidea.
Or just to kind of mimic whatthe school system does, where
they text you as something'shappening or as something's
(15:14):
going on.
That would be something I wouldhave to learn about, but I
don't think that that's aterrible idea where the park
district could send out a textmessage and and update people.
That was actually something Iwas going to present to George
too.
I haven't talked to him aboutit, but I don't think that's a
terrible idea for whoeverbecomes the mayor to to throw
(15:36):
out the same thing, same thingthat Dr Rollinitis does, where
the you know a two or threeminute video just updating the,
the public, the public do.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
What do you think about?
What are your thoughts on theidea of record it, having, uh,
those meetings recorded?
The park district boardmeetings.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I personally don't have any problem with it being
recorded, I mean, you think itprovides a benefit to the
community or something theyshould do?
Or do you think it provides abenefit to the community or
something they should do, or doyou think it causes a hindrance?
I mean, I've heard both.
I've heard both ways.
Even you know, school boardsays sometimes you put people in
front of a camera and they'renot going to speak as freely or
they might.
You know, maybe you getsomebody that wants to be more
political than another.
(16:18):
But you know, it seems the waythat a lot of the boards and
things are moving nowadays, andso maybe you don't think that
way though.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I personally don't.
I think it would be perfectlyfine to record.
I know, like you're saying, thevillage does it, the school
board does it.
I think you should be able tospeak freely but also
appropriately, and whetherthere's a camera there or not, I
(16:49):
think you should behave the wayyou're going to behave.
But no, personally, I thinkmaybe the reason why, or one of
the reasons why it might not berecorded, is we don't we
honestly don't get a lot ofturnout to to those meetings.
But I hear what you're sayingtoo is like people might.
People would rather watch itrather than show up to a meeting
(17:10):
at six o'clock at night.
So I think it's definitely anidea worth exploring and an idea
worth presenting to the boardand to Greg.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
And you know, it just seems kind of the way taxing
bodies I mean you can go onTinley Park's YouTube page and
watch their zoning and planningmeetings.
I mean it's just, you know,people want, in my opinion,
people want more transparency,and across our village I think
it just gives people the ease ofmind to you know.
(17:43):
Okay, well, it looks like theyat least know what they're doing
or they can peek in whensomething's of interest.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
But yeah, and to that point I feel like everything
explodes around election time.
And then you're saying well,we've been doing this, we've
been doing this, we've beendoing this.
And then sometimes people arelike well, why haven't you been
telling us that or why haven'twe been made aware of this prior
?
And then it almost feels likeeverything, all the information
(18:12):
that's being given is for theelection.
It's not necessarily an update,it's a political move.
So I would agree with you.
I agree that it's very.
It's something we should lookinto.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah, and maybe some of that comes from the lack of a
consistent communication.
You know if you're consistentlyhearing from, say, the school
board or you know getting anadditional communication from
the village you know our mailerwe get in our water bill, you
know.
Maybe that's enough enoughalong with the opportunity you
know for that exposure.
(18:47):
But I think having those twomight be ways to draw people in
and get people more involved.
You know a number of trusteecandidates talked about the lack
of people at their meetings andmaybe that's not necessary.
Maybe you can get informationother ways.
But it's a good sign of, Ithink, local engagement and
(19:08):
interest and good ways to getpeople more interested and
seeing different ideas.
Like you said, a lot of itcomes up during the election and
it's only presented or talkedabout at that time.
But the idea to keep an ongoingconversation, I think helps in
a lot of ways.
How?
do you have.
You had talk about anyexperiences.
(19:29):
You've had a village boardmeeting.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I have gone in for meetings with Brent and
Christoph.
When I was, I had communitydealings with them and they were
fantastic to work with Greatguys trying to help me with a
business we were running andbuilt relationships with those
(20:12):
two guys and just found them tobe incredibly knowledgeable and
helpful.
They wanted our business togrow and to flourish and to be
part of the community and it wasa great time working with those
(20:36):
two fine gentlemen.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Talk about your experience and what you believe
that would add value to you andhow you could be a better
trustee.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Yeah, I believe I'm a people person and I'm an honest
person.
I'm not going to lie and saythat I've watched every village
board meeting and just to covermyself and sound more.
You know, sound more than I am.
I think I'm honest to a faultand I think I enjoy listening to
(21:07):
people and I enjoy hearingideas.
I know that I'm I don'tnecessarily have the right
answer, but by talking to thepeople in the community and
talking to find people likeyourself, you get these great
ideas.
And I continually end up inthese roles where differences
(21:27):
can be made or ideas can bebrought up.
I think I'm a person that isn'tit's not going to be my way or
the highway, it's not going tobe something that know my way or
the highway, or, and it's notgoing to be something that I.
I enjoy listening to people, Ienjoy talking to people, I enjoy
hearing both sides of it.
(21:49):
Um, I love debating and and Ihonestly don't don't care if I
win or not, you know it's justfun to um to have conversations
that better both sides and Ithink I'm very comfortable
having conversations.
I'm comfortable withuncomfortable conversations and
(22:12):
hearing things from both sidesand kind of taking a minute to
mull it over and then come backtogether and present the best
idea or go with the best idea,even if it's not my own.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
So in this election there's a chance that maybe you
have a split result.
So say, you're in a situationwhere Mayor Fleischer is
reelected and you're elected asa trustee.
You're elected as a trustee.
How do you go about still beingeffective and getting things
done with somebody that mightnot agree with you or be on the
(22:47):
same page as you?
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yes, these conversations with my wonderful
(23:11):
wife, I like to stay.
I feel like I've learned mylesson with elections and saying
things in an election time whenit didn't necessarily need to
be said and then it kind of, youknow, harms a relationship down
the road.
So if, if Frank were to win andI were to win, I, like Jim
(23:35):
Schlegel was saying at at ourmeet and greet, you know there
are things that that Frank hasdone.
He did get hospitals built, hedid get doctor's office built,
he did bring things into thiscommunity.
So I think I'm not plugging forFrank, but I'm friends with
Mokina all the way.
But I think I think there'srecognition of of both sides.
(24:01):
There are things on both sidesthat that have been done.
I think there's, I, I thinkthere's, you know, from from
watching the videos that you'veposted, there's all of the
involved.
People want the same thing iswhat it seems like.
(24:22):
All of the people involved.
What is that?
What do you think?
What is that Growth?
I think everybody seems to betalking about growth for our
community a viable downtown area, a walkable downtown area with
you know, like I was saying,about the Bozo's hot dogs or
Steamboat Steamboat hot dogthere we go.
About the bozos hot dogs, orsteamboat steamboat hot dog
(24:44):
there we go, um, something youcan go up and enjoy and send the
kids to, and um, have thatcommunity feel.
I, I feel like the, I feel likeboth sides want that.
I think the question of gettinggetting it done is is what's in
question and I think, if I'melected trustee, I think I would
(25:08):
continue to push for thatbecause it's been said in
multiple interviews and multiplethings yes, the downtown area
has been what it is for multipleyears, so getting it done is
what needs to happen and I thinkthat I would be able to have
(25:30):
those conversations and, likeMelissa said, yes, whoever the
mayor is is the one that setsthe agenda.
So, but as a trustee, we cansuggest and push what needs to
be on the agenda, based off ofcommunity request.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
So if you had a magic wand that you could wave over
Front Street and Mokinasdowntown in general, what does
that look like to you?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
What does that look like to you?
Well, I never want to say thatanything needs to go.
There's things that I woulddefinitely.
I wish it was a little bitlonger of a street, because I'm
so excited that Doc's going inmy idea of what that building
could have been and I'm veryhappy that it's going in my idea
(26:20):
of what that building couldhave been and I'm very happy
that it's going to be arestaurant, very happy and proud
.
I think a children's museumwould be cool.
I like what Frankfurt has in achildren's museum and I think
that would definitely bringpeople down to our area and it
(26:43):
would be a destination.
I remember taking my kids tothe Frankfurt Children's Museum
every Saturday before they're insports.
You just all right, let's goplay at the museum.
I think that would be somethingamazing to add.
I think restaurants would beamazing to add.
(27:03):
I think some green space.
I like you know somewhere whereyou can get some ice cream and
go sit and enjoy your snack andjust kind of take in the train.
I know the like the summer is.
I live on McGovernie and I getto sit out there and and watch
the train go by, but I also getto watch people bring their
(27:27):
little kids down and and stareand wave at the train.
Um, so if they could, you know,stare and wave at the train and
then go get some ice cream andjust maybe hit the children's
museum on the way out.
I think that would be a way tomake the downtown area a
destination.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
So a big part of downtown is the Yunker Farm and
the field there, and there'salways been a lot of talk there.
How do you think that playsinto downtown and what do you
think?
What would you like to seehappen with that?
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I like the idea of moving the train station um and
then having the park districtand the and the village work
together to to split it intothirds where the?
Uh, what would that be?
The north north third, I think,if I'm getting my, the north
north third, I think, if I'mgetting my directions right,
(28:23):
north third would be more forthe village and then the
southern.
Am I doing my directions?
Speaker 1 (28:30):
right, Mm-hmm yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:31):
Two thirds would be more of green spaces and again
keeping it with a destinationwhere they come down and enjoy
that park area and then keepmoving on to all the wonderful
things that we could have indowntown.
I think those conversationshave been had enough times to
(28:54):
where it sounds like thingsmight hopefully be in motion for
that.
I know that would be a lengthyprocess, but I think starting
the process is the only waywe're going to get it done.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, yeah, and you've heard a number of people
talk about the idea ofconnecting trails and you've got
a way to connect through, youknow, potentially down to the
Hickory Creek Preserve with thepark district's property.
I mean there's a lot ofopportunity there and connecting
downtown.
You think you can get on yourbike from the Forest Preserve
(29:29):
and get into downtown Frankfurtor downtown New Lenox or the
Village Hall.
We should have a similar trailof bikes, a bike trail.
So I want to talk you mentioneda little bit, but talk about
your business and you had, youknow that experience and kind of
what happened there.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Yes, so I was a teacher for 12 years.
I had you know six years sixyears of experience in third
grade and then just about sixyears of experience in fourth
grade, and my wife and I werewere, um, you know, just kind of
kicking around ideas of likebusinesses to start and, um, we,
(30:12):
we came across, uh, an idea ofwatching dogs from our house,
similar to Rover.
Well, pretty much, pretty muchwhat Rover is, a rovercom.
But what's that?
Is that I don't know of Rover.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
Sorry.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Rover is.
It's literally there's twothings there's there's Rover and
there's wag, and it's literallywhat we, what we did.
You could sign up to be a Roverpet sitter, but there's
incredible fees and taxes andjust it's not so.
(30:47):
Branching out and doing ityourself is the way that we
thought was the best way to go.
So we had built quite theclient list.
We had when did you start doingthe business?
To 2022, january, january of2022.
(31:08):
And then we, we went toSeptember of 24.
So, just about three years, wewere Watching, watching people's
dogs from our house.
It was great.
We had some days, you know,some days we'd have four, some
days we'd have significantlymore than that.
(31:29):
We had a client list of 360.
I think it was 361 clients,obviously not all at once, but,
like through the years, we had,you know, some dogs would come
three days a week.
Some dogs would stay with usfor four a week or more and
(31:53):
unknowingly, like I said,because of Rover and Wagon and
those websites that promotedthis type of business, um, we,
we were under the impressionthat it was um, you know, okay,
we're, we were paying our taxes,we were we were doing.
You know everything that weassumed you were set up as a
(32:14):
corporation.
Yeah, yeah, we have an llc.
We were playing with pups LLC.
We, we, um, you know we wereregistered with the state and um
had no idea that this was, um,you know, a zoning issue.
So, um, part of the part of thereason why I had a had a great
(32:35):
conversation with, uh, brent andChristoph was they let me know
that that was not a businessthat zoning-wise, or because of
zoning codes was allowed in thevillage.
But they helped me look forproperty, they helped me
(32:57):
navigate codes.
They helped me.
They were incredibly helpfuland it wasn't like they didn't
come and like shake their fistand say you have to be done,
blah, blah, blah.
They actually were.
You know they provided a lot ofleniency and saying like you
(33:19):
need to be done.
But we understand, like wecan't just you know, cut the
cord right now.
Today, they, they very muchworked with me on um options and
um so far, we we have not, uh,found an option that is viable
yet, uh, but we're still, we'restill working and trying to
(33:42):
figure out what the next stepsare.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
So what was that?
I mean, you get this news andthis is.
You know how do you deal withthat?
What do you do?
That's a big deal.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Yeah, I was actually coaching.
I was at a baseball practice.
I was coaching a baseballpractice at Heck Park, heck 4,
and my wife came up with aletter you know, a certified
letter saying like, hey, we gotto stop the business, you just
take it in, you take it instrides.
(34:13):
At first I were, you know, it'stime to be done and, as
disappointing as it is, like Isaid, I very much enjoy the
(34:36):
stoic reading, but I'm very mucha person of what's going to
happen or what's supposed tohappen is going to happen.
We saw the brighter side ofthings.
We saw the.
We saw like we essentially andI don't mean to you know, we
(34:56):
loved our dog clients, but wedid slightly create our own
prison.
I couldn't really go, I couldn'tleave my house because we had,
you know, numerous dogs and wecared about their safety and we
didn't want to.
We can't leave, we can't tellpeople, hey, we're going to
(35:20):
watch your dog and then and gosomewhere.
So, like, even on holidays,like that, there were many
reasons why, um, like I mentallyaccepted it.
Um, I mean, it was definitely afinancial hit, but, um, but
mentally I I bounced back ratherquickly, um, and it provided me
(35:40):
with an opportunity to, to getin the community.
I've been, um, like Josh wassaying, I've been in the Mokina
schools, uh, since October.
Um, getting to know the kids,getting to recruit kids to come
out and be umpires for uh, mbsaum and and making relationships
(36:01):
with with more people that Inever, never, would have had the
had the business continued.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
What do you think you know that process taught you
and how do you think it makeswould make you a better trustee?
Do you think there's anythingyou look at and say this was
unfair or something should bedifferent?
Speaker 2 (36:20):
No, I think the Well, not no to the unfair.
That was human error on myfault.
I should have looked into thecodes.
I should have, you know, Ishould have done a little
digging on my own or made sure Iknow we were registered with
(36:42):
the state.
I guess I I just, you know, ina, in a silly lack of thought,
uh, didn't, didn't register withthe, the village, um, so I
think it's just one of thosethings that that makes me now I
know.
Now I know, okay, we got todouble check with every,
(37:02):
everything.
So, you know, as it ties to thevillage, I have that extra
caution step.
You know, like, if we're goingto do this, we got to what, what
is the red tape behind it, orwhat is the, what is the process
in involved in doing whateverit is, um, so, and and seeing
(37:23):
and seeing the brighter side ofthings, you know like, not
necessarily, I think that alwayshaving a positive outlook is
gonna be a great way to getthings done.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
How do you think Mokina can be more welcoming to
businesses?
Speaker 2 (37:49):
I think the process in starting needs to be
streamlined and, to becompletely honest, this is an
area where I can develop alittle bit of experience.
I'm so glad to have Josh on ourteam because I think he has
(38:14):
great ideas on how to streamlinethe process, so my resource
would be him.
I would reach out and kind oftalk to Josh and say, hey, what
can we do to make businesses notonly want to be here but stay
here?
I don't know if that involveslike providing incentives for
(38:35):
coming to the community orproviding tax breaks for coming
and staying, but I think usingour Friends of Mokina slate as a
resource and kind of tappinginto everyone's specialty, it
would be a great start.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
The village has purchased some of the vacant
lots that come up or like thetariff and kind of right near
your house there that they'repotentially hopefully developing
into a restaurant, and there'sa couple more vacant properties
sitting on front street.
What are your thoughts aboutthe village purchasing some of
the vacant properties as theycome up?
(39:16):
Do you think that's somethingthe village should be involved
in or not?
Speaker 2 (39:20):
I would ask, I would want to know the reason behind
it, and I think thoseconversations would come up in
meetings.
What is the plan?
Is the plan to sit on it andresell it for a higher value?
Or is the plan to like, likeyou said, begin to develop it?
Speaker 1 (39:44):
um, so I would, I would want to know the the plan
before, before I, you know,decided whether or not that's
something the the village shouldwell like the terrapin lot the
village bought with the hopesthat they could control what was
going on there, and so so Ithink that would be the general
idea.
You have the lot right next tothe old Ozinga building, in
(40:05):
between the Hustle and Heart,that whole thing, and then you
have the old barbershop lotthat's a half acre, sitting
there.
That's been for sale, and Idon't necessarily say encourage
one or the other.
The village has done it in thepast.
But I think the idea there isyou control maybe who develops
(40:26):
it, or you bring in and offer it.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
I would definitely want to learn more about that,
but I think you're going to havesuccess.
When there's a free market andthere's competition, I think
it's okay to have competitionwithin.
You know, if, if another, ifanother, um, you know clothing
store wanted to come right nextdoor to Hustle and Heart, I
(40:53):
think that would be okay.
I think there's there'sprogress in competition.
Um, I don't know that a that avillage should kind of handcuff
property to to pick and choosewhat goes in there.
I think, um, if a businesswants to come in and be part of
(41:15):
the community and it's somethingthat that is in line with the
values of the community, I thinkthat would be beneficial.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
Any areas that you know of or could think of, that
you think the village couldeither cut costs or maybe
generate new revenues.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
I think bringing in businesses would take down or at
least stop the rise of taxes.
I think if businesses like thetax revenue that we get from the
Shell station and the BP andeven Schilling, the tax revenue
that we get from businesses likethat keeps our taxes from
(42:02):
growing.
So bringing in businesses thatcan help with that I think is a
positive.
Obviously, I don't think any ofthose businesses would be good
for Front Street.
I think that would be a 191stStreet conversation.
But bringing in businesseswould continue to bring down
(42:23):
taxes for the people of Mokina.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
One of the things that came up at the meet and
greet the other night.
Somebody was very passionateand upset about marijuana in
town and cannabis but thevillage, shortly after it was
approved statewide, voted to notallow those businesses
recreational and Mokina.
(42:46):
We had a medical marijuanadispensary that then moved to
New Lenox when they offered up.
So now we have New Lenox,joliet, orland Hills, mattson,
kind of all the surroundingareas embracing it.
Do you think it's somethingthat the village should
reconsider or take another lookat, or do you think it should be
(43:07):
left alone?
Speaker 2 (43:09):
Me personally, I would not be in favor of those
in Mokena, definitely not aspart of the front street
businesses.
I think if that's a businessthat is being welcomed by other
(43:33):
towns, I think all the power tothose other towns, but for
Mokina I personally would notwant those here.
What do you believe are thebiggest challenges that the
(43:54):
village faces over the next fiveto ten years?
I think, living up to whatwe're all saying, front Street
has been what it's been for many, many years.
So there's obviously thingsthat need to be done there and I
think it's getting fresh eyes,the fresh set of eyes, in there
to move things along.
(44:15):
It's asking questions about youknow why has it taken so long
to do you know Z Y Y Y and let'sfix it.
So it seems stagnant and Ithink both George and Frank have
(44:36):
said day one or day within thefirst month or whatever it is, I
think, holding us all to it,holding all of the people
running, holding us accountablefor doing what we say we're
doing or make sure that we'redoing it.
So developing Front Street isfirst and foremost the thing
(45:02):
that we all want, but might comewith some challenges.
Speaker 1 (45:08):
The next thing after the police station was built is
the villages started to talkabout the idea of building a new
village hall.
Yes, so that's obviously a hugeexpense and not something we'll
see, probably next year.
But down the road and you startto see the planning progress.
Starting with that, what wouldyou like to see, where would you
like to see and what do youthink the village should plan
(45:31):
for with the new village?
Speaker 2 (45:34):
hall.
The discussions that I've hadare just on the other side of
the police station, I think thenew police station, putting the
village hall behind that, sothat we kind of have it all
right there.
And then I don't necessarilywant to speak for my entire
(45:55):
slate, but I think the idea ofin the village hall possibly
having a court system option,like Frankfurt has, where they
can handle their trafficcitations right there in-house,
(46:26):
that I would present to Georgeand our board and say you know,
what do we think of the idea ofincluding a court system, and
kind of open that conversation.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Would that be a replacement to like going to
Will County Court?
Yeah, All right.
So I have a couple kind ofquick questions a little lighter
.
We'll ease you out of this alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (46:42):
But if you were to talk to a new resident in Mokena
, what advice would you givethem to help get connected into
the community?
Well, I would definitely givethem a Park District book and
invite them to join MBSA and gettheir kids out there playing
(47:04):
baseball and enjoying the manythings that the Park District
has to offer.
Kind of point them in thedirection of people that they
could talk to about you know thedifferent classes that they
have at the Park District andjust welcome them with open arms
(47:25):
.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
What is your favorite breakfast restaurant?
Speaker 2 (47:29):
Oh, man, etc all day.
You know I like them both, butI prefer the one right here by
the train tracks.
I agree, I agree.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
How about your favorite restaurant?
Train tracks?
Speaker 2 (47:41):
I agree, I agree.
Uh, what?
How about your favoriterestaurant?
My favorite restaurant?
Uh, lately the one we frequentthe most has been legends, um,
up there on 191st, but uh, butfor a long time we were going to
Mindy's.
Mindy's was was a good one, butum, I want, I want a barbecue.
(48:02):
I want, like, a barbecuerestaurant.
Like what is it called?
Hard Eight?
There's one down in Texas.
It might be everywhere, butI've only been to it in Texas.
Hard Eight is a fantasticbarbecue restaurant where I want
to bring that to Mokina.
That would be amazing.
Speaker 1 (48:26):
How about?
Speaker 2 (48:27):
your favorite.
What's your go-to fast foodrestaurant?
Pot Belly's.
I think we're constantly at PotBelly's.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
And what's your favorite Mokina community event.
Speaker 2 (48:41):
Our goodness, the 4th of July.
You know being right there onMcGovernie and waking up early
to watch the emergency servicesshut down the street and line
the street with the fencing andthen the build that the parade
(49:05):
has become, and then thefireworks at night.
I mean the 4th of July is just,it's a we I'm sure you guys do
too have a 4th of July party andit just like the whole town is
taken over by celebration andthat is there's so much energy,
and then right after the paradeit's so wild.
Speaker 1 (49:26):
Just to feel it dispersed throughout town and
our streets are lined with cars.
Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
Do you have a place you set upto watch typically?
Speaker 2 (49:35):
Typically, we are at the cemetery right there, right
by the fire station, across fromAurelio's.
Speaker 1 (49:46):
Good spot.
A lot of people, a number ofpeople said, with Aurelio's and
the VFW on the other side, youhave prime food and drink
options during the parade.
Going on too.
Absolutely, now, that's a greatevent.
What's your favorite thingabout Mokina?
Speaker 2 (50:04):
a great event.
What's your favorite thingabout Mokina?
It feels like home.
My favorite thing about Mokinais you know, you go, you can go
anywhere, but this, this is,this is home.
This is this has a home feeling.
I I could never imagine livinganywhere else.
Um, it just has a has a feel ofhome.
Speaker 1 (50:24):
What business, what local business, do you support
the most?
Speaker 2 (50:28):
Uh, well, probably, et cetera.
Uh, my kids have sleepovers andthen their friends are always
they.
They don't even call it, etcetera.
They call it the restaurant.
Can we, can we get breakfastfrom the restaurant?
But yeah, I would say EggCetera.
Is you know if we could investin Egg Cetera?
(50:49):
We would maybe get some of thatmoney back.
Speaker 1 (50:52):
Well, great, I appreciate you sitting down with
me.
If you understand, you can takea minute and share why people
should vote for you, and youwant to promote your slate, too,
as well?
Speaker 2 (51:00):
Okay, you know I'll keep it short.
I, uh, I'm a, I'm a peopleperson.
I like, I like havingconversations with, with anyone
and everyone.
I I understand the value ofpeople and I understand, um,
that I don't necessarily haveall of the answers, but I
(51:23):
probably have a contact thatdoes have an answer or know
someone that can help me find ananswer.
So, and I think our slateprovides those answers, I think
we have some very knowledgeablepeople on our slate.
I think Friends of Mokina hasgreat people.
That would be great for Molkina.
Speaker 1 (51:43):
Okay, Dan.
Thank you very much.
I appreciate you taking sometime.
Make sure to watch the rest ofthe candidate interviews and all
the election updates on ourwebsite.
Thank you.
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