2011 Election Issues: John Fotopoulos, Orland Park Village Board Candidate

As a follow-up to our initial and more-biographical questionnaire, we asked candidates to answer issue-specific questions.

Nine candidates are competing for three seats in this year's Orland Park Village Board of Trustees race. Orland Park-based attorney John Fotopoulos is one of them. He spoke with Patch about real math, swapping closed village hall days for fee increases and how to better use TIF. Does the current board engage in enough debate and discussion before voting? No. As an example, I would point out the recent increases in vehicle stickers and other taxes and fees passed by the Orland Board of trustees with no debate or alternatives. We need more debate, because we cannot continue to balance our budget on the backs of the taxpayers in Orland Park. Maybe if we had more debate we wouldn't be so quick to raise taxes! You had an opportunity in the last…

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Billy Hatcher

4:44 pm on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I'm curious as to why Mr. Fotopoulos is the only one receiving grief over the larger signs and all the rest of them seem to go unnoticed. I think you should concentrate on some real issues and quit crying over a few signs that will be gone in days.   more ›

2011 Election Issues: Salvatore R. "Bob" Cacciato, Orland Fire Protection District Trustee Candidate

As a follow-up to our initial and more-biographical questionnaire, we asked candidates to answer issue-specific questions about the positions for which they are campaigning.

The race for the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees has four candidates vying for two open seats. Salvatore "Bob" Cacciato spoke with Patch about maintaining the district's strengths and the down side of putting the district back under the village's control. What are the biggest problems facing the district? How do you propose to solve them? Pension issues that impact OFPD in the coming years will be a reflection of issues being felt throughout the state and nationally. Our answers will match the commitment made to our firefighters and will also require careful fiscal planning with the same attention to projections and details. We are proud to be ranked second in our peer group for our ability to meet and surpass our …

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2011 Election Issues: Blair Rhode, Orland Fire Protection District Trustee Candidate

As a follow-up to our initial and more-biographical questionnaire, we asked candidates to answer issue-specific questions about the positions for which they are campaigning.

The race for the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees has four candidates vying for two open seats. Patch spoke with candidate Blair Rhode recently about how he believes the district is perceived and steps to rework the finances. Orland Park Patch: What are the biggest problems facing the district? How do you propose to solve them? Blair Rhode: When a Tinley trustee heard that I was going to run for Orland Fire Trustee he said, “Why would Blair want to muddy his name with that district? Everybody knows that it is the most corrupt district around.” That is a sad comment on a great group of fire fighters.  I know many of the Orland Firefighters and they are quality people.  I have had several occasions to need the services of …

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Area Parents and School Board Officials Oppose School District Consolidation Bill

Using social media to get the initial word out, residents in District 146 and officials in other districts are gathering to express strong opposition to House Bill 1886.

A bill entered into the Illinois House of Representatives that would end school districts as they are now known and replace them with one or two districts per county has sparked ire from parents and school officials. House Bill 1886, filed Feb. 16 by 28th District Rep. Robert Rita (D-Blue Island), calls for “all school districts in this State in existence on June 30, 2012 (other than the Chicago school district) are dissolved, and their school boards are abolished.” The bill was introduced around the time Gov. Pat Quinn’s office suggested that the state could save $100 million by eliminating 500 of the state’s 868 school districts to cut administrative costs, according to Illinois Statehouse News reporter Andrew Thomason. However, local …

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Allen De Normandie

2:37 pm on Saturday, March 19, 2011

DEan, I totally agree! Allen   more ›

Southland Stories

Hot Topics: Patch Readers Have Their Say

Local government run amok. Death Row gets an undeserved favor. Teen-aged losers in the thrall of the Dark Side. Just a sampling of the commentary offered by readers on the Southland's Patches in recent days.

On "Oak Lawn Finishes Strong in 2010" from Oak Lawn Patch How can you paint the trim of a house when you can't afford your own medication or food? Is the village going to help? NO! They fine, impose and persecute instead of asking - "Hey - do you need some help?" Beautify??? Sure - after they make it really hard if you are on a fixed income or no income... Instead of writing tickets to those in need (retirees, unemployed) - why not ask - "Is there a reason?" or "Can we help you get this done?" We have youth in this village who need community service - why not use the resources and HELP your neighbor instead of STRESSing your neighbor??? I would love to have a village that REACHES out to help it's own neighbors instead of hurting its own…

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After Three Months Live, Orland Park Patch Looks Back at 2010's Top Stories

Orland Park Patch looks back on our first three months of life, and offers our pick for top stories, based on page views, comments and feedback from readers.

A lot can happen in a few months.  Orland Park Patch started with 14 articles. Today, there are more than 450 stories detailing a myriad of events, topics and issues that we believe are important to residents and readers. We take a look back at the most poignant stories we have covered, as we look forward to continuing on into 2011 and beyond. Remember, we're only getting started. Jason McDaniel had a few seconds to make the decision. He stood behind the desk at L.A. Tan on 94th Avenue, the salon clerk sitting next to him with her arms and legs tied, as Gary Amaya bent over and took his hand off a revolver. McDaniel lunged at Amaya, took the gun and fired, leaving Amaya dead within an hour from the gunshot wound. McDaniel said he could see…

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D230 Votes Down 3.2% Levy Hike, Will Eye Lower Figures

Following concerns about high taxes throughout the region, the board will consider asking for less than they're due of the property tax bill.

Citing the concerns of burdened taxpayers, the District 230 School Board on Thursday night rejected a previous plan to ask taxpayers for 3.2 percent more than they received this year. Instead of that increase, which would have added $35 to $45 to the tax bill of an average home, the district will look at an increase of 0.5 percent to 1 percent. A 1-percent increase would add about $15 to the average tax bill, district Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Steve Langert said Thursday. The district's portion of the tax bill on a home valued at $325,000 to $350,000 is currently about $1,400, Langert said last month. The vote against the 3.2 percent increase was unanimous, except for absent board member Frank Grabowski.  If the …

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VIDEO: Orland Resident Seeks to Disband Fire District

Paul Cervenka brings grievance and property tax bill directly to the Orland Fire Protection District trustees and lays down an angry warning.

An Orland Park resident on Tuesday night took his crusade against the Orland Fire Protection District directly to the board of trustees, accusing the panel of irresponsible spending. Paul Cervenka, 58, a retired tradesman, told trustees that he hopes to get a referendum on an upcoming election ballot that would bring the district back under village control. To do so, he would need enough signatures to match 11 percent of the total ballots cast in the last village election. A referendum in 1968 took the fire district out of the village's control and established it as a separate taxing body in Orland Park, Orland Hills and Orland Township. Board President Patrick Maher and his fellow trustees declined to comment on Cervenka's accusations or …

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Editor's View

The Rundown, Nov. 14 – 20: Tax Fury and Kustok Pleads Innocence

We take a look back at irate taxpayers, an expected yet still important moment in an ongoing case and coverage of the devastating fire in Oak Lawn.

Benjamin Franklin once said only death and taxes are certain in life. Orland Township homeowners shared the pains of one of those certainties this week, when the 2009 tax bills were received. Hundreds of people were shocked by the increased bills - some listing over $1,000 more to pay than the last. Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly explained that efforts were made locally to relieve taxes, but the Cook County's multiplier made bills higher than before. Two ongoing stories involved the other certainty Franklin described. On Thursday, Allan Kustok formally expressed his innocence for the murder charge against him in the shooting death of his wife Anita "Jeanie" Kustok. His children, Zak and Sarah Kustok, pledged to stand by their father …

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