February 26, 2025 • 46 mins
Frank Fleischer has been the Village President of Mokena since 2013. He is running for re-election with a group of candidates as the "Mokena's Future" slate. Learn more about Mayor Fleischer and what his plans are for Mokena's Future.
We had a previous conversation with Mayor Fleischer and Mrs. Fleischer, that can be found on our YouTube page. You can watch and listen to all of our candidate interviews from our website's Local Elections pages! There are 2 now because we have some much to share!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Music.
We don't have any papers, wecan't get the word out.
What you're doing is soimportant for the residents
(00:22):
because they need to look atwhere we're coming from our
ideas and feel comfortable withus when they vote for us if they
vote for us.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Mr Mayor, thank you very much for sitting down and
talking with me.
Let me just start by saying, asour podcast goes, I consider it
an honor to have a sittingmayor.
Come and spend time and talk tous.
You've been very open andopened your home to me with the
conversation we did with MrsFleischer and yourself.
(00:55):
I want to first also mentionpeople might criticize me for
either not asking too hard of aquestions or not asking what
they think are the rightquestions, but I wanted to start
this as a way to get to knowthe mayor a little more as well
as create an opportunity for youknow people to maybe come up
(01:15):
with their own questions thatthey can ask you and your slate
as well.
So again, thank you for joiningme and just really appreciate
it and your commitment and yourappreciation as well of our
podcast.
Thank you very much.
I want to talk a little bitfirst about kind of your past.
(01:36):
You were elected initially asmayor in 2013, but you were
village trustee for a while.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah, I was on the Zoning and Planning Commission
from 1985 to 1987.
And then I ran for trustee inone and I was on from 1987 to
2003.
14 years, yeah, 14 years.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So what I'd really like to talk about is kind of
those in-between years, becauseyou ran twice where you lost
right.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Yeah, once for trustee and then once for mayor.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So you know, I had a similar experience when I ran
and I know that that process ofputting yourself out there can
be difficult and challenging.
There can be difficult andchallenging.
Talk a little bit about goingthrough that, having been a
trustee and then running andlosing.
What did that do to you andwhat kept you from just deciding
to pull back and notparticipate in public life after
(02:36):
that second election especially?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Everybody loses once in a while.
Maybe they realize something.
If they learn something bymistakes, then that's good, it
was all worth it.
If you don't, then that's thedefinition of insanity when you
try to do it again the same way.
And I enjoy it.
I enjoy doing what I do and Imight say I'm pretty good at it.
(03:01):
I'm not trying to be blusteryor beat my chest.
I am pretty good.
I better be because I've goneto a lot of seminars, a lot of
conferences and I've learnedwhat our job is as municipal
officials.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
So talk a little bit about that.
You mentioned some of thetrainings and things you've gone
through.
Maybe share a little bit aboutthat and then why you think that
made you better prepared to bemayor.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Well, and this is important, this is very
important.
Every year the IllinoisMunicipal League has a
conference in downtown Chicagoand they have sessions where you
can go to.
Sessions a topic that you mightwant to know about and go there
, learn a little bit, talk toother elected officials, find
(03:50):
out what they do in their town.
This is very, very important.
That's where I learned a lot,and there's other sessions
throughout the year that you cango to.
And you know, a few years backI went to the program through
University of Illinoisleadership program and
understanding of UNICEFgovernment, and I'm the only one
(04:10):
in Mokena that ever did it,nobody else did it and how do
you think that better preparedyou for the job?
(04:32):
for the job.
You don't know what's going onuntil you get there.
Like I said, I could have beena trustee for years and years
for 40 years and didn't realizewhat the responsibilities of the
mayor are.
My job is to be a cheerleaderfor the village.
I try to bring development intotown.
I want to work with them.
I go to the chamber meetings.
(04:52):
I try to get the chamber tounderstand that we need them to
advocate for the village.
If you work with all kinds ofbusinesses, if you see a
business that wants to movesomeplace, tell them about
Mokina, how low the sales tax is.
You don't pay any utility taxand that's my job to sell the
(05:15):
village to people and get themout here.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
And talk a little bit about that.
How does our village compare?
I know we have the lowest taxrate in the surrounding area.
How do we compare in that ways,when you're selling to other
businesses, what's the highpoints?
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Well, the village portion of the property tax is
the lowest in the little countyand in our area.
Seven and a half percent salestax is unheard of.
Frankfurt is eight, new Lenoxis nine and Tilly and Arlen Park
are in the stratospheresomewhere.
So talking to people that livein Mokena, they say to me they
(05:59):
paid the least amount to live inMokena.
It's a good town.
Sometimes we're frugal to afault, but it's your money.
We have to be careful with that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I want to talk a little bit going back in
February 2022, you had a serioushealth issue that kept you away
till about June yeah, aboutfour months.
Wait till about June yeah,about four months.
So talk a little bit about thatand just kind of, maybe, if you
(06:32):
can share what happened andthen you know, reassure voters
that you're up for another fouryears.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Well, I've been back for two or three years, so I
think I've showed voters that Ican do this.
Plus, I go to these differentevents.
We had a last summer.
We had an event with the kidsthe kids that you know, I don't
know what you call them.
(06:57):
I don't want to offend anybody,but we had it over in.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
New.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Lenox and we had it by the special rent facility and
the managers I mean the mayorswere managers and the kids had a
fantastic time and we had anice time doing that.
Now that's one of many things Igo to.
I'm a representative to the WoldCounty Center for Community
(07:28):
Discerns.
That's a community actionagency.
We assist the needy, theelderly and people that need
assistance.
But I belong to the CountyEconomic Development
Organization.
I was on a committee there fora little bit to study the I-80
(07:49):
corridor.
I'm also doing that with Orlinand Tenley Park.
The mayors get to sit down, gettogether and talk about what we
want to see in our corridor.
South Suburban mayors andManagers I'm on that.
I'm involved in theirlegislative committee.
(08:12):
The Will County GovernmentalLeague I'm on that.
So I've heard the same thingyou have and it's a shame that
somebody's passing around thatkind of baloney and it's
ridiculous because I'm fine.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Okay, good to hear.
I want to talk a little bitabout.
You have your slate ofcandidates, yes, so I'd like to
maybe just give a briefintroduction of who they are and
why you chose them and why youthink that they really do
represent Mokena's future themand why you think that they
really do represent Mokina'sfuture, because they are
(08:51):
independent people.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
They're not going to roll over just because I want
something done.
They're going to explain to mewhy they want to do it a
different way, and I want peopleto do that.
Change my mind.
They want to do it a differentway and I want people to do that
.
Change my mind.
Don't just vote yes or no onsomething.
Change my mind.
And this is not what ouropponents do.
They talk before a meeting,they come into the meeting and
they have their mind made upalready.
This happens time and timeagain.
(09:19):
I want elected officials,trustees, that can think for
themselves.
That's going to make the townbetter.
And I'll tell you, all of thesepeople will think for
themselves.
Nick, he's an entrepreneur.
He's a pastor, you know.
He teaches religion and stufflike that.
He's a good, solid guy.
(09:40):
Jim Roberts you know he workedfor the Shane's stores for a
while.
You know quite a bit and he wasrunning the stores.
He's good at what he does.
His mind works very, very well.
He looks at everything.
Then he makes his decisions.
And Kim we're very lucky to gether her background.
(10:03):
She's a school teacher.
She teaches government atSandburg and she's just.
These are three good peoplethat I want everybody to vet
them.
Look at their background andsee how good these people are.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Anything else you want to share about them?
You have Nick, kim and Jim yes,okay, and this will already
have come out, but you're goingto be hosting some meet and
greets, one coming up this weekas well as a number of others.
What do you, you know,obviously hope for good turnout
and people to come out, but youknow, what can people expect?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
I believe that we should be accessible.
They should ask us anyquestions that they want.
They should vet us, not justvote for us because they like us
.
You should find out why you'revoting for us.
I put a lot of time in thisvillage Decades.
(11:05):
You know and ask me I betterknow what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So one thought I had is you know, a leader has the
ability to review successes andfailures in their past and learn
from them and correct theirpath going forward.
So, looking back over the years, let me talk a little bit about
a decision that you made asmayor that made me regret or
wish you would have handleddifferently and learned from.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
There's been a few of those over the years, you know,
allowing a development to gointo an area that we shouldn't
have.
I made a few of those, but notmany, thank God, and I think of
the residents before I make adecision.
(11:54):
I hope people understand that Idon't just make flippantly make
a decision and not try tofigure out the impact it's going
to have on their life.
That's important to me andthat's why I'm so against semis
(12:14):
on 191st Street.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Talk about that as a problem.
Maybe a lot of residents don't.
I mean we experience it andpassing it and driving alongside
of it.
But what kind of residentsdon't?
I mean we experience it andpassing it and driving alongside
of it?
But what kind of effect doesthat have on the village?
Speaker 1 (12:30):
It has a horrible effect on the village.
You wouldn't believe and I'mnot exaggerating Israel.
We probably have roughly 400trucks give or take parking
around Mokina.
Part of them were in the countyand part of them were in the
village Stuff that was done overthe years and stuff that was
(12:51):
done recently.
The people I'm running againstallowed a GT Express business to
come in there.
Think about this.
Okay, they went into a businesspark that is one of our best
revenue generating parks andthey let this trucking company
go in there to make four out ofthe five lots parking lots.
(13:16):
That's not generating any moneyfor our schools, parks,
libraries they're parking lots.
Why would you do that?
And where is that located?
That's the one that's out thereby Accelerate.
Why would people make thatdecision?
The only thing I can think ofis they don't understand what
(13:41):
they're doing.
They don't realize therepercussions of what they've
done, because I'll tell you whatI don't care whose they're
doing.
They don't realize therepercussions of what they've
done.
No-transcript are unforgiving.
When you get into an accidentwith a semi, you can pretty much
be considered gone, and thatbothers me because I don't ever
(14:02):
want to see that happen.
But I just I don't want anymore semis and last year I tried
to put a moratorium on it onsemis on trucks until we get
done with the comprehensive planOn semis On trucks.
Until we get done with thecomprehensive plan, not a word.
Not a word.
Nobody said anything about it.
They didn't put it up for boat.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
They didn't do anything with it.
It's as if it never happened.
And you bring up thecomprehensive plan.
Talk a little bit about that.
It's something you mentionedthat you've tried to do in the
past Twelve years ago when Ifirst became mayor twelve years
ago, and they stopped me fromdoing it.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
They wouldn't vote for it.
My opponent would not vote forit.
So what do you think changednow?
Oh well, I was in an electioncoming up and I was still in the
hospital and he pushed it whileI was in the hospital so we
could tell everybody oh lookwhat I did.
I put the comprehensive plan in, but where were you for 12
(15:05):
years?
What were you doing for 12years?
That comprehensive plan is soimportant because it allows the
(15:27):
residents to put their opinionsin what they want their town to
be.
We got 20,000 people in thevillage of Mokena.
There's seven of us.
I don't want to make thatdecision for them.
They have every right in theworld to come to the.
Come to the meetings.
Look at when we're going tohave open meetings to show
people what we're doing, and Iwant them to come and give us
their opinion, because that'svery, very important to me.
(15:49):
But that's our job.
We can't just you don't justsit up there and play.
It's not a monarchy.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
So the last strategic plan or master plan was it 2008
?
It was quite a while ago.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
I did the full plan.
I did the full plan as afirst-term trustee back in 1989.
This was tweaked a little bit.
Okay, it was tweaked a littlebit, but we never did a full,
comprehensive plan like we'retrying to do now.
(16:31):
So think about that how manythings have changed since 1989?
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Everything, and that's ridiculous that they
wouldn't do this.
Well, some of the people thatwere because there was and I'm
blanking on what year, but itwas early 2000s that there was
maybe a re-model and some of thecriticism of people that I know
that were involved in it wasthat they put a lot of time and
effort into it and didn't feellike a lot of that came through
(16:59):
or was a lot of it sat therebeing not accomplished.
So how do we know that's notgoing to happen again this time?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
As long as I'm mayor, it's not going to happen and
I'll back the person that runsafter me.
If they have the samephilosophies, I do the person
that runs after me.
If they have the samephilosophies, I do.
It's time the group we'rerunning again have been in power
since 2003.
2003.
Now I might be the mayor, butthe trustees are the ones that
(17:28):
vote on issues, so they've beenobstructing many of the things I
wanted to do, which was goodfor the village of Alkena, good
for the town, good for theresidents.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
So that's a good point.
Talk about that.
A lot of people criticize thevillage and the downtown and all
that and will put it on you.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Now you're the mayor and I understand that.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
But talk a little bit about the responsibility of the
two roles.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Okay, let's go with downtown.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I brought minutes from a workshop this was on
March 11, 2019, that I had threeconsulting firms come in.
One of the firms did Frankfurt,one of the firms did Naperville
and the other firm is the onethat's doing our comprehensive
plan.
Now they came and they told uswhat they wanted to do downtown.
(18:23):
They wouldn't make a decisionand this is the proof that they
wouldn't make a decision becauseit was in workshop.
We talked about it.
They didn't want to do anything.
I've wanted a downtown since Iwas a trustee.
I felt that we could reallyhave a downtown.
A lot of people thought it wasnuts.
Wait, wait until you see howour downtown turns out when
we're all done.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I sure hope you're right and I know a lot of people
in town you know really hopethat you're right and would love
to see that.
You know we've seen someglimmering lights of hope that
you know the tribes and thenobviously whatever happened
there and now the dock coming in.
So there's potential, but itreally seems like our downtown
(19:07):
needs a kick in the butt.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
I took a poll four years ago when I ran for mayor,
and I took a poll again thistime.
70% of the residents makes nodifference what age, what gender
, who the heck they are want thedowntown, and when the board
doesn't pay attention to thatkind of stuff, we've got a
(19:30):
problem.
We got to do what our residentswould like us to do, and
they've wanted the downtown fora long time and they're going to
get it.
If I get in there with thethree people that are running
for me, that's one of the firstthings we're going to do is push
the downtown stronger than itis right now.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
So what are some things that you can do as mayor
to push downtown?
You talked about going out andpromoting.
Here's the big thing.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
We've got people that want to invest in downtown, but
the reason they're not isbecause they don't know if the
board wants it, because theboard can never make up their
mind.
So what happens is if you'regonna invest millions of dollars
and the municipal board, thevillage board, doesn't know what
(20:20):
they want to do, you're notgonna put that money into town,
downtown, because you don't knowwhich way the wind is going to
blow with these guys and that'swhy they're not doing it.
I've talked to people that wantto develop downtown.
They want us to push for thedowntown.
(20:40):
They want to see us make thatdecision that we're going to go
in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Now we potentially have this Franklin's coming in
Possibly yes.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
It's never done until they sign on a dotted line.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
So there's been, as of now, there's been no sale of
the property.
Right, is it a right?
It's a proposal?
Yes, but you know it's a, itlooks great.
I mean, if that, something likethat, comes through, you know
that's a, the kind of thing thatseems like oh, that'll be the
catalyst for downtown.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Yeah, I met with him last year for the first time.
We met and sat down and talkedand went back and forth a little
bit about what's going on.
Then I went back out there withBrent and John.
We talked to him again to findout how interested he was in it.
And he's more and moreinterested.
But he's going to want anincentive.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Beyond the TIF incentive.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah, now we have to make up our mind whether to do
that.
So it's not just giving money.
The residents want a downtown.
So if we're going to spend alittle extra money for it, put
the darn thing in.
You know, these people paytaxes.
They want something for it.
(22:02):
Please give me something to doin my town.
Yeah, and that's what we shouldbe doing.
We should be working with ourresidents to get something done
and they should be seeing thatwe're trying.
If we get this downtown, like Isaid before Israel, it'll be
the catalyst for downtown.
There's no doubt in my mind.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
So also right now downtown, and that lot is a lot
that the village purchased Wasit 2018 or 2019, I think
purchased that, the old Terrafinproperty there and, you know,
with the idea we're going tohold this and hopefully develop.
So why do you think the villagehasn't done more of that?
(22:47):
We've got two large lotssitting on Front Street.
You know what?
Speaker 1 (22:53):
I want to talk more about myself, but I can't.
The person I'm running againstdid not want to buy strategic
property downtown for this typeof development.
He said we are not developers.
You're right, we're notdevelopers, but we can hold the
strategic piece of property.
We're the ones that zone thatpiece of property and as the
(23:14):
worth of that piece of propertygoes up because of our zoning,
the village is going to get moremoney on it.
So what is wrong with you?
We should be the onecontrolling our own destiny with
downtown.
But he won't do it.
He does not want to spend themoney and I'm sorry.
The residents in Waukeenadeserve more.
(23:35):
Some of these people, in fact alot of them, pay a lot in taxes
and they want something for it.
And I think working our buttsoff and giving them a downtown
will be a good start.
And then a bicycle path, awalking path, you know.
So the young people.
Like I've told you before, whenI was growing up, cars were the
(23:57):
big thing.
The younger people now want tobe with their kids, they want to
be on their bikes, they want tobe able to go downtown and
maybe see one of their neighborswith them, or maybe that's
eating down.
There, the kids can playtogether, the parents can sit
down and talk.
That's what they want, and Idon't blame them.
I think it's great, but we'vegot to give it to them.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
One of the thoughts of downtown also has been, you
know, the train station and thatwas part of the previous master
plan is moving it down, kind ofwhere the military, that small
military park is, or the oneright at the end of Division
Street, or maybe it was furtherdown by the police station.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
It was working with the park district to bring it
over to Walnut Industrial Park.
Okay, and then put parking inthere for the village and for
the Park District.
So when they have big eventsthey got plenty of parking over
there.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Do you think that's still ever a chance or a
possibility?
Yeah, the Park.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
District wants to get moving, but again we're holding
them up because people can'tmake a decision.
Please make a decision, whetherit's right or wrong, but make
the decision.
Don't just sit there and thengive me a blank like the deer in
the headlights stare.
That's our job.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Make a decision.
So the park district has thelarge, you know, the farm field
there sitting in between, youknow, the downtown and the park
district's property, whichreally becomes the second major
area of our general downtown.
What would you like to see withthat farm field?
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Well, years ago when I was a trustee, I talked to a
fellow by the name of MikePesteris.
Okay, mike was the director ofthe Forest Preserve.
So I went out there and wetalked for a little bit and
their plans were to putcross-country skiing trails in
the Forest Preserve, tubinghills and other winter activity.
(26:03):
And I want now now nationally,mike is going, but I want to
give them a call and see ifthat's still on the books.
Problem is we're not gettingany snow.
But that would be so nice forthe town To have something like
that in our town.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
that would be great yeah, that Hickory Creek
Preserve is such an unsungtreasure of Mokena and to have
that access to that and I thinktying it in and then with the
Park District and you know theyhave the the frisbee golf back
there that gets in the woods isabsolutely beautiful.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
I fought for that years ago because people wanted
to let the developer develophomes back there.
So myself and this woman thatlived over there called up Dr
George Weir with the MortonArboretum Please come out and
walk the area and let us know ifthings need to be saved.
He walked the area and cameback and said you're going to
(27:04):
destroy your ravine and that isgoing to destroy possibly 100
acres, and there was indigenousplants back there and everything
.
So I brought that to the boardand said this is something we
can't do and we didn't do it andthat's a big deal out there
because that's a beautifulForest Preserve District.
(27:26):
That's a beautiful area.
I mean when the kids weregrowing up we walked that so
much.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah.
What would you call your mostsignificant accomplishment so
far as mayor?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
You know there's been a few of them the original
comprehensive plan back in 89.
The negotiating the boundarieswith Orland and Tinley and New
Lenox and Frankfurt, Because ifwe didn't do that then I really
do think that Mokena might havebeen gobbled up on certain areas
(27:59):
.
I honestly feel that TinleyPark would be up 191st in the
Grange if we didn't negotiatethose boundaries.
And that was very importantthat we get that done, Because
you also have developers thatplay one village against another
.
We don't have that.
We have the boundary agreement.
That really was one of the mostimportant things that I did on
(28:21):
the board.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
And what's that process like?
How do you go through annexingthat section of unincorporated
into Mokina?
Speaker 1 (28:34):
I just go through the process.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Is it a vote by the residents of that area or the?
Speaker 1 (28:39):
municipalities agreement Sometimes.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Sometimes we can force annex them, but that is
the last thing I want to do.
I don't like to play that game,because if they're surrounded
on three sides by a village, wecan force annex them.
What I'd like to do is get themto understand and work with us
about.
This is what you get if youcome into the village.
We'd really like to Now,granted, there's going to be
(29:05):
things that are a littlestricter, but it's going to
bring up the value of your homeand will work with you.
You're only going to be payingfour extra cents on a dollar to
come into Mocaina.
That's all the tax is going tobe, and really I think we should
just find out what they want todo.
I don't want to force them.
Don't force them.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Are there other areas that we're looking to expand
still, or does that happen?
Is it an ongoing thing changingborderlines?
Speaker 1 (29:34):
I'm looking around town now and I'm looking at
areas that have older homes inthe county.
What I would like to do isrezone those commercial
Grandfather in the people thatare living there and then
develop those as lifestyle areas, as commercial areas?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
What areas?
Any in particular that you'dpoint out that you think would
fit for that?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
I'm just going to take one, because I don't want
to get anybody mad at me.
Sure, arbery Hills, look atwhere that's located on 191st
and LaGrange.
That is a prime, prime piece ofproperty.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
And as the years, go by.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
You know, if we do grandfather the homes in and
rezone the commercial, you mightsee somebody come in and be
interested in it.
If you don't try, you don't getit.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
And speaking of that, one thing I've always thought
is that downtown area of theindustrial I forget you
mentioned the name of what thatstreet is called there, south of
the tracks there and has thereever been a thought or an idea
of moving that area or gettingthat industrial area Out?
Speaker 1 (30:55):
of here.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, maybe move to another area.
Hold on Buster Park, yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
We've been talking about that.
Yeah, we've been talking aboutthat.
We have to sit down in earnestand talk to Mr Bunch and tell
him that this is gettingdangerous.
There's a lot of semis goingdown there to pick up his
product and we've got to sitdown.
I don't want to make a dealthat's going to hurt him, but I
also want to make a deal that'sgoing to be good for my
(31:22):
residents.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I've seen semis come down First Street before and it
gets a little hairy.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
It is a little hairy, yeah, and we've got to stop
that.
We've got to stop it because wecan get rid of that industrial
park and then bring 195th Streetinto McGovernie on the north
side of the Mr Yonkers Farm.
Now we open up that whole areathere For the people that live
east.
That's all they have to do iscome down that road to come into
(31:49):
the downtown.
Right now they have to goaround in each direction.
This way they can come right in.
We get more restaurants inthere.
They're more accessible.
It's the prime potentialdevelopment area, Like I said
this is what's driving me nutsover the years is that I could
(32:09):
see this.
It's always been my vision tohave a downtown, but people
don't see it.
Oh, we'll never have a downtown.
We'll never have a downtownBaloney.
Do you see what happened whenDebbie put the trucks out there?
How many people showed updowntown?
Speaker 2 (32:23):
They've been great.
Don't you dare tell me that wecan't have a downtown.
That's baloney.
Those nights have really shownthat mokina desires something
downtown, like they want to havea place to have music going and
food and just hanging out likethat.
We talk about community and youknow that's how you breed a
sense of community.
You have things that you go toand you see a neighbor and you
(32:46):
talk to, or you meet a newneighbor or you know you meet
the teachers that are in allthose things and those that food
trucks event has been a primeexample.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Exactly, israel.
You know, when I was brought upin Chicago, people sat on the
front porch.
You know everybody.
You'd walk down the streetyou'd say hello Mr Illion, hello
Mr Giacomo, and stuff like this.
You knew everybody.
And now people they come home,pull their car in the garage, go
(33:17):
in the house and they don'tcome out until they're going to
work the next day.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
It's true.
It's true.
One question I had is thinkingabout along those lines.
You know how does and this is aproblem Mokina has dealt with
for years.
I read about it back in theeighties and even when you first
came in, Mokina was goingthrough a change and a growth,
development and progress, and Ifeel like we're in a similar
(33:42):
time.
There's a lot of potential,growth and things changing.
How does a village like Mokinago through that growth but
balance, kind of our small towncommunity feel, you know,
without losing?
You know, nothing is Orland,but we don't want to be in
Orland, or necessarily.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
That's our slogan Planned, planned.
You know, respect here it isrespect the past, the past, but
plan for the future.
And that's what we're going todo.
We're going to respect the pastand never forget our past, but
we've got a plan for the futureand we can do it.
We can keep the small town,okay.
There's no reason we can.
(34:21):
You just have to work at it.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
So talk about that.
I love seeing the you know,respect the past, obviously
being history, and Molkina'shistory.
That's very important.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
But what does that mean to you?
I've been lucky over the yearsto know some of the people that
lived here for a long time.
Bill Weber was one of them, robHorse was another one and you
know Roy had a butcher shop onFront Street and then Ken came
in and bought it from Roy andthis was fun.
(34:59):
I love to know the history ofMokena Because I think I told
you before when we came out toMokena for the first time, mr
Yunker was bringing the cowsacross the port.
Yeah, and that was it.
Laurie saw that and she wasn'tgoing to go anyplace else.
Then we drove through downtownand it said washing a horse
blanket is prohibited, so we cando it.
(35:23):
You know we can do it, justlike when people say, well, you
can't do this, it's going tocost money.
You know we built a policestation, we upgraded our sewage
treatment facility.
We spent $25 million, didn'traise anybody's taxes and I had
to sign a promissory note for $5million.
(35:44):
We could have paid thepromissory note off already, but
we were getting more intereston a promissory note than we
were paying, so we just let itride.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
And that's a great thing, Talking about that.
One of the things that came upas the village is considering
doing a new village hall.
Yes, yes, so talk about youknow why do we need a new
village hall and what does thatbring, or how does that make our
village better?
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Every building has a life cycle and the village hall
is pretty much past it, but along one, yes.
And the thing that's a littlescary, it's a little old
underneath there and we don'tknow how really bad it is, you
know, because there's stillwater that seeps in there and
stuff like that.
So I don't like our employeesworking in that condition, that
(36:37):
situation.
So I would like to see us builda new village hall.
I mean, we deserve it.
Did you see how proud thepeople were of that police
station?
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Yeah, it was great.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
It was awesome walking through it.
People were really people intown were really proud of that
police station.
I mean, this is a great town.
They felt that it was theirs.
That's what's neat about Mokena.
They felt that it was theirs.
That's what's neat about Mokenathey felt that it was theirs.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
And what do you envision for a village hall?
You could wave your wand today.
What would you do?
Speaker 1 (37:17):
I want to build a nice building.
That is not the Taj Mahal.
Look at how things are going tochange in the future.
Okay, with being able to getstuff done online or you know,
whatever it is.
Let's not build a big villagehall.
(37:38):
Let's build a nice one, get anice piece of property.
But I don't want to get carriedaway because you see some of
these municipalities.
You want to talk about TajMahal.
My God, you think there werepharaohs building their.
The mayors were building theirtombs, for God's sake.
But no, I don't want to make ita super.
(37:59):
I want it to be.
I want it to be a good facilitythat's going to do the job that
it's supposed to do.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing
Mokina over the next five to tenyears?
Speaker 1 (38:22):
You know we've got some challenges, but we've
corrected any problem that wewere going to have with the
water.
The water's taken care of until2050 and beyond.
We got the police station, weupgraded the sewage treatment
facility.
We're going around to differentroads.
You know neighborhood roadsthat need to be worked on, so
(38:46):
we're taking care of that.
We're buying vehicles when weneed them, so maybe we're going
to have some challenges comingup, but I don't see them.
When you take care of your moneyand you watch yourself, there's
a lot you can do, yeah, and wedo a pretty good job of not
(39:07):
getting carried away withspending money.
I always say some of thesetowns spend money like drunken
sailors and that's a shamebecause they think it's monopoly
money.
They forget that it's theresidents' money and that's our
job to protect that money andprotect them.
The only thing we haven'ttouched on I will go back a
(39:29):
little bit and I do havesomething that could hurt us Our
road system stinks.
If you look at Mokena's roadsystem, look at how crowded
LaGrange Road is and look atwhat's happening to Wolf Road,
look at how backed up it'sgetting.
(39:49):
We have no other road north andsouth.
We don't have a road east andwest, a good road, a good road
like 159th east and west, andthen you got to go all the way
out to 30.
We need and again, okay.
For 12 years I've been trying toget the board to understand
(40:13):
that we need to do acomprehensive traffic study for
a couple of reasons.
We need to know.
You see, when you don't do it,then subdivisions pop up all
around you.
Now how are you going to getthrough?
How are you going to extendthese roads?
That's why it's so important.
It should have been done 12years ago, israel, not now.
(40:36):
What we're doing is kicking thecan down to the next boards
that are coming up, and it'sgoing to be a pain in the butt
and the other thing that'simportant is that you need to do
a traffic study if you want toget grant money.
(40:56):
Grant money comes if you givethem, you know, a phase one
traffic study, because if I goup to them and say we need a
road right here, they're goingto say, okay, you got a study,
oh, no, I just think we need aroad right there.
You know what's going to happento you and this is what's
(41:18):
hurting Mokena getting grantmoney.
We got to do this kind of stuff.
That's what we have to do.
We got to show this kind ofstuff.
That's what we have to do.
We've got to show a need for itwith a traffic study.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
What would the solution be for a Wolf Road?
Speaker 1 (41:41):
I mean, the idea of expanding Wolf Road is kind of a
scary thought.
No, we might have to, andthat's the point I'm making.
We might have to go someplaceelse.
I don't know, I'm not a scarythought.
No, we might have to, andthat's the point I'm making.
We might have to go someplaceelse.
I don't know, I'm not a trafficengineer, you know.
But we need somebody to sayokay, Mokena, this is what we
need to do, Because look atwhat's going on with 80th Avenue
at Thinley Park.
That's looking ahead.
(42:01):
That is going to be a majorroad going south.
That's going to be very, veryimportant.
But we've got to drive all theway down to 80th Avenue, maybe
come all the way back.
We've got streets here that wecould have done that with and we
didn't.
We just let it go Israel, andthat's not fair.
(42:23):
That's not fair to the futureresidents of Mokina, the future
boards, the future mayors.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
Well, mr Mayor, I'm sure we could talk a lot longer,
as we have in the past.
We're coming close to an hourabout 50 minutes yeah yeah.
So I just want to give you anopportunity.
You know, take, you know, sometime and just share with us, the
voters, why we should trust youwith four more years, as well
(42:52):
as you and your slate, whyyou're the best thing for Mokina
.
Speaker 1 (42:56):
I've already proven myself to people.
I've already proven what yousee is what you get.
You don't have to vet me.
You can just see what I'veaccomplished over the years.
What you get, you don't have tovet me.
You can just see what I'veaccomplished over the years.
When I came on board Israel, oursales tax in 2013 was $3.7
(43:17):
million.
This last fiscal cycle it's$0.884 million.
So we've more than doubled oursales tax and we're going to do
more of that.
We're going to get more andthat's what my job is, and if
people were listening to what Iwas saying and understood it
just a little bit, they shouldsee why I deserve another four
(43:39):
years, because I know what I'mtalking about.
When it comes to this stuff,I've been doing it long enough.
We need to get number one thecomp plan done.
Number two, a comprehensivetraffic study.
And number three, get our buttsmoving on the downtown.
And then, number four, get thedamn trucks out of here.
(44:02):
Get them out of Mokena.
We don't need them on 194thStreet.
We have a lot of our you know alot of our cars and stuff like
that pedestrian cars and thingsthat are driving, you know, in
and out of Mokena.
I don't like mixing them withsemis, and we've got a lot of
(44:24):
semis Way too many of them.
Speaker 2 (44:27):
Okay, well, great, I really appreciate again you
spending time to talk.
Do you want to again share?
You guys have a website, Ibelieve, which we'll put on the
screen as well.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Yeah, we've got a Facebook page and we also have a
web page, wwwmokinasfuturecom.
Then you'll get to see thepeople that are running.
You'll see the dates that we'regoing to have our meet and
greets.
You just be there.
We don't want nothing.
(44:58):
You just be there.
You'll have coffee and pastryand ask whatever questions you
want, because we're not afraidto answer them.
We know what we want to do, weknow what needs to be done in
Mokena, and it's not brainsurgery, just do it Again.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Mr Mayor, thank you very much for taking the time to
talk to me.
Please remember to vote onApril 1st in the municipal
elections, or by April 1st, andwe're going to be having more of
these videos with the rest ofthe mayor's slate, and so check
out our website and thanks forwatching.
Speaker 1 (45:33):
Thank you for doing this, because I've told you once
before, we don't have anypapers, we can't get the word
out.
What you're doing is soimportant for the residents
because they need to look atwhere we're coming from our
ideas and feel comfortable withus when they vote for us if they
vote for us.
So this is very important to beable to get our you know, our
(45:58):
dreams out, our ideas, and youknow just things like that,
where we want our vision.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
I truly believe that when you're running, you should
communicate.
You should be out there gettingyour message out, talking and
meeting people.
So thank you for doing that andthank you for the opportunities
.
I know I'll be checking outsome of the meet and greets and
I hope you will too.
So thanks again.
Thank you, Israel, you verymuch.
Music.
We don't have any papers, wecan't get the word out.
What you're doing is soimportant for the residents
(00:22):
because they need to look atwhere we're coming from our
ideas and feel comfortable withus when they vote for us if they
vote for us.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Mr Mayor, thank you very much for sitting down and
talking with me.
Let me just start by saying, asour podcast goes, I consider it
an honor to have a sittingmayor.
Come and spend time and talk tous.
You've been very open andopened your home to me with the
conversation we did with MrsFleischer and yourself.
(00:55):
I want to first also mentionpeople might criticize me for
either not asking too hard of aquestions or not asking what
they think are the rightquestions, but I wanted to start
this as a way to get to knowthe mayor a little more as well
as create an opportunity for youknow people to maybe come up
(01:15):
with their own questions thatthey can ask you and your slate
as well.
So again, thank you for joiningme and just really appreciate
it and your commitment and yourappreciation as well of our
podcast.
Thank you very much.
I want to talk a little bitfirst about kind of your past.
(01:36):
You were elected initially asmayor in 2013, but you were
village trustee for a while.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Yeah, I was on the Zoning and Planning Commission
from 1985 to 1987.
And then I ran for trustee inone and I was on from 1987 to
2003.
14 years, yeah, 14 years.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So what I'd really like to talk about is kind of
those in-between years, becauseyou ran twice where you lost
right.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Yeah, once for trustee and then once for mayor.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
So you know, I had a similar experience when I ran
and I know that that process ofputting yourself out there can
be difficult and challenging.
There can be difficult andchallenging.
Talk a little bit about goingthrough that, having been a
trustee and then running andlosing.
What did that do to you andwhat kept you from just deciding
to pull back and notparticipate in public life after
(02:36):
that second election especially?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Everybody loses once in a while.
Maybe they realize something.
If they learn something bymistakes, then that's good, it
was all worth it.
If you don't, then that's thedefinition of insanity when you
try to do it again the same way.
And I enjoy it.
I enjoy doing what I do and Imight say I'm pretty good at it.
(03:01):
I'm not trying to be blusteryor beat my chest.
I am pretty good.
I better be because I've goneto a lot of seminars, a lot of
conferences and I've learnedwhat our job is as municipal
officials.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
So talk a little bit about that.
You mentioned some of thetrainings and things you've gone
through.
Maybe share a little bit aboutthat and then why you think that
made you better prepared to bemayor.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Well, and this is important, this is very
important.
Every year the IllinoisMunicipal League has a
conference in downtown Chicagoand they have sessions where you
can go to.
Sessions a topic that you mightwant to know about and go there
, learn a little bit, talk toother elected officials, find
(03:50):
out what they do in their town.
This is very, very important.
That's where I learned a lot,and there's other sessions
throughout the year that you cango to.
And you know, a few years backI went to the program through
University of Illinoisleadership program and
understanding of UNICEFgovernment, and I'm the only one
(04:10):
in Mokena that ever did it,nobody else did it and how do
you think that better preparedyou for the job?
(04:32):
for the job.
You don't know what's going onuntil you get there.
Like I said, I could have beena trustee for years and years
for 40 years and didn't realizewhat the responsibilities of the
mayor are.
My job is to be a cheerleaderfor the village.
I try to bring development intotown.
I want to work with them.
I go to the chamber meetings.
(04:52):
I try to get the chamber tounderstand that we need them to
advocate for the village.
If you work with all kinds ofbusinesses, if you see a
business that wants to movesomeplace, tell them about
Mokina, how low the sales tax is.
You don't pay any utility taxand that's my job to sell the
(05:15):
village to people and get themout here.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
And talk a little bit about that.
How does our village compare?
I know we have the lowest taxrate in the surrounding area.
How do we compare in that ways,when you're selling to other
businesses, what's the highpoints?
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Well, the village portion of the property tax is
the lowest in the little countyand in our area.
Seven and a half percent salestax is unheard of.
Frankfurt is eight, new Lenoxis nine and Tilly and Arlen Park
are in the stratospheresomewhere.
So talking to people that livein Mokena, they say to me they
(05:59):
paid the least amount to live inMokena.
It's a good town.
Sometimes we're frugal to afault, but it's your money.
We have to be careful with that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I want to talk a little bit going back in
February 2022, you had a serioushealth issue that kept you away
till about June yeah, aboutfour months.
Wait till about June yeah,about four months.
So talk a little bit about thatand just kind of, maybe, if you
(06:32):
can share what happened andthen you know, reassure voters
that you're up for another fouryears.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Well, I've been back for two or three years, so I
think I've showed voters that Ican do this.
Plus, I go to these differentevents.
We had a last summer.
We had an event with the kidsthe kids that you know, I don't
know what you call them.
(06:57):
I don't want to offend anybody,but we had it over in.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
New.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Lenox and we had it by the special rent facility and
the managers I mean the mayorswere managers and the kids had a
fantastic time and we had anice time doing that.
Now that's one of many things Igo to.
I'm a representative to the WoldCounty Center for Community
(07:28):
Discerns.
That's a community actionagency.
We assist the needy, theelderly and people that need
assistance.
But I belong to the CountyEconomic Development
Organization.
I was on a committee there fora little bit to study the I-80
(07:49):
corridor.
I'm also doing that with Orlinand Tenley Park.
The mayors get to sit down, gettogether and talk about what we
want to see in our corridor.
South Suburban mayors andManagers I'm on that.
I'm involved in theirlegislative committee.
(08:12):
The Will County GovernmentalLeague I'm on that.
So I've heard the same thingyou have and it's a shame that
somebody's passing around thatkind of baloney and it's
ridiculous because I'm fine.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Okay, good to hear.
I want to talk a little bitabout.
You have your slate ofcandidates, yes, so I'd like to
maybe just give a briefintroduction of who they are and
why you chose them and why youthink that they really do
represent Mokena's future themand why you think that they
really do represent Mokina'sfuture, because they are
(08:51):
independent people.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
They're not going to roll over just because I want
something done.
They're going to explain to mewhy they want to do it a
different way, and I want peopleto do that.
Change my mind.
They want to do it a differentway and I want people to do that
.
Change my mind.
Don't just vote yes or no onsomething.
Change my mind.
And this is not what ouropponents do.
They talk before a meeting,they come into the meeting and
they have their mind made upalready.
This happens time and timeagain.
(09:19):
I want elected officials,trustees, that can think for
themselves.
That's going to make the townbetter.
And I'll tell you, all of thesepeople will think for
themselves.
Nick, he's an entrepreneur.
He's a pastor, you know.
He teaches religion and stufflike that.
He's a good, solid guy.
(09:40):
Jim Roberts you know he workedfor the Shane's stores for a
while.
You know quite a bit and he wasrunning the stores.
He's good at what he does.
His mind works very, very well.
He looks at everything.
Then he makes his decisions.
And Kim we're very lucky to gether her background.
(10:03):
She's a school teacher.
She teaches government atSandburg and she's just.
These are three good peoplethat I want everybody to vet
them.
Look at their background andsee how good these people are.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Anything else you want to share about them?
You have Nick, kim and Jim yes,okay, and this will already
have come out, but you're goingto be hosting some meet and
greets, one coming up this weekas well as a number of others.
What do you, you know,obviously hope for good turnout
and people to come out, but youknow, what can people expect?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
I believe that we should be accessible.
They should ask us anyquestions that they want.
They should vet us, not justvote for us because they like us
.
You should find out why you'revoting for us.
I put a lot of time in thisvillage Decades.
(11:05):
You know and ask me I betterknow what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So one thought I had is you know, a leader has the
ability to review successes andfailures in their past and learn
from them and correct theirpath going forward.
So, looking back over the years, let me talk a little bit about
a decision that you made asmayor that made me regret or
wish you would have handleddifferently and learned from.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
There's been a few of those over the years, you know,
allowing a development to gointo an area that we shouldn't
have.
I made a few of those, but notmany, thank God, and I think of
the residents before I make adecision.
(11:54):
I hope people understand that Idon't just make flippantly make
a decision and not try tofigure out the impact it's going
to have on their life.
That's important to me andthat's why I'm so against semis
(12:14):
on 191st Street.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Talk about that as a problem.
Maybe a lot of residents don't.
I mean we experience it andpassing it and driving alongside
of it.
But what kind of residentsdon't?
I mean we experience it andpassing it and driving alongside
of it?
But what kind of effect doesthat have on the village?
Speaker 1 (12:30):
It has a horrible effect on the village.
You wouldn't believe and I'mnot exaggerating Israel.
We probably have roughly 400trucks give or take parking
around Mokina.
Part of them were in the countyand part of them were in the
village Stuff that was done overthe years and stuff that was
(12:51):
done recently.
The people I'm running againstallowed a GT Express business to
come in there.
Think about this.
Okay, they went into a businesspark that is one of our best
revenue generating parks andthey let this trucking company
go in there to make four out ofthe five lots parking lots.
(13:16):
That's not generating any moneyfor our schools, parks,
libraries they're parking lots.
Why would you do that?
And where is that located?
That's the one that's out thereby Accelerate.
Why would people make thatdecision?
The only thing I can think ofis they don't understand what
(13:41):
they're doing.
They don't realize therepercussions of what they've
done, because I'll tell you whatI don't care whose they're
doing.
They don't realize therepercussions of what they've
done.
No-transcript are unforgiving.
When you get into an accidentwith a semi, you can pretty much
be considered gone, and thatbothers me because I don't ever
(14:02):
want to see that happen.
But I just I don't want anymore semis and last year I tried
to put a moratorium on it onsemis on trucks until we get
done with the comprehensive planOn semis On trucks.
Until we get done with thecomprehensive plan, not a word.
Not a word.
Nobody said anything about it.
They didn't put it up for boat.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
They didn't do anything with it.
It's as if it never happened.
And you bring up thecomprehensive plan.
Talk a little bit about that.
It's something you mentionedthat you've tried to do in the
past Twelve years ago when Ifirst became mayor twelve years
ago, and they stopped me fromdoing it.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
They wouldn't vote for it.
My opponent would not vote forit.
So what do you think changednow?
Oh well, I was in an electioncoming up and I was still in the
hospital and he pushed it whileI was in the hospital so we
could tell everybody oh lookwhat I did.
I put the comprehensive plan in, but where were you for 12
(15:05):
years?
What were you doing for 12years?
That comprehensive plan is soimportant because it allows the
(15:27):
residents to put their opinionsin what they want their town to
be.
We got 20,000 people in thevillage of Mokena.
There's seven of us.
I don't want to make thatdecision for them.
They have every right in theworld to come to the.
Come to the meetings.
Look at when we're going tohave open meetings to show
people what we're doing, and Iwant them to come and give us
their opinion, because that'svery, very important to me.
(15:49):
But that's our job.
We can't just you don't justsit up there and play.
It's not a monarchy.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
So the last strategic plan or master plan was it 2008
?
It was quite a while ago.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
I did the full plan.
I did the full plan as afirst-term trustee back in 1989.
This was tweaked a little bit.
Okay, it was tweaked a littlebit, but we never did a full,
comprehensive plan like we'retrying to do now.
(16:31):
So think about that how manythings have changed since 1989?
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Everything, and that's ridiculous that they
wouldn't do this.
Well, some of the people thatwere because there was and I'm
blanking on what year, but itwas early 2000s that there was
maybe a re-model and some of thecriticism of people that I know
that were involved in it wasthat they put a lot of time and
effort into it and didn't feellike a lot of that came through
(16:59):
or was a lot of it sat therebeing not accomplished.
So how do we know that's notgoing to happen again this time?
Speaker 1 (17:07):
As long as I'm mayor, it's not going to happen and
I'll back the person that runsafter me.
If they have the samephilosophies, I do the person
that runs after me.
If they have the samephilosophies, I do.
It's time the group we'rerunning again have been in power
since 2003.
2003.
Now I might be the mayor, butthe trustees are the ones that
(17:28):
vote on issues, so they've beenobstructing many of the things I
wanted to do, which was goodfor the village of Alkena, good
for the town, good for theresidents.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
So that's a good point.
Talk about that.
A lot of people criticize thevillage and the downtown and all
that and will put it on you.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Now you're the mayor and I understand that.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
But talk a little bit about the responsibility of the
two roles.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Okay, let's go with downtown.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
I brought minutes from a workshop this was on
March 11, 2019, that I had threeconsulting firms come in.
One of the firms did Frankfurt,one of the firms did Naperville
and the other firm is the onethat's doing our comprehensive
plan.
Now they came and they told uswhat they wanted to do downtown.
(18:23):
They wouldn't make a decisionand this is the proof that they
wouldn't make a decision becauseit was in workshop.
We talked about it.
They didn't want to do anything.
I've wanted a downtown since Iwas a trustee.
I felt that we could reallyhave a downtown.
A lot of people thought it wasnuts.
Wait, wait until you see howour downtown turns out when
we're all done.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I sure hope you're right and I know a lot of people
in town you know really hopethat you're right and would love
to see that.
You know we've seen someglimmering lights of hope that
you know the tribes and thenobviously whatever happened
there and now the dock coming in.
So there's potential, but itreally seems like our downtown
(19:07):
needs a kick in the butt.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
I took a poll four years ago when I ran for mayor,
and I took a poll again thistime.
70% of the residents makes nodifference what age, what gender
, who the heck they are want thedowntown, and when the board
doesn't pay attention to thatkind of stuff, we've got a
(19:30):
problem.
We got to do what our residentswould like us to do, and
they've wanted the downtown fora long time and they're going to
get it.
If I get in there with thethree people that are running
for me, that's one of the firstthings we're going to do is push
the downtown stronger than itis right now.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
So what are some things that you can do as mayor
to push downtown?
You talked about going out andpromoting.
Here's the big thing.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
We've got people that want to invest in downtown, but
the reason they're not isbecause they don't know if the
board wants it, because theboard can never make up their
mind.
So what happens is if you'regonna invest millions of dollars
and the municipal board, thevillage board, doesn't know what
(20:20):
they want to do, you're notgonna put that money into town,
downtown, because you don't knowwhich way the wind is going to
blow with these guys and that'swhy they're not doing it.
I've talked to people that wantto develop downtown.
They want us to push for thedowntown.
(20:40):
They want to see us make thatdecision that we're going to go
in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Now we potentially have this Franklin's coming in
Possibly yes.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
It's never done until they sign on a dotted line.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
So there's been, as of now, there's been no sale of
the property.
Right, is it a right?
It's a proposal?
Yes, but you know it's a, itlooks great.
I mean, if that, something likethat, comes through, you know
that's a, the kind of thing thatseems like oh, that'll be the
catalyst for downtown.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Yeah, I met with him last year for the first time.
We met and sat down and talkedand went back and forth a little
bit about what's going on.
Then I went back out there withBrent and John.
We talked to him again to findout how interested he was in it.
And he's more and moreinterested.
But he's going to want anincentive.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Beyond the TIF incentive.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah, now we have to make up our mind whether to do
that.
So it's not just giving money.
The residents want a downtown.
So if we're going to spend alittle extra money for it, put
the darn thing in.
You know, these people paytaxes.
They want something for it.
(22:02):
Please give me something to doin my town.
Yeah, and that's what we shouldbe doing.
We should be working with ourresidents to get something done
and they should be seeing thatwe're trying.
If we get this downtown, like Isaid before Israel, it'll be
the catalyst for downtown.
There's no doubt in my mind.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
So also right now downtown, and that lot is a lot
that the village purchased Wasit 2018 or 2019, I think
purchased that, the old Terrafinproperty there and, you know,
with the idea we're going tohold this and hopefully develop.
So why do you think the villagehasn't done more of that?
(22:47):
We've got two large lotssitting on Front Street.
You know what?
Speaker 1 (22:53):
I want to talk more about myself, but I can't.
The person I'm running againstdid not want to buy strategic
property downtown for this typeof development.
He said we are not developers.
You're right, we're notdevelopers, but we can hold the
strategic piece of property.
We're the ones that zone thatpiece of property and as the
(23:14):
worth of that piece of propertygoes up because of our zoning,
the village is going to get moremoney on it.
So what is wrong with you?
We should be the onecontrolling our own destiny with
downtown.
But he won't do it.
He does not want to spend themoney and I'm sorry.
The residents in Waukeenadeserve more.
(23:35):
Some of these people, in fact alot of them, pay a lot in taxes
and they want something for it.
And I think working our buttsoff and giving them a downtown
will be a good start.
And then a bicycle path, awalking path, you know.
So the young people.
Like I've told you before, whenI was growing up, cars were the
(23:57):
big thing.
The younger people now want tobe with their kids, they want to
be on their bikes, they want tobe able to go downtown and
maybe see one of their neighborswith them, or maybe that's
eating down.
There, the kids can playtogether, the parents can sit
down and talk.
That's what they want, and Idon't blame them.
I think it's great, but we'vegot to give it to them.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
One of the thoughts of downtown also has been, you
know, the train station and thatwas part of the previous master
plan is moving it down, kind ofwhere the military, that small
military park is, or the oneright at the end of Division
Street, or maybe it was furtherdown by the police station.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
It was working with the park district to bring it
over to Walnut Industrial Park.
Okay, and then put parking inthere for the village and for
the Park District.
So when they have big eventsthey got plenty of parking over
there.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Do you think that's still ever a chance or a
possibility?
Yeah, the Park.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
District wants to get moving, but again we're holding
them up because people can'tmake a decision.
Please make a decision, whetherit's right or wrong, but make
the decision.
Don't just sit there and thengive me a blank like the deer in
the headlights stare.
That's our job.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Make a decision.
So the park district has thelarge, you know, the farm field
there sitting in between, youknow, the downtown and the park
district's property, whichreally becomes the second major
area of our general downtown.
What would you like to see withthat farm field?
Speaker 1 (25:43):
Well, years ago when I was a trustee, I talked to a
fellow by the name of MikePesteris.
Okay, mike was the director ofthe Forest Preserve.
So I went out there and wetalked for a little bit and
their plans were to putcross-country skiing trails in
the Forest Preserve, tubinghills and other winter activity.
(26:03):
And I want now now nationally,mike is going, but I want to
give them a call and see ifthat's still on the books.
Problem is we're not gettingany snow.
But that would be so nice forthe town To have something like
that in our town.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
that would be great yeah, that Hickory Creek
Preserve is such an unsungtreasure of Mokena and to have
that access to that and I thinktying it in and then with the
Park District and you know theyhave the the frisbee golf back
there that gets in the woods isabsolutely beautiful.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
I fought for that years ago because people wanted
to let the developer develophomes back there.
So myself and this woman thatlived over there called up Dr
George Weir with the MortonArboretum Please come out and
walk the area and let us know ifthings need to be saved.
He walked the area and cameback and said you're going to
(27:04):
destroy your ravine and that isgoing to destroy possibly 100
acres, and there was indigenousplants back there and everything
.
So I brought that to the boardand said this is something we
can't do and we didn't do it andthat's a big deal out there
because that's a beautifulForest Preserve District.
(27:26):
That's a beautiful area.
I mean when the kids weregrowing up we walked that so
much.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah.
What would you call your mostsignificant accomplishment so
far as mayor?
Speaker 1 (27:38):
You know there's been a few of them the original
comprehensive plan back in 89.
The negotiating the boundarieswith Orland and Tinley and New
Lenox and Frankfurt, Because ifwe didn't do that then I really
do think that Mokena might havebeen gobbled up on certain areas
(27:59):
.
I honestly feel that TinleyPark would be up 191st in the
Grange if we didn't negotiatethose boundaries.
And that was very importantthat we get that done, Because
you also have developers thatplay one village against another
.
We don't have that.
We have the boundary agreement.
That really was one of the mostimportant things that I did on
(28:21):
the board.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
And what's that process like?
How do you go through annexingthat section of unincorporated
into Mokina?
Speaker 1 (28:34):
I just go through the process.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Is it a vote by the residents of that area or the?
Speaker 1 (28:39):
municipalities agreement Sometimes.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Sometimes we can force annex them, but that is
the last thing I want to do.
I don't like to play that game,because if they're surrounded
on three sides by a village, wecan force annex them.
What I'd like to do is get themto understand and work with us
about.
This is what you get if youcome into the village.
We'd really like to Now,granted, there's going to be
(29:05):
things that are a littlestricter, but it's going to
bring up the value of your homeand will work with you.
You're only going to be payingfour extra cents on a dollar to
come into Mocaina.
That's all the tax is going tobe, and really I think we should
just find out what they want todo.
I don't want to force them.
Don't force them.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Are there other areas that we're looking to expand
still, or does that happen?
Is it an ongoing thing changingborderlines?
Speaker 1 (29:34):
I'm looking around town now and I'm looking at
areas that have older homes inthe county.
What I would like to do isrezone those commercial
Grandfather in the people thatare living there and then
develop those as lifestyle areas, as commercial areas?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
What areas?
Any in particular that you'dpoint out that you think would
fit for that?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
I'm just going to take one, because I don't want
to get anybody mad at me.
Sure, arbery Hills, look atwhere that's located on 191st
and LaGrange.
That is a prime, prime piece ofproperty.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
And as the years, go by.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
You know, if we do grandfather the homes in and
rezone the commercial, you mightsee somebody come in and be
interested in it.
If you don't try, you don't getit.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
And speaking of that, one thing I've always thought
is that downtown area of theindustrial I forget you
mentioned the name of what thatstreet is called there, south of
the tracks there and has thereever been a thought or an idea
of moving that area or gettingthat industrial area Out?
Speaker 1 (30:55):
of here.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, maybe move to another area.
Hold on Buster Park, yeah.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
We've been talking about that.
Yeah, we've been talking aboutthat.
We have to sit down in earnestand talk to Mr Bunch and tell
him that this is gettingdangerous.
There's a lot of semis goingdown there to pick up his
product and we've got to sitdown.
I don't want to make a dealthat's going to hurt him, but I
also want to make a deal that'sgoing to be good for my
(31:22):
residents.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
I've seen semis come down First Street before and it
gets a little hairy.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
It is a little hairy, yeah, and we've got to stop
that.
We've got to stop it because wecan get rid of that industrial
park and then bring 195th Streetinto McGovernie on the north
side of the Mr Yonkers Farm.
Now we open up that whole areathere For the people that live
east.
That's all they have to do iscome down that road to come into
(31:49):
the downtown.
Right now they have to goaround in each direction.
This way they can come right in.
We get more restaurants inthere.
They're more accessible.
It's the prime potentialdevelopment area, Like I said
this is what's driving me nutsover the years is that I could
(32:09):
see this.
It's always been my vision tohave a downtown, but people
don't see it.
Oh, we'll never have a downtown.
We'll never have a downtownBaloney.
Do you see what happened whenDebbie put the trucks out there?
How many people showed updowntown?
Speaker 2 (32:23):
They've been great.
Don't you dare tell me that wecan't have a downtown.
That's baloney.
Those nights have really shownthat mokina desires something
downtown, like they want to havea place to have music going and
food and just hanging out likethat.
We talk about community and youknow that's how you breed a
sense of community.
You have things that you go toand you see a neighbor and you
(32:46):
talk to, or you meet a newneighbor or you know you meet
the teachers that are in allthose things and those that food
trucks event has been a primeexample.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Exactly, israel.
You know, when I was brought upin Chicago, people sat on the
front porch.
You know everybody.
You'd walk down the streetyou'd say hello Mr Illion, hello
Mr Giacomo, and stuff like this.
You knew everybody.
And now people they come home,pull their car in the garage, go
(33:17):
in the house and they don'tcome out until they're going to
work the next day.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
It's true.
It's true.
One question I had is thinkingabout along those lines.
You know how does and this is aproblem Mokina has dealt with
for years.
I read about it back in theeighties and even when you first
came in, Mokina was goingthrough a change and a growth,
development and progress, and Ifeel like we're in a similar
(33:42):
time.
There's a lot of potential,growth and things changing.
How does a village like Mokinago through that growth but
balance, kind of our small towncommunity feel, you know,
without losing?
You know, nothing is Orland,but we don't want to be in
Orland, or necessarily.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
That's our slogan Planned, planned.
You know, respect here it isrespect the past, the past, but
plan for the future.
And that's what we're going todo.
We're going to respect the pastand never forget our past, but
we've got a plan for the futureand we can do it.
We can keep the small town,okay.
There's no reason we can.
(34:21):
You just have to work at it.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
So talk about that.
I love seeing the you know,respect the past, obviously
being history, and Molkina'shistory.
That's very important.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
But what does that mean to you?
I've been lucky over the yearsto know some of the people that
lived here for a long time.
Bill Weber was one of them, robHorse was another one and you
know Roy had a butcher shop onFront Street and then Ken came
in and bought it from Roy andthis was fun.
(34:59):
I love to know the history ofMokena Because I think I told
you before when we came out toMokena for the first time, mr
Yunker was bringing the cowsacross the port.
Yeah, and that was it.
Laurie saw that and she wasn'tgoing to go anyplace else.
Then we drove through downtownand it said washing a horse
blanket is prohibited, so we cando it.
(35:23):
You know we can do it, justlike when people say, well, you
can't do this, it's going tocost money.
You know we built a policestation, we upgraded our sewage
treatment facility.
We spent $25 million, didn'traise anybody's taxes and I had
to sign a promissory note for $5million.
(35:44):
We could have paid thepromissory note off already, but
we were getting more intereston a promissory note than we
were paying, so we just let itride.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
And that's a great thing, Talking about that.
One of the things that came upas the village is considering
doing a new village hall.
Yes, yes, so talk about youknow why do we need a new
village hall and what does thatbring, or how does that make our
village better?
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Every building has a life cycle and the village hall
is pretty much past it, but along one, yes.
And the thing that's a littlescary, it's a little old
underneath there and we don'tknow how really bad it is, you
know, because there's stillwater that seeps in there and
stuff like that.
So I don't like our employeesworking in that condition, that
(36:37):
situation.
So I would like to see us builda new village hall.
I mean, we deserve it.
Did you see how proud thepeople were of that police
station?
Speaker 2 (36:48):
Yeah, it was great.
Speaker 1 (36:50):
It was awesome walking through it.
People were really people intown were really proud of that
police station.
I mean, this is a great town.
They felt that it was theirs.
That's what's neat about Mokena.
They felt that it was theirs.
That's what's neat about Mokenathey felt that it was theirs.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
And what do you envision for a village hall?
You could wave your wand today.
What would you do?
Speaker 1 (37:17):
I want to build a nice building.
That is not the Taj Mahal.
Look at how things are going tochange in the future.
Okay, with being able to getstuff done online or you know,
whatever it is.
Let's not build a big villagehall.
(37:38):
Let's build a nice one, get anice piece of property.
But I don't want to get carriedaway because you see some of
these municipalities.
You want to talk about TajMahal.
My God, you think there werepharaohs building their.
The mayors were building theirtombs, for God's sake.
But no, I don't want to make ita super.
(37:59):
I want it to be.
I want it to be a good facilitythat's going to do the job that
it's supposed to do.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing
Mokina over the next five to tenyears?
Speaker 1 (38:22):
You know we've got some challenges, but we've
corrected any problem that wewere going to have with the
water.
The water's taken care of until2050 and beyond.
We got the police station, weupgraded the sewage treatment
facility.
We're going around to differentroads.
You know neighborhood roadsthat need to be worked on, so
(38:46):
we're taking care of that.
We're buying vehicles when weneed them, so maybe we're going
to have some challenges comingup, but I don't see them.
When you take care of your moneyand you watch yourself, there's
a lot you can do, yeah, and wedo a pretty good job of not
(39:07):
getting carried away withspending money.
I always say some of thesetowns spend money like drunken
sailors and that's a shamebecause they think it's monopoly
money.
They forget that it's theresidents' money and that's our
job to protect that money andprotect them.
The only thing we haven'ttouched on I will go back a
(39:29):
little bit and I do havesomething that could hurt us Our
road system stinks.
If you look at Mokena's roadsystem, look at how crowded
LaGrange Road is and look atwhat's happening to Wolf Road,
look at how backed up it'sgetting.
(39:49):
We have no other road north andsouth.
We don't have a road east andwest, a good road, a good road
like 159th east and west, andthen you got to go all the way
out to 30.
We need and again, okay.
For 12 years I've been trying toget the board to understand
(40:13):
that we need to do acomprehensive traffic study for
a couple of reasons.
We need to know.
You see, when you don't do it,then subdivisions pop up all
around you.
Now how are you going to getthrough?
How are you going to extendthese roads?
That's why it's so important.
It should have been done 12years ago, israel, not now.
(40:36):
What we're doing is kicking thecan down to the next boards
that are coming up, and it'sgoing to be a pain in the butt
and the other thing that'simportant is that you need to do
a traffic study if you want toget grant money.
(40:56):
Grant money comes if you givethem, you know, a phase one
traffic study, because if I goup to them and say we need a
road right here, they're goingto say, okay, you got a study,
oh, no, I just think we need aroad right there.
You know what's going to happento you and this is what's
(41:18):
hurting Mokena getting grantmoney.
We got to do this kind of stuff.
That's what we have to do.
We got to show this kind ofstuff.
That's what we have to do.
We've got to show a need for itwith a traffic study.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
What would the solution be for a Wolf Road?
Speaker 1 (41:41):
I mean, the idea of expanding Wolf Road is kind of a
scary thought.
No, we might have to, andthat's the point I'm making.
We might have to go someplaceelse.
I don't know, I'm not a scarythought.
No, we might have to, andthat's the point I'm making.
We might have to go someplaceelse.
I don't know, I'm not a trafficengineer, you know.
But we need somebody to sayokay, Mokena, this is what we
need to do, Because look atwhat's going on with 80th Avenue
at Thinley Park.
That's looking ahead.
(42:01):
That is going to be a majorroad going south.
That's going to be very, veryimportant.
But we've got to drive all theway down to 80th Avenue, maybe
come all the way back.
We've got streets here that wecould have done that with and we
didn't.
We just let it go Israel, andthat's not fair.
(42:23):
That's not fair to the futureresidents of Mokina, the future
boards, the future mayors.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
Well, mr Mayor, I'm sure we could talk a lot longer,
as we have in the past.
We're coming close to an hourabout 50 minutes yeah yeah.
So I just want to give you anopportunity.
You know, take, you know, sometime and just share with us, the
voters, why we should trust youwith four more years, as well
(42:52):
as you and your slate, whyyou're the best thing for Mokina
.
Speaker 1 (42:56):
I've already proven myself to people.
I've already proven what yousee is what you get.
You don't have to vet me.
You can just see what I'veaccomplished over the years.
What you get, you don't have tovet me.
You can just see what I'veaccomplished over the years.
When I came on board Israel, oursales tax in 2013 was $3.7
(43:17):
million.
This last fiscal cycle it's$0.884 million.
So we've more than doubled oursales tax and we're going to do
more of that.
We're going to get more andthat's what my job is, and if
people were listening to what Iwas saying and understood it
just a little bit, they shouldsee why I deserve another four
(43:39):
years, because I know what I'mtalking about.
When it comes to this stuff,I've been doing it long enough.
We need to get number one thecomp plan done.
Number two, a comprehensivetraffic study.
And number three, get our buttsmoving on the downtown.
And then, number four, get thedamn trucks out of here.
(44:02):
Get them out of Mokena.
We don't need them on 194thStreet.
We have a lot of our you know alot of our cars and stuff like
that pedestrian cars and thingsthat are driving, you know, in
and out of Mokena.
I don't like mixing them withsemis, and we've got a lot of
(44:24):
semis Way too many of them.
Speaker 2 (44:27):
Okay, well, great, I really appreciate again you
spending time to talk.
Do you want to again share?
You guys have a website, Ibelieve, which we'll put on the
screen as well.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Yeah, we've got a Facebook page and we also have a
web page, wwwmokinasfuturecom.
Then you'll get to see thepeople that are running.
You'll see the dates that we'regoing to have our meet and
greets.
You just be there.
We don't want nothing.
(44:58):
You just be there.
You'll have coffee and pastryand ask whatever questions you
want, because we're not afraidto answer them.
We know what we want to do, weknow what needs to be done in
Mokena, and it's not brainsurgery, just do it Again.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Mr Mayor, thank you very much for taking the time to
talk to me.
Please remember to vote onApril 1st in the municipal
elections, or by April 1st, andwe're going to be having more of
these videos with the rest ofthe mayor's slate, and so check
out our website and thanks forwatching.
Speaker 1 (45:33):
Thank you for doing this, because I've told you once
before, we don't have anypapers, we can't get the word
out.
What you're doing is soimportant for the residents
because they need to look atwhere we're coming from our
ideas and feel comfortable withus when they vote for us if they
vote for us.
So this is very important to beable to get our you know, our
(45:58):
dreams out, our ideas, and youknow just things like that,
where we want our vision.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
I truly believe that when you're running, you should
communicate.
You should be out there gettingyour message out, talking and
meeting people.
So thank you for doing that andthank you for the opportunities
.
I know I'll be checking outsome of the meet and greets and
I hope you will too.
So thanks again.
Thank you, Israel, you verymuch.
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