Andy Yuscka: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: West DundeeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: West Dundee Village boardAge: 59Family: Mary--wifeOccupation: ManagerEducation: BS in Business, Elmhurst CollegeCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Village Board, West Dundee, 1999-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintaining the quality of life that West Dundee residents have come to expect even during these tough economic times.Key Issue 2 Expand upon the retail/commercial base that we have and along with that, business retention.Key Issue 3 Consolidation of services with neighboring communities as long as a cost savings will result without a reduction of services.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I care about West Dundee. I have served on this board for almost twelve years. I am willing to make tough decisions during hard economic times.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I think that sales taxes are right where they need to be. This would not be a good time to even think about increasing them. You do not want to drive people to other communities to shop because that community has a lower sales tax. Times are tough and people will go somewhere else to shop if by doing so they will save a 1/4 or 1/2 percent.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.The biggest public safety concern is cut through traffic during morning and evening rush hour. The concern is about the safety of children in the area and the perception that the vehicles cutting through might be speeding. A lot of these concerns will be addressed in 2012 when the 72 31 intersection will be reconfigured. Another piece of this puzzle will be addressed when Huntley Road is widened between 31 and Randall. The date for this has not been set.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?We have a well balanced budget at the present time and this budget is already bare bones.The difficulty will come next year with the loss of revenue from the soon to close J. C. Penney store.Unless a business comes in to replace that loss in revenue, a hard look would have to be taken at salaries and personnel. That would be a last resort and I hope that we never have to go that route.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?At some point in time West Dundee will be developed out to Randall Road.I would like to see a bicycle/pedestrian overpass across Randall much like the one in South Elgin. If people had the ability to go to Randall Oaks or the ice arena or even to a ball game behind DMS without having to get in their car; I think that this would be a terrific asset for our community.