Steve Knar: Candidate Profile

Back to Fox River Grove Village Board

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:BioQA Bio City: Fox River GroveWebsite: N/AOffice sought: Fox River Grove Village Board Age: 49Family: Wife of 22 years, Sue 2 Sons, Kyle, 17, Ryley, 15Occupation: I own a printing, promotions, and apparel company, Excel Graphics, in Rolling Meadows.Education: Brother Rice High School Carthage College Trinity Christian CollegeCivic involvement: Fox River Grove Rec. Council/Cary Youth Baseball Coach (Soccer Baseball) - 13 Years Cary Basketball Association 2014-15Elected offices held: School District 3 Board Member 2005 - 2009 School District 3 Board Vice-President 2007 - 2009 Village of Fox River Grove Trustee 2009 - PresentQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?A willingness to serve. I enjoy the opportunity to make a difference for the future of Fox River Grove. I vote for what's best for the Village as a whole.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Our sales tax is lower than Lake Zurich Crystal Lake. If our plans deliver the downtown we are working for, there may be a justification for a slight increase in that rate. Property taxes are high, I believe the highest in McHenry County. The Village's cut is a little over 7% of the total, so the Village alone can't make significant reductions for our residents.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?I can't speak to the FRGFD, as they are a separate entity, not under Village control. I can speak to the Police Department. They do a wonderful job, and I am content with everything they do for our community.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The budget cannot be trimmed. Anyone who states otherwise, doesn't understand the finances in our Village! Any reduction in the budget, would have a direct impact on all Village services, including the Police Department. In a perfect world, I would triple the budget for our Parks Commission.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I continue my support of the Parks Commission, and their excellent work in improving our parks. Over the past 4 years, we have done several large paving programs, in our 2 signature parks (Lions Picnic Grove Park). We also have a dedicated budget for our Parks, something that was unheard of 4 years ago. And, there is more to come!What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The issues that will be faced over the next several years are ominous: Construction of a new Public Works facility, potentially significant downtown re-development, and the mandated upgrades to our Waste Water Treatment plant.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bruce Rauner currently, he's honest, and genuinely committed to fixing the mess this state is in.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work ethic, my father worked tirelessly to provide for our family!If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?A chance to have one more day with my Mom and Dad.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Marketing in College, I still can apply those principles in my business dealings today.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Hard work delivers results.