Palatine officials pay tribute to longtime plan commission secretary

Palatine officials paid fond tribute at their most recent village council meeting to Natalie "Talie" McKenzie, who served as secretary for the town's plan commission for 56 years.

McKenzie, who died June 16, knew the ins and outs of the village and was "sharp as a tack," said Ben Vyverberg, Palatine's director of planning and zoning.

"She was genuine," Vyverberg said.

Vyverberg said McKenzie was still working up until about six or eight weeks before her passing. It'll be hard to replace her, he added.

"We were so fortunate to have someone like her," Vyverberg said. "It amazes me - just the amount of hours she put in and that she was able to do this for so long is a pretty incredible statement about her."

At the village council meeting on June 20, Mayor Jim Schwantz took a moment to recognize her service.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Talie's family at this time," he said.

McKenzie, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, enjoyed working on church projects where she could use her writing and editorial skills, according to her obituary. She also used those skills as a lay reader for senior honors English classes in District 214 for 20 years while she was a stay-at-home mom.