John ‘Jack’ Kozar: 2025 candidate for Villa Park village board

Bio

Office Sought: Villa Park village board (Vote for 3)

City: Villa Park

Age: 50

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: Villa Park Village Trustee, 2021-25

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?

Our fire department is understaffed, and our fire station facilities have been the victim of years of deferred maintenance. The fire department and EMS are the single most important department in our village, with the second most important being our police department. Every resident, in their time of crisis, deserves to have our EMS able to respond quickly and with the tools necessary to address any given emergency.

I have advocated for our fire stations to go through an overhaul, which has just recently begun, but even the most state-of-the-art facilities need the personal to carry out the vital services that our fire department and EMS provide. This includes increasing the number of staff thereby reducing the reliance on overtime that burns out our current staff. Additionally, we need to provide incentives for training and recruitment and promotion from within.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

Villa Park’s finances are disorganized. Our current finance director is a temporary worker from GovHR and our current manager is disorganized. I ask repeatedly for quarterly reports on revenue and expenses, and they are not provided timely.

A recent example illustrating this, is that the 2023 audit was not completed in time to approve the 2025 budget. This is unacceptable.

Additionally, we are frequently asked to waive the bidding requirements. Larger purchases must go through a bidding process, with the board given copies of the bids.

The top spending priority must be improving our fire stations and increasing their staffing, then on roads, sidewalks and government buildings. Spending must be curtailed, until the above issues are addressed, on the manager’s pursuit of an estimated $50 million-plus railroad underpass. For the project study alone, $300,000 is budgeted. It is not appropriate to spend so much, at this time, on such a project.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

Jefferson Pool’s useful life is approximately 10 years. We should start funding a new pool by eliminating all our existing debt as quickly as reasonably possible. We can then begin allocating ready cash funds into a conservative investment fund (CDs, bonds, T-bills, etc.), that we will have available to contribute to the pool when we are ready.

Once we pay off our existing debt, we should not take on any new debt. This will allow us to borrow, if necessary, to supplement the build for the new pool. We can increase revenue by increasing the licensing fee for liquor licenses, which includes the ability to have gaming machines, and put that money directly into the future pool fund.

In addition to the pool, we must address the deferred maintenance on our government-owned buildings by budgeting an annual percentage of gross revenue on maintenance. The estimated $50 million-plus railroad underpass must be tabled; $300,000 is budgeted for the project study alone. It is not appropriate at this time.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

I have spent almost four years fighting for timely, honest information and accurate legal advice. This problem stems from a lack of respect from the village manager and current president for the authority of the six sitting trustees.

My style as a trustee is: 1.) All parties must agree to a set of rules. Here, those rules are Robert’s Rules of Order and the “Rules of Order and Procedures for the Board of Trustees” that I proposed and was adopted by the board. 2.) All parties must follow the agreed rules. 3.) Every decision maker is given the opportunity to advocate for their position, uninterrupted. 4.) When discussion is over, a vote is taken. The result of that vote means the issue is resolved and staff must follow the direction of the board.

Our democracy is based on an agreement that all parties agree to follow the same code of conduct, aka the law. We must have an even playing field, with all members getting the same information, treatment, and ability to advocate for their position.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have a proven record as a trustee over the last four years. Having been a local business owner and property developer in town, I have firsthand experience of our permitting process and the workings of our village staff.

Consequently, I have proposed and implemented changes to our code, streamlined the permitting process, lowered fees, and added TIF incentive programs.

As an attorney, I serve as a check and compliment to our village attorney to ensure accurate and unbiased legal information is provided to the board. The village attorney must work for the board at large and not only for the village manager or village president.

I have advocated for transparency and given voice to countless residents. Because of my efforts, all meetings, including commission meetings and special meetings, are now recorded and accessible to our residents. I have fought against misinformation and disinformation. Everyone in our village and board must be treated equally and given an even playing field.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

Happy Tails and Trails Dog Park! I propose having a dog park in Rotary Park (Wildwood and Monterey). It is an underutilized park that is centrally located and connected to our newly opened Tri-Trail path connection.

Villa Park would showcase access to three major trails; the Great Western, Prairie Path, and the Salt Creek Trail. Rotary Park is connected to all three paths which would allow local dog parents to walk to the park and avoid driving. It could be funded entirely by donations and by charging a small annual user fee.

Additionally, local businesses could advertise through banner type placards, much like a baseball field. Infrastructure requirements would be very minimal, with a chain-link fence, and a small area with garbage and dog waste bags. There is already a parking lot with a gazebo to offer shade. This is a highly desired project, with minimal cost, that so many residents and surrounding communities could enjoy.