Campton gets legal backup to help track down scofflaws

Beware, lead-foot drivers and zoning scofflaws. Campton Hills now has the legal backup to prosecute you.

Village officials voted, 5-0, last week to hire the law firm Schroeder & Schroeder to show up in court and prosecute those accused of moving-traffic offenses and local ordinance violations.

Campton Hills will pay $700 a month for the service, an amount covered under the village budget, officials said.

The village also has agreed to hire attorney John Noble at $175 an hour to act as a hearing officer over ordinance disputes involving non-moving traffic offenses and municipal ordinances.

Village President Patsy Smith said the amount of revenue generated from tickets, fines and forfeitures is expected to "more than cover" the additional legal expenses.

She said both firms have experience in other suburbs, including Batavia and Geneva, and came highly recommended.

Where's Roy?: Maybe you haven't noticed, but there's been an unusually high number of 5-0 votes lately for a village with six trustees.

Well, the reason is trustee Roy Pollack. He's been absent from board meetings for about two months now.

Pollack, who works in data warehousing, said Thursday that he recently began a new job and has had an atypically hectic schedule.

"Beginning in November, my plan is to be more involved," he said. "I think things will settle down -- at least I hope they will -- this month. It's hard to predict more than a few days in advance right now."

As for the upcoming election?

"I have to look at it and say, 'What is realistic?'" Pollack said. "I have to say, the one thing throughout this whole endeavor, going back years now, is meeting a lot of really dedicated, qualified people and recognizing we have such a wealth of talent in the area.

"So I don't feel bad if I open up a slot for somebody else to fill."

What about you?: Speaking of the election, your window of opportunity to run for office is right around the corner.

The filing period for candidates is set for Nov. 19-26, and Campton Hills residents can do so at village hall, 40W115 Campton Crossings Drive.

The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., although it will be closed Nov. 22, 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving.

For information, or to ask about getting election paperwork, call (630) 584-8700.

Tough talk: How much money do you deserve? Now there's a loaded question few have the gall to answer.

Well, Campton Hills trustees didn't have any choice but to answer it last week when they were required to set salaries for officials elected in 2008 (assuming most of them plan to run for office, of course).

Smith is sure to take some heat for saying she felt $12,000 was too little for a village president who works 80 hours or more a week, as she says she does -- but not because she isn't worth it.

The fact is, those who are opposed to the village being, well, a village, will see this as an example of officials not living up to their original plan of a "minimalist government," as trustee Charles Cappell put it.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, you can bet the "I-told-you-sos" are coming.