Former Grayslake mayor says farewell

Former Grayslake Mayor Timothy Perry received a final moment in the spotlight at a village board meeting Tuesday.

Perry ended his eight-year ride as mayor by not seeking re-election in April. Rhett Taylor, with Perry's full support, ran unopposed for mayor and shifted from being a village trustee to the top elected office.

Taylor began the formal presentation honoring his predecessor by calling "Citizen Perry" to a podium near the village board rostrum.

He then ticked off what he said were a number of Perry's accomplishments, such as road-building programs, attracting millions of dollars in economic development and helping Grayslake get its first Walgreens and Starbucks stores.

Under Perry's administration, Grayslake paid off the last its last debt in January. While in office, Perry pointed to Grayslake's longtime conservative fiscal policy and the privatization of many village services as reasons for bucking the trend of governments of all stripes struggling with debt.

"Tim left us with a fiscal budget that is balanced and debt-free," Taylor said Tuesday night.

Perry kept his remarks brief, thanking his family for supporting him in his political career in Grayslake and complimenting village employees for their work.

"I've said way more than I probably needed to over the last eight years," quipped Perry.

Perry, 50, served as a village trustee from 1996 to 2001. He was elected Grayslake mayor in 2001.