In recent years, there have been measures offered up by the Illinois General Assembly to consolidate local governmental entities. Some in Springfield have suggested that local school or park districts should be consolidated into regional school or park districts. It is presumed by those individuals that this would somehow reduce overhead and save taxpayer dollars without sacrificing services. I have a different vision.
As with much of what comes out of Springfield, the idea that larger entities will somehow function more efficiently than smaller entities is really counter intuitive. What we really need for our local municipal entities to do is to work together; to partner together for the benefit of all taxpayers, for the common good.
This is why I have led the City’s efforts, in coordination with the efforts of Park District Commissioner Spaeth, to form an Intergovernmental Committee to address and coordinate on areas of common concern. After this Committee was formed, the School District was also added. Composed of nine members, the Park/City/School Committee meets every other month and has coordinated the various agencies in several areas; the most recent examples relating to issues of parking and public safety.
One product of our Intergovernmental Committee was the re-positioning of the Prairie Path where it crosses Spring Road. Working together, the Park District and the City not only coordinated the movement of this path southward (so it is now right next to the stop sign; a safer location), but was also able to carve out some Park land in order for the City to add some much needed parking along Prairie Path Lane.
Another example of the work of our Committee is the recent addition and reconfiguration of parking spaces at East End Park (a/k/a Joe Newton Field). There, the Park District agreed to give up some park space, in order for the City to improve the safety and number of parking spaces at East End Park. By working together, all of our stakeholders benefited. The youth programs gained needed parking for their events. And the residents around East End Park have also overwhelmingly endorsed the change. This is my vision of how local government can and should work in 2013 and beyond.
impressed!
I am following your campaign and I have to say you may have lost my vote with this statement,"It is presumed by those individuals that this would somehow reduce overhead and save taxpayer dollars without sacrificing services. I have a different vision." Start getting rid of some damn taxing districts, enough is enough. Here is a fact for you to chew on. "Illinois is among the worst states in categories such as its level of public debt, long-term pension liability and financing of public education. But it’s No. 1 in taxing districts with nearly 7,000 — about 2,100 more than second-place Pennsylvania." http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/opinions/17597974-474/our-view-a-board-office-that-needs-to-go-away.html
Mulliner is a flip flopper who now seems to want to take credit for the actions of others.
Truthfully I think that the park district has become a huge source of politically connected jobs that gives officials much clout. I also question the expensive overseas trips that benefit park district employees and compete unfairly with the private sector. I also asked them about gazebos/ shelters for all of the Parks and received no response. I asked for a drain for the East End tennis court and nothing was done. It is a very simple and very inexpensive fix. Grass gets cut during droughts when it is not needed and trees that should be trimmed are ignored. Many people from outside the District were using the pool due to the poorly designed entry. Eventually this was marginally addressed. Excessive ticketing still takes place and additional parking could be added along Schiller St. but little is done. It is very hard to get anyone to listen. This should be improved.
those of you on it might say
I may be wrong about the nepotism. Someone who works for the city made this statement to me. It does seem as if the pools have an extraordinary large number of workers. I never want to be perceived as a disgruntled complainer. Every thing I discuss has only one purpose. To see Elmhurst continuously improve, nothing more.