Nancy E. Koske: 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: Fox LakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Fox Lake Village boardAge: 59Family: Married 3 children. Married 36 years to Robert Koske Children Krista, Kathrine. KellyOccupation: Marketing Director of Marketing for Paradise Park Assisted Living Memory CareEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Chamber of Commerce Fox Lake Lake Zurich Spring GroveRotary MemberRobert Sayles FoundationElected offices held: School Board Dist 114 12 yearsMayor Village of Fox Lake 2001 - 2005Trustee Village of Fox Lake 2007 - 2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Provide essential services to our community while staying within our budgetKey Issue 2 Oversee Economic Development in Fox LakeKey Issue 3 Communicate with our residents. Keep people informed of what is going on and why.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have had 12 years of board experience at Fox Lake Dist 114. My 4 years as Mayor and 4 years as trustee have given me valuable experience and knowledge of the community I serve. I make decisions that are based on what is in the best interest of Fox Lake. I have been a resident of Fox Lake for almost 37 years. I know the community, have raised my family here. I love Fox Lake for what it is and what it can be.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.Taxes and fee's will always be an issue. As elected officials we hold the public trust and we have a fidutuary responsibility to the public. Before any fee or tax is adjusted we must make sure that it is in the public interest. These decisions are never easy, and it is our responsibility to make informed, well educated decisions, and properly communicate with the public the reason for our decisions. Again, what is in the best interest of Fox Lake.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.I think our biggest public safety issue is gang activity. Gangs bring drugs and violence into the community. The best way to address it is to make sure you have a well trained police force that understands the problem and is trained to deal with it. Fox Lake is fortunate to have a great working relationship with our schools, and they have worked together for years identifying problems and solving them together. It is a constant problem that all communities face. We need to be aware, and ready and able to address these problems head on. to assure the safety of our residents.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?These certainly are tight economic times! Our Village Board has taken a very hard look at our buget and made difficult financial decisions in the best interest of our residents. We have lowered our staff by over 20 people in the last 2 years, we have taken steps to increase productivity of the remaining staff, all departments have been asked and were able to trim their budgets to the bare bone. Village employee's have not received raises for 2 years, and the Vilage Board has successfully negotiated union contracts, with the help of our union members, that reflect the current economy. We consistantly review all contracts let by the Village and re-negotiate when applicible. Essential services have not been cut. In the next year or two I would like to see more funds appropriated to the street department. Our roads need repair and we really need to address this funding issue.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?People in Fox Lake talk about everything! We all have tons of good idea's to improve our community. Fox Lake is blessed with a number of active civic groups, a long list of community members willing to volunteer their time and idea's. We have an active and responsible planning board,an ambassadors group, Chamber, Rotary, Lyons, American Legion, various church and school groups all who have plans and idea's for Fox Lake. Our community leaders have been trying to get a hotel into town for years, and although not a new idea, its one that I continue to support. A hotel in Fox Lake is the key to further, appropriate economic development in our town. Economic development turns into sales tax dollars, and sales tax dollars turn into services for our community.