Karen Harms, 4 years: 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: Lake VillaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake Villa Village board, 4-year termAge: 70Family: Married, 3 grown children, 4 grandchildenOccupation: Retired. I was the Director of Finance for the Northfield (IL) school district.Education: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Served 2 terms on Northbrook Caucus (trustee and village pres. selection); Served on 3 different (Northfield) township committees related to zoning, planning and development and education; Liaison to (Northbrook) Village Bd and Plan Commission; Appointment to ZBA; Two terms as PTA unit President and 2 terms President of PTA Council; Provided guidance and assistance to neighboring school district in establishment of PTA units and PTA Council; Conducted workshops in meetings, organization of, and parlimentary procedure; director and President of (at that time) largest and most active HOA in Northbrook; Finance Chair, Director, Corp. Secy and President of a 650 unit Condo assn; Misc. work with scouting, church, and fraternal groups sometimes holding local and state office. Treas. of a Lake Villa HOA; for the past 20 years I've had the privilege of being a volunteer patient advocate for cancer patients at the Glenbrook Hosp. (Northshore Univ. Health System) Kellogg Cancer Care Center. (I also worked in other vol. positions at Glenbrook including ER.) I also enjoy volunteering for Lake Villa Township senior functions; Lake Villa trustee 2006 to present.Elected offices held: Trustee, Lake Villa 2006 to present.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Economic Development for our village. i.e. laying the foundation to help attract more business, particularly retail business to our village, and esp. in our historic downtown area. The additional revenue would also help as we go about securing my No. 2 campaign issue!Key Issue 2 Securing Lake Michigan water for our village. I've been part of the group for more than 4 years. We recently received our allocations from the IDNR so we need to move forward with forming the agency and determining the best method of financing for the project. Securing a safe and dependable water source for our residents and our future is of the utmost importance.Key Issue 3 To continue to provide and improve services to our residents in this fiscally challenging era. Work to improve the appearance of our village in order to attract business and continue to improve the quality of life in Lake Villa for our residents and business owners.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My work background as Director of Finance for a school district (IL) provided a good experience in municipal finance and fund accounting. I was responsible for developing (and adhereing to!) a 3 -4 million dollar budget, managing and investing the district funds, risk management, disbursements, payroll, some of the physical plant and non-certified personel. When I arrived the district was in debt and the business office in disarray. When I left the district had a surplus invested and the lowest school tax rate in the area. (The Bd of Ed passed a resolution citing my accomplishments, an honor previously reserved only for retiring superintendents. I was known to be a tenacious guardian of the taxpayers money.) I have served as chairman of the water and sewer committee since 2006; served on the finance committee since 2006; represented the village on the Lake Michigan water group since it's inception; having been the only trustee with union contract negotiation experience I was one of 2 trustees representing the village during talks with our newly formed police union; I represented the village at the Quiet Zone hearings; I have worked with the high school on their student community service projects; I have worked with some of our Eagle Scouts on their projects. During the last election period 2 other trustees and I campaigned on bringing economic development to our village. We were instrumental in the hiring of a consultant group to lay the ground work and interview business people and stakeholders in our community. It's an ongoing challenge as you might imagine in these difficult times, but also a good time to plot our strategy so we can provide a 'speed to market' plan for potential businesses. During the last campaign I rang just about every doorbell in our village. I wanted to hear what our residents wanted for their families and their village. Overwhelmingly, they said they wanted to see an expanded and improved downtown area. I agreed! I want them to know that we're still working toward that goal and I still value their imput. We formed an economic development committee to help us with goal.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.We are not a home rule community so therefore don't impose a village sales tax.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.One of the areas I've discussed with neighbors recently is how we can make our town more pedestrian friendly and bicycle friendly. This is particularly important since the completion of our new park near the mansion. It appears we recently received funding for an underpass from the west side of 83 into the park. That's a good first step. The improvement of the intersection of rts 83 and 132 is underway, another plus for our village. Last year I made contact with former Senator Michael Bond to urge him, as chairman of the transportation committee, to help us get a stop light for 83 and Park Avenue because of increased traffic flows from the industrial park and school bus company and along rt 83 in general. We have new drivers coming out of the subdivision going to 3 different high schools. I'm concerned for their safety. We received word recently that the intersection qualified for a light. Hopefully work will begin on that soon. We have a good network of paths in the area. I would like to expand and improve our sidewalks in town too.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?""Prioritized"" is putting in mildly! We have trimmed and cut in every area possible and we continue to search for new ways to make cuts. Our new Police Chief, our village Treasurer and our Supervisor of Public Works have done a really good job of searching out new and different ways to cut expenses and to search out and secure grants for special projects. I applaud them for what they've been able to do for the last several years to help us maintain a stable tax rate.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Gosh, I've got so many! I would like to get business owners and property owners together to inovate and plan ways to promote themselves and the village.