Resident nominated for open trustee seat on Island Lake board
Longtime Island Lake resident John Burke is set to be named the village's newest trustee Thursday.
Burke, 52, has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the panel by Mayor Charles Amrich. The trustees must approve the nomination.
If he gets the nod, Burke will replace Shannon Fox, who quit this month because she moved out of state.
Burke, an operating engineer with Able Engineering, has lived in Island Lake since 1990. He served on the village's zoning board until it was disbanded and a new planning and zoning commission was formed this summer.
He's never run for public office.
In a telephone interview Wednesday, Burke sounded excited about the opportunity. He said he wants to help return Island Lake to the kind of town it was in the past, which has been something of a mantra for Amrich, his allies on the board and their supporters.
"I love the town," Burke said. "I've raised all my kids here."
Amrich couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.
Trustee Mark Beeson supports the mayor's recommendation for the vacancy. He praised Burke for regularly attending village board and committee meetings during the last year.
"He's up to speed on just about everything going on in town," Beeson said.
If appointed, Burke will finish Fox's term, which expires in spring 2015. He'll then be able to run for the post if he chooses.
Thursday's meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at village hall, 3720 Greenleaf Ave.