2025 at 1:56 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Clarendon Hills Village President Eric Tech delivered the State of the Village address last week (Village of Clarendon Hills)CLARENDON HILLS IL – Clarendon Hills recently received a top ranking from a Pittsburgh-based national rating organization In his State of the Village address last week, Village President Eric Tech pointed out that Niche.com rated Clarendon Hills as the second-best place to live in Illinois Clarendon Hills ranked 25th out of more than 18,000 towns nationwide The village provided notes to Patch from Tech's address Tech noted efforts to improve the quality of life in Clarendon Hills He said the village would revisit the idea of a downtown plaza and that the village wanted to close off the west leg of Prospect Avenue to create a gathering space for events Such a plaza would save the local chamber of commerce $15,000 a year in stage costs and allow setup for events without shutting down downtown The village also revived its downtown facade improvement program increasing the public matching amount to $15,000 the village is looking to attract mixed-use developments downtown that include multifamily housing would help support local shops and restaurants Here's other information that Tech gave in his address: Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 7:03 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Clarendon Hills Fire Department is changing the way it records its shift schedules after a public records request from Patch IL – Clarendon Hills aims to have five fire department members on duty at all times but it sometimes doesn't reach that threshold "We run four sometimes as we are phasing in 5," Village Manager Zach Creer said in an emailed response to a Patch inquiry "That was part of the plan as we increase our staffing we were at 3 staff on shift as recently as early 2020 on a full-time basis." The fire chief and two deputy chiefs sometimes help cover shifts deputy chiefs Roger Krupp and Mike DeLillo stepped in to work a shift Patch filed a public records request for the April 2 schedule after questions emerged about whether five department members were on duty the department determined it would add the deputy chiefs to the schedule to show coverage for the official record DeLillo and Chief Dave Godek are fully trained firefighters and paramedics paid-on-call departments for top-ranking members to work shifts as we do not have full-time staff members aside from Chief and (deputy chief) So having them fill shifts allows for coverage in the case of late call-offs or other staffing issues." IL – Wasabi Restaurant & Bar in Clarendon Hills is getting new owners and a new name the restaurant must get a new liquor license to keep serving alcohol The new owners are Tao Duan and Dongyong Wei They plan to serve Chinese and Japanese food and expect alcohol to make up 10 percent of their sales Duan and Wei recently sold their Villa Park restaurant The Village Board plans to vote on the liquor license at its meeting Monday Wasabi Restaurant & Bar hasn't been at 31 S it was the site of Talley's Kitchen & Bar 2025 at 3:21 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Acting Clarendon Hills Fire Chief Dave Godek (left) has been nominated to take the job permanently IL – Clarendon Hills' acting fire chief has been recommended for the job permanently Acting Chief Dave Godek has served in that role since last month when Chief Michael Korzen resigned unexpectedly after four months for family health reasons Godek was also called to fill in when Chief Brian Leahy was put on leave in November 2023. Four months later, Leahy and the Village Board struck a deal for him to resign That ended Leahy's 52-year career with the fire department Village Manager Zach Creer said the village reviewed previous candidates and held more interviews with Godek He said Village President Eric Tech recommended Godek for chief The Village Board is set to vote on the nomination Monday Godek started with the local fire department as a part-time firefighter and paramedic he served several suburban Chicago departments He joined the Clarendon Hills department full time in 2008 and served both the building and fire departments the village unveiled the reduced tax increment district in response to opposition from school districts The board's vote for the district was unanimous Its vote was 5-1 for agreements with school districts with Trustee Steve Tuttle being the lone dissenter the schools would collect more of the property tax income than they ordinarily would under a tax district arrangement a tax district's growth in property tax income for 23 years would be diverted for use in the district itself The new tax district excluded Jewel grocery store The Hinsdale High School District 86 board and its allies have been vocal in their opposition to the tax district In documents for its board meeting Thursday District 86 described the village as "responsive" to the district's concerns thanked Clarendon Hills for being good neighbors and agreeing to a compromise Burke called the village's proposal "a big WIN for the kids." 2025 at 1:39 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Clarendon Hills is considering keeping the 1 percent grocery tax locally but is giving towns the power to maintain it IL – Clarendon Hills could lose more than $350,000 in yearly income if it fails to keep the local grocery sales tax the state legislature decided to do away with the state's 1 percent grocery sales tax starting next January but is sent back to the towns where it is generated The state gave towns the power to keep the tax locally The Clarendon Hills administration recommends keeping the 1 percent tax Finance Director Maureen Potempa said the grocery sales tax makes up about 30 percent of all the village's sales tax income the village must raise the property tax levy to the maximum allowable for several years a public body can hike the property tax levy with the rate of inflation up to 5 percent "To maintain financial stability and ensure uninterrupted revenue to support essential local services and operations it is crucial to adopt the proposed ordinance authorizing a local grocery sales tax," Potempa said in the memo Westmont and Downers Grove have already approved maintaining the grocery tax and the majority of DuPage County towns are expected to do the same The board is set to discuss the grocery tax at its meeting Monday 2024 at 3:17 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Architects presented plans for Sparrow Coffee in Clarendon Hills in December Sparrow Coffee also has locations in Naperville and Chicago IL – Sparrow Coffee is seeking a $622,000 subsidy from the Clarendon Hills village government The business, which has locations in Chicago and Naperville, plans to occupy the entire building at 100 Park Ave. That was where Little Creperie was before it moved across the street The money would go toward improvements to the building It would come from a tax increment financing district where growth in property tax income is re-invested in the district An area east of the Park Avenue building is part public and private property to clean up and substantially improve this area," Ed Cage the village's community development director the village has a five-year return-on-investment payback policy That is expected to be met with the Sparrow Coffee project trustees plan to vote on an agreement with Sparrow Coffee the board is set to vote on a $10,643 subsidy to Just Lift Fitness The money will cover half the costs of the fire alarm Village officials say the downtown tax district has been a success reducing vacancies and stimulating the local economy 2024 at 10:31 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Several of Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch's most-read stories in 2024 were about concerns with a car wash where a car struck and killed a Hinsdale teen the previous year IL – Several of Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Patch's most-read stories in 2024 were about concerns with a car wash where a car struck and killed a Hinsdale teen the previous year ranked by click-through rates on Patch's emails to subscribers: 1. Person Dies In Domestic Near Clarendon Hills: Sheriff (March 17): A person died in a domestic disturbance Saturday morning in unincorporated Clarendon Hills 2. Hinsdale Car Wash Would Close To Settle Suit: Official (June 13): Fuller's Car Wash where a car struck and killed a boy last year is willing to close permanently if the boy's family drops their lawsuit 3. Violations Alleged At Hinsdale Car Wash (Jan. 24): A Hinsdale resident said Tuesday that traffic remains a problem at Fuller's Car Wash and that the business continues to violate the rules 4. Hinsdale Central Coaches Resign After Parent Complaints (Jan. 3): Hinsdale Central High School's girls basketball coaches resigned last month after parents apparently complained about the head coach to the administration 5. Hinsdale Man Charged With Indecent Exposure (April 2): A Hinsdale man was arrested last week on a warrant related to an indecent exposure arrest 6. Man Sues Hinsdale, Car Wash Over 2023 Crash (Oct. 28): A man sued Fuller's Car Wash and the village of Hinsdale earlier this year over a crash that he said injured him while he was dining at a restaurant 7. Dentist Felt 'Blindsided' By Clarendon Hills (June 25): Clarendon Hills is looking to sell its property at 214 Burlington Ave But the village's inclusion of a neighboring property in a message to developers upset the owner 8. Amazon Helper Nabbed In Hinsdale: Cops (March 27): A man who was assisting an Amazon delivery driver was arrested last week after entering a house in Hinsdale 9. Hinsdale 'Complicit' In Car Wash Risks: Victim's Mom (April 17): A Hinsdale woman on Tuesday demanded the village close the car wash where an employee driving a car struck her son 10. Old Clarendon Hills Bar Site May Be Redeveloped (April 19): The old Tracy's Tavern building has been demolished and the village reports that a developer is interested in the site 2024 at 9:43 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Michael Korzen was sworn in as Clarendon Hills' new fire chief Aug IL – Clarendon Hills' previous fire chief served at the helm for nearly four decades the person answering the phone at the fire station confirmed Michael Korzen no longer worked there Deputy Chief Dave Godek is the acting chief Village Manager Zach Creer did not return an emailed message for comment Saturday On Aug. 19, Korzen was sworn in as the new chief. He replaced Fire Chief Brian Leahy who was put on leave the previous November In February, Leahy and the Village Board struck a severance deal That ended his 52-year career with the fire department On its website, the village posts the weekly reports from its department heads. On Friday, the village posted the latest ones from every official As of Monday morning, the village's website still listed Korzen as the fire chief Korzen's career as a firefighter and paramedic goes back to 1998 when he worked as a paid-on-call firefighter with the Hillside Fire Department He has served several suburban departments including the Clarendon Hills department from 2004 to 2013 Before being named chief in Clarendon Hills he was a battalion chief in Roselle for a year and a half Park Avenue in Clarendon Hills will experience road closures and one-way traffic for a month This is the result of a construction project which will affect Park Avenue from Prospect to Eastern avenues The village is building outdoor dining spaces on Park Avenue to eliminate the need for concrete barriers each summer The aim is to improve downtown's aesthetics keep tables next to restaurants and lessen pedestrian traffic through designated dining areas The village also plans the construction of new parking stalls east of the outdoor dining areas the project includes stop signs coming soon to the intersection of Park and Eastern avenues the village hopes to start the second phase of the parklet project on Railroad Avenue near Thassos Greek Restaurant 2025 at 7:43 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Clarendon Hills resident Denise Kavuliak has been nominated to fill the Village Board seat left vacant by Steve Tuttle IL – Clarendon Hills Trustee Steve Tuttle has resigned after serving 2½ years the Village Board is expected to vote on Village President Eric Tech's nomination of Denise Kavuliak to replace Tuttle Patch is seeking more information about Tuttle's departure. In July 2022, he was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by Trustee Carol Jorissen The village's agenda included a biography about Kavuliak She received a bachelor's degree in international studies from DePaul University in 1993 and a master's degree in economics from University College Dublin in 1995 Kavuliak worked as an economic consultant in the transfer pricing group at PricewaterhouseCoopers International Kavuliak has been involved in organizations such as the Hinsdale Junior Women's Club and Walker Elementary School's parent-teacher organization she has devoted her time to the local chapter of the National Charity League 2024 at 7:53 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The old Tracy's Tavern property on 55th Street is seen as a possible site for redevelopment in Clarendon Hills The long-abandoned bar was demolished last year IL – Clarendon Hills trustees may give their views Monday on whether the village should proceed with a special tax district that three local school districts oppose would be designed to spur development in the area along 55th Street taxes generated from the growth in the tax base would go to the district the village said the tax district – in the best-case scenario – would not even generate 1 percent of the combined $240 million in combined annual school budgets which is the period for tax districts in Illinois the village expects a substantially bigger tax base particularly for Maercker School District 60 the development of a tax-exempt site such as River of Life Community Church could offset any TIF income that the other taxing bodies lose But that cannot happen without a tax district generating money for at least partially covering the cost of water system improvements "(T)he village is limited in adding additional properties to the municipal water system due to water pressure/capacity issues," the memo said Last month, a committee of taxing bodies voted 3-2 against Clarendon Hills' proposal the tax district requires the support of a three-fifths supermajority of the Village Board The village has offered elements of a compromise to other taxing bodies Hinsdale High School District 86 has been leading the public campaign against the tax district member Jeff Waters again spoke out against it "Raising awareness of this TIF is important "It desperately needs community opposition to ensure it fails to gain passage." Here is the map of the proposed tax district in Clarendon Hills: IL – The co-owner of a Clarendon Hills candy business is suffering from cancer Kris Rentschler's supporters have set up a GoFundMe page for her After a recent surgery, the pathology came back that Rentschler, who co-owns I Want Candy! She needs a second surgery and radioactive iodine therapy "We all know that medical bills can often pile up quickly not to mention the time off work she will need and travel expenses," the GoFundMe page said her business and livelihood depend on her ability to work." The money is designated to help Rentschler with her medical bills the GoFundMe campaign had raised $7,820 toward its $20,000 goal "I know she has built a lot of relationships with shop owners in the downtown area and people in the community," Amanda Jepsen Rentschler's friend and the GoFundMe page organizer many community members were on a first-name basis with Kris and came to shop in the store often." 2024 at 6:10 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Clarendon Hills Fire Chief Michael Korzen is surrounded by family in August just after he was sworn in at a Village Board meeting IL – Clarendon Hills' fire chief said in his resignation letter Friday that he was leaving for family health reasons Chief Michael Korzen served at the helm for four months He thanked officials and the Village Board for the opportunity "I am sadly resigning my position as fire chief effective at the end of business today," he said in a handwritten letter to Village Manager Zach Creer "Recent changes in my family's health have made balancing home and the challenging work here at the fire department an insurmountable task." Patch obtained the letter through a public records request In a statement at Monday's Village Board meeting Village President Eric Tech said he had appointed Deputy Chief Dave Godek as acting chief That was "until we can perform the necessary process for making a formal decision," he said "I have full faith and confidence that the department is in safe hands until a decision is made," Tech said "We wish Chief Korzen the best and thank him for his service." Tech said he had directed Assistant Village Manager Mera Johnson to provide options and analysis for moving forward for review by the selection team which includes Trustee Mark Peterson and Paul Dalen Korzen, who had worked in the department years earlier, replaced Chief Brian Leahy, who served in the top job for nearly 40 years. Leahy was put on leave in November 2023 and resigned under the terms of a severance deal months later 2024 at 12:01 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Catherine Greenspon president of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board speaks Monday at the Clarendon Hills Village Board meeting village attorney Jason Guisinger and trustees Mark Peterson and Steve Tuttle IL – At least a couple of Clarendon Hills trustees expressed an openness Monday to a controversial tax district that officials said would spur development a lawyer for area schools accused the village of seeking the "exploitation" of a state law to make the district a reality The village is proposing the creation of a tax increment financing district such a district would divert any property taxes derived from growth in its tax base from schools and other public bodies The money must be spent to benefit the district The village said it needs money for street requiring fire trucks to haul in water for fires The district includes the nearly 60-year-old Jewel grocery store complex and the old Tracy's Tavern property, which was leveled last year because of code violations Trustee Omar Chaudhry said he worried about a major grocery store merger that could affect Jewel He said the local Jewel is vulnerable to closure because it's one of the smallest and oldest in the area "Trying to develop that parcel will be very difficult without a TIF," Chaudhry said He called for flexibility from other government bodies. The village has proposed several ways to share some of the growth in property taxes Last month, a committee of government bodies voted 4-3 against Clarendon Hills' proposal That means the tax district needs the support of three-fifths of the Village Board – five of the seven members also expressed openness for a tax district "I have not made up my mind whatsoever on whether I favor the TIF or not I simply was stating that this is one way to assist us.. We need to consider all options and this is one possible option.") Trustee Steve Tuttle suggested trustees step back and analyze the issue "I think we jumped ahead of ourselves with this TIF stuff a little bit," he said Tuttle bristled at the criticism of Clarendon Hills during the more than two hours of public comments have stepped up to back school tax hike referendums "I don't need people coming from other communities to badmouth our town," he said said area districts believe Clarendon Hills is relying on "exploitation" of the tax district law Ginsburg said the district must prove that development would not happen without the tax district "The village is asking us not to believe our own eyes about what is already taking place in the area," said Ginsburg whose firm Robbins Schwartz represents Hinsdale High School District 86 individual residential parcels within the proposed TIF have been purchased for $300,000 to $400,000 and redeveloped into properties worth $700,000 to $1 million an attorney with the Robbins Schwartz law firm spoke out Monday against a proposed special tax district in Clarendon Hills The lawyer said the Tracy's Tavern property could have had a Dunkin' Donuts-anchored retail complex without any tax district incentives "But the Village Board yielded to a not-in-my-backyard faction and the Dunkin' Donuts did not happen," he said "I respectfully disagree," said Trustee Lannert, who voted against the development Ginsburg continued by saying the tax base was not lagging or declining but rather was increasing faster than the village as a whole He also touted the local Jewel store as high-performing said taxpayers elsewhere would have to offset diverted property taxes She said that was why out-of-towners attended the meeting village officials said property values in the tax district have not caught up with the rate of inflation And they said one of the reasons for the TIF law was to prevent areas from falling into blight if they are not addressed They argued that would happen locally without the tax district Officials acknowledged that a cluster of high-dollar homes were in the proposed tax district They said they wanted to include them because they are at the low point of the water system It is seen as a possible site for a water storage tank But the village has offered to remove that area from the proposed district the village must wait 14 days after Monday's public hearing to vote on the district But trustees seemed to agree more discussion was needed 2024 at 5:33 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This guide gives Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills voters information about the upcoming general election IL — The hottest race on the ballot is the presidential election pitting Vice President Kamala Harris against former President Donald Trump Key races to watch in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills In House District 45 They are vying to succeed incumbent Jenn Ladisch Douglass The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County seeks a tax increase that would mean an $11.67 hike for every $100,000 in property value The district said the money would preserve open spaces and acquire land to protect rivers It also said forest preserves are more popular than ever and under more stress Not sure if you’re registered to vote, or need to change your address? You can find out here.If you’re not registered, you have until Oct. 8 to register by mail and Oct. 20 to register to vote online You can also register in person on Election Day To register by mail, download and print the Illinois Voter Registration Application and send the completed form to your county clerk or Board of Election commissioner you can do so at driver’s license facilities and at least one must show your current address Illinois voters can already file an application to vote by mail, and you can find vote by mail applications on the Illinois State Board of Elections website. If you’re making your request by mail, the Illinois Election Authority must receive it by Oct. 31.You can also request a mail-in ballot online on your county clerk’s website If you’ve already requested your mail-in ballot you should receive it around the time early voting starts it must be completed and postmarked by Election Day — Nov If you are already in line to vote when the polls close If you don't know your polling place, find it here. 2024 at 10:00 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Trustee Ralph DeAngelis (from left) Village Manager Zach Creer and Trustee Omar Chaudhry take part Monday in a Village Board meeting IL – The Clarendon Hills Village Board on Monday voted down a measure to adjust the hours for the use of landscaping equipment The measure would have exempted electrically powered equipment for the first time noise from landscaping work falls under the general construction part of the village code The hours for such noise are limited to 7 a.m The proposal on Monday was to follow Hinsdale's ordinance Electrical equipment is exempted because it's much less noisy Trustee John Weicher said the board was looking to change the code based on a single resident who emailed the village once or twice with complaints about the noise from gas-powered leaf blowers premature thing to change the code because we received an email or two from a resident," he said Trustee Steve Tuttle said he didn't think government should be involved in these kinds of changes But Trustee Mark Peterson said the village already was involved Tuttle then said he believed changing the rules could hurt businesses He said they would lose an hour of work on weekdays The board voted 4-2 against changing the code Ralph DeAngelis and Meredith Lannert were opposed while Peterson and Omar Chaudhry were in favor IL – A Clarendon Hills fire truck struck a delivery van last week outside the local Jewel grocery store The crash was late in the morning last Monday according to a police report obtained through a public records request The crash resulted in broken rear handrails on the 2024 model fire truck Clarendon Hills Village Manager Zach Creer said the fire truck was at Jewel while an on-duty crew was grocery shopping for the shift "That is common practice for fire departments," Creer said He said the village was waiting on official quotes but the damage is believed to be less than $5,000 The Clarendon Hills police report indicated that no citations were issued 2024 at 8:49 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Clarendon Hills Village Board is considering selling its old firehouse at 214 Burlington Ave IL – A developer is planning row homes in downtown Clarendon Hills on the site of the village's old firehouse the Village Board is set to vote on selling the property at 214 Burlington Ave for $60,000 to developer Alps Investment Group The village lists Alps' managing member as Clarendon Hills resident Jan Morel The state's business database shows that Alps became active in January Clarendon Hills solicited proposals from developers for the property. In that solicitation, the village advanced the idea of including the next-door property of dentist Michael Major in the development Major told trustees the village never notified him that it would mention his property village officials said they received two responses to its solicitation They recommended Alps' proposal for six row homes the developer would get five years to finish the proposed development If the developer does not move forward in that time "The developer is not anticipating selling the subject property back to the Village and is enthusiastic about developing it but Staff felt placing a timeframe on the development was prudent," the memo said The village said it expected the developer to tear down the building once a deal is in place to build the six homes 2024 at 4:22 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Michael Korzen of the Roselle Fire Department has accepted an offer to be the next chief of the Clarendon Hills Fire Department IL – An official in the Roselle Fire Department is expected to take the helm of the Clarendon Hills Fire Department Michael Korzen is now the battalion chief in the Roselle department where his LinkedIn page says he was hired in January a day after the next regular meeting of the Village Board Assistant Village Manager Mera Johnson said Korzen accepted a conditional offer from the village She said he is set to be sworn in after the board's vote on the night of Aug Village Manager Zach Creer said Korzen was selected after an exhaustive process which included highly qualified candidates we talked a lot about the future of the department and we believe he is the best person to move forward with the strategic objectives of increasing training increasing professionalism and delivering high-quality service," Creer said he understands that we are a fiscally conservative town and that controlling costs is of utmost importance." Korzen holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of Illinois in Springfield and a bachelor of arts degree from Western Illinois University through a joint program with the National Fire Academy In November, the village put then-Fire Chief Patrick Leahy on leave during an investigation 2024 at 5:15 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Hayden Bos works behind the counter Monday evening at Daily Scoop ice cream shop in Clarendon Hills The shop is expected to close later this year IL – The ice cream shop you know and love in Clarendon Hills is expected to close But the owner would rather that not be the case residents showed their support for the 22-year-old Daily Scoop ice cream shop Owner Chuck Kaufman said the landlord is hiking the rent 45 percent starting in November He said he would like to keep shop in town That would have been easier a couple of years ago More power to the village for having filled buildings," Kaufman said says a rent hike is likely to force him to close his shop later this year KDL Equities took over the building a couple of years ago McCormack said the rent was "drastically" under market The current lease included no annual cost of living increases She said three of the four spaces in the building remain occupied KDL has received interest in the fourth space but has rejected proposals such as a smoke shop is concerned for the betterment of the community and wants something in the vacant space that enhances downtown "People are very passionate about what they want in their downtown," she said KDL is in the state's corporation database with Kathleen Napleton of Hinsdale listed as the owner Patch left a message with her Tuesday morning; McCormack said later that Napleton preferred that her company handle the questions Daily Scoop saw a steady stream of customers who wanted to show their support for the business said Daily Scoop is a gathering spot for the community "The village doesn't want him to go," she said We don't want to lose such a valuable resource." "Daily Scoop." She was selling them to help the shop Luke Koznarek of Clarendon Hills scoops ice cream Monday evening at Daily Scoop in Clarendon Hills People enjoy ice cream Monday evening outside Daily Scoop in Clarendon Hills The shop is expected to close because of a rent hike makes bracelets to raise money for the Daily Scoop ice cream shop which is likely to close because of a rent increase The Little League Team from Clarendon Hills representing Illinois in the Little League Softball World Series They're three wins away from the national championship title The team captains joined ABC7 to talk about their upcoming game against Missouri They also talked about how long they have played together and what they are hearing from their friends and family back home While Clarendon Hills contends the area needs investment the school board's leader said the neighborhood is "already booming." The board brought two lawyers from the Robbins Schwartz law firm They cast doubt on the village's proposal for a tax increment financing district The proposed improvements along 55th Street are not the type that "scream that more residents are going to be willing to pay more money in this area." "I don't see an improved stormwater system making home values go through the roof in my experience," he said Board President Catherine Greenspon agreed "What we're seeing already just with regards to (home) sales within the TIF district is that it is booming already," she said The district would generally run along the north and south sides of 55th Street between Western and Holmes avenues the money generated from the growth in the property tax base would go to the district itself that money can be invested in projects in the district that spur development benefitting the local economy in the long run schools and other taxing bodies would not receive any of the growth in tax money over 23 years The argument is that a TIF would stimulate enough development that other bodies would benefit in the long run The school board belongs to a state-mandated committee of local taxing bodies that would vote on the Clarendon Hills district that would require three-fifths of the Village Board to vote for the TIF Towns often enter agreements with school districts so that schools get at least some of the tax income from the growth in the tax base. Elmhurst is an example the board directed its representative on the TIF committee to vote against the village's proposed district board members urged the village to delay the TIF committee meeting They said they still had questions and were open to some type of income-sharing agreement Village Manager Zach Creer said the village was also open to it we understand the importance of our school districts and realize their success is our success and would not take action to adversely impact their operations," Creer said but they do not impact a taxing body's ability to levy taxes under state law its engineers and its economic development consultant believe poor infrastructure is severely impacting the area in question That includes the 55th Street and Western Avenue intersection and water capacity limits the Village staff believe that not being proactive to be ready to help preserve major taxpayers such as the Jewel-Osco would be a mistake with the current grocery consolidation," Creer said He said the village has traditionally been prudent with its TIF districts The Ogden district removed the Mayflower Hotel and added an Infiniti car dealership which was a "huge success for taxpayers," Creer said The downtown district has seen similar progress with rapidly decreasing vacancies The district has invested in code-violating buildings to attract higher-quality tenants such as Il Mio restaurant and Tierra Distilling the village has incentivized "attractive mixed-use" downtown development such as Mycroft Row 2024 at 2:51 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Clarendon Hills fire station may move to the site of the police station and public works building in the 400 block of Park Avenue IL – Clarendon Hills is looking to build a new fire station because public buildings downtown may deter commercial development The village has identified the site of the police station and public works department in the 400 block of Park Avenue as a possible place for the new fire station according to a memo by Village Manager Zach Creer The site's impound lot could be used for the new fire station because a third party now handles impounded cars He also said a campus for the three departments could allow them to share rooms for reception Creer said the sale of the current fire station's land alone may be enough to offset the cost of the new building The village also could use money from the downtown tax district to pay for moving costs "A mixed-used development at this site could be reasonably expected to generate millions in revenue through tax increment the Village Board is expected to vote on hiring FGM Architects for $7,500 to do a "feasibility" study on building a new fire station 2025 at 7:22 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Baron Leacock is one of six candidates for four seats on the Hinsdale High School District 86 board IL – Baron Leacock is one of six candidates for four seats on the Hinsdale High School District 86 board Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire: Does anyone in your family work in politics or government Previous or current elected or appointed office: The single most pressing issue facing the school board is _______ Preserving the commitment to excellence that has been expected from D86 I am committed to preserving and enhancing the reputation of District 86 Concerning data shows a decline in student test scores I will thoroughly examine this data and work to empower the administration to implement necessary changes District 86 should remain a top choice for families and we must take proactive steps to ensure its excellence What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking in this post I know firsthand the impact of a strong education My father grew up in another country without running water or electricity and through the transformative power of education which sent me from Hinsdale South to Harvard which is why my parents chose to settle us in D86 I want every child in our community to have the same opportunities to thrive and succeed that we had What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence that you can handle this job My experience in education and work is broad I received my undergraduate degree from Harvard University and my law degree from Columbia University Law School I’ve worked in several industries including real estate development being father to three brilliant and rambunctious children five and under there isn’t much this job can throw at me that would be harder to deal with than anything my children literally throw at me on a daily basis the same way my parents and the folks in D86 worked hard for me when I came along How would you rate the performance of the current school board majority I respect anyone who chooses to serve their community but the current and former boards have not effectively engaged with the public There needs to be meaningful engagement by holding quarterly listening sessions to hear directly from constituents about the issues affecting District 86 Do you support keeping Catherine Greenspon as the school board president It is too early to endorse any candidate before the election I am open to supporting any board member seeking the presidency Why do you think the district experienced a surge in administrative turnover last year Turnover is inevitable when new leadership takes over a school district administrators typically stay in their roles for an average of three years often leaving for promotions and career growth opportunities Are the district's property taxes too high Excellence in education shouldn’t come at an ever-growing cost to taxpayers District 86’s success is driven by great teachers and a supportive community yet administrative costs have increased while direct student support has declined We must prioritize getting more dollars into classrooms rather than bureaucracy Inflation has driven up costs in areas like transportation and utilities while declining enrollment presents additional challenges Student performance data is falling across all cohorts with the most vulnerable students being the most affected Great schools don’t need bigger budgets—they need better priorities What is your view of students' performance on standardized tests It is crucial to identify the root causes of academic decline and address them directly I want to analyze this data to understand why I will have access to this information and will work to empower administrators to make data-driven improvements fostering collaboration between District 86 and its feeder districts on curriculum alignment will benefit all stakeholders ensuring a smoother transition for students and strengthening overall academic performance How can the district narrow the gap in performance between low- and high-income students District 86 must ensure that all students have access to opportunities that align withtheir unique paths the district should:● Meet students where they are by offering opportunities tailored to their level of preparation ensuring that all learners have the support and resources they need to succeed.● Structure the Program of Studies to address academic gaps effectively.● Expand student-driven initiatives to foster camaraderie and engagement.● Strengthen collaboration with feeder districts to create a seamless transition and support student success D86 can better equip students with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving educational landscape What should the district do to close the disparity between Central and South in which South has a smaller selection of courses To ensure equitable access to courses across both campuses D86 should explore creative scheduling solutions particularly for core curriculum and popular electives.Strategies to address disparities and maximize resources include:● Structuring the Program of Studies to minimize scheduling conflicts and course cancellations.● Utilizing the expanded lunch period and district transportation to facilitate cross-campus offerings.● Offering low-enrollment classes every other year to sustain diverse course options while optimizing resources Would you adjust the attendance boundary between Central and South My read is that the community values the distinct identities of both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South recognizing the strengths of each school environment It’s important to respect these perspectives while finding ways to enhance academic opportunities within each campus have access to a strong curriculum and diverse course offerings is one of my core priorities Should the board consider the possibility of dropping property values when changing the boundary between Central and South What is your view of the skyrocketing legal bills over much of the last year Changes in administration often bring a need for legal support primarily due to matters discussed in closed sessions Without direct access to these discussions identifying a specific cause is speculative and maintaining fiscal responsibility is a core priority for me Should the district have removed nine years' worth of public records requests from its website Based on my understanding from board meetings the records were archived and remain accessible to the public upon request making District 86’s level of transparency notable Is the district teaching critical race theory I have not been made aware of any CRT present at D86 Do you support the school board majority or the teachers union in the battle over the social studies curriculum the Board of Education is responsible for approving—though not writing—curriculum proposed by the administration While the board may occasionally reject curriculum it is the administration’s role to revise and present policies that align with student and community needs The board serves as a bridge between the administration and the community ensuring that educational policies reflect the collective interests of both educators and families while maintaining academic excellence Was the attorney general right to find the school board in violation of the Open Meetings Act when members originally decided behind closed doors to suspend the superintendent The Attorney General is well-versed in regulations and codes governing Board of Education operations Since this matter was discussed in closed session I do not have direct knowledge of what occurred I defer to the appropriate entities that have the necessary insight and authority regarding this incident How is the district doing in getting good and bad news to the community The district actively engages with the community through various social media platforms and other communication channels to keep students and families informed With the recent hire of Alex Mayster as Executive Director of Communication efforts to share district news have been strengthened I would love to see even more highlights of the incredible students in District 86 showcasing their achievements and contributions Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions When you’ve been given what I’ve been given you hope to have the opportunity to help preserve and build for those who come after you It would be a dream come true to jump in and help out at D86 I’ve learned that most of the problems we face in public policy are eminently solvable but only if you elect folks who are focused on finding solutions that align with the mission I see the fundamental mission of D86 to provide each student with what they need to soar based on their unique talents and challenges