Kenneth Brady: Candidate Profile

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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: WheelingWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wheeling Village Board Age: 75Family: Wife, ChristineDaughters, Kathryn, Cynthia, and CherylSon in law, CarlosOccupation: Retired Construction ManagerEducation: 12 years Parochial, 4 years Washburn, CarpentryCivic involvement: Village Trustee 12 years currently Liaison to the Senior Commission, Plan Commissioner 17 years, Knights of Columbus, past Grand Knight, Wheeling Garden Club past President, Wheeling Historical Society life Member,Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?July 2017 will be the 50th anniversary of our moving to Wheeling. We have enjoyed good friends, neighbors, and a village that provides the amenities necessary for comfortable living. As a carpenter and builder I jumped at the opportunity to join the plan commission and give back to the community. I served 18 years before winning a seat on the village board in 2005. I have seen the best and worst in building design, site layout, owners operations, that can make or break a business. I feel my experience has helped make a difference in the design and quality of buildings in our town.I dedicate a lot of time studying agenda items, financial reports, and upcoming business issues before meetings. I listen to staff, my fellow board members, and the petitioner, it is important to understand all the components of the request before your decision. I also listen to citizens, their concerns or praise of a particular issue. We discuss the effect a particular issue might have on them. One ongoing issue on the East side of town is the possibility of the expansion of our airport. It has been said that there is a need for the main runway to be extended 2000 feet for safer operation, plus an additional 2000 feet safety zone. The airport is working on a new master plan which will address these issues. I would like to know the extent of this endeavor into our residential areas.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.Sales tax is one of the mainstays of any community's income. Our rate is presently at 10%, well in keeping with our neighbors here in Cook County although we do suffer a little with Lake county's 8% just over our Northern border. I feel sales tax revenue is the most important contribution toward our effort to help maintain a reasonable property tax rate. Commercial retail sales are the key to success and we have been working at attracting the types of business that can provide us with that goal.Our property tax rate is average if you compare a house in Wheeling with a comparable house in one of the surrounding communities. It is a constant battle to approve budgets that will provide the core services that will maintain the high level of service that our residents deserve, along with providing the tools necessary for our staff to perform these services. We receive approximately .12 cents per dollar paid to the county and are required to maintain 230 employees, a fleet of around 150 vehicles, 5 buildings, police, fire, water, sanitary and storm systems, social services including Senior service, etc.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?Both police and fire departments are excellent at providing life safety service to our community. Our police department has won the Calea award every year for their professionalism. the fire department was one of the first to require all firefighters to be certified as paramedic/firefighter, both departments provide constant training.The future is here with the new multifamily residences, commercial, and industrial projects being developed. Both chiefs are considering increases to meet the growth expected year to year.Senior citizens are becoming a large percent of our population both in their existing homes and new care facilities planned for Wheeling. We realize the increased activity by our first responders needed to answer the calls for help, last year approximately 60 percent of fire calls were for paramedic help. Our chief is ready with the plans to add a third ambulance to the fleet.Our police are heavily involved with programs involving citizens of all ages. Citizens on patrol, police academy, neighborhood watch, youth programs, etc. all for the betterment of our community. I am proud of these two groups and their dedication to our town.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Budget issues have been of concern for quite some time. After the economic crash of 2008 we have been cutting wherever possible to try to keep abreast of the unfunded mandates imposed by the state, the declining revenues, increases in salaries and pensions. Departments are operating on reduced manpower while we use outsourcing to handle the duties that we performed in house by staff. We found this a cost saving method to keep the services current. We will be fast approaching the time when we will be forced to hire additional personnel for police and fire service as the new developments are completed.We have a 10 year CIP plan that keeps up with infrastructure improvements and replacement, a plan to reduce flooding, and are currently working with the park district to share senior service activity to save the redundancy of our programs.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I have always felt the need for a bus service for our community. We0 have a Metra station that people drive to commute by train, also there are people that commute to Wheeling that work in our many factories and businesses. We currently have three Pace routs that pass thru town with limited stopping points for each route. I worked with Pace in 2006 researching the possibility of developing a ;plan that would work for both the business community and our residents to commute for shopping or connecting with the Pace route. Unfortunately when the plan was ready for meaningful discussion the crash of 2008 doomed the project. I still believe when the economy improved there will be the opportunity to resurrect the idea.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I feel it is important we must keep a close eye on the social services that the federal, state, and county are cutting funds for. Will we be required to help these people?My main issue I would like to continue pursuing is quality of development in our town. I prefer durable exterior finishes with design elements that provide a more aesthetic finish other than vinyl sidingPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Rahm EmanuelWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?RespectIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?My parents to have lived longe.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?HistoryIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Respect others