7 things to know about Mundelein's public works director

Second in an occasional series

The creed was written for postal workers, but neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night can stop Mundelein Public Works Director Ken Miller, either.

Miller has been fighting the good fight against snow, ice, potholes, water main breaks and other municipal hazards for parts of four decades. The next time a winter storm hits, day or night, you can bet Miller and his crews will be out removing snow from the village's roads.

He's a man who takes community service seriously. He always has.

"When I was young, my father often told me, 'It is our responsibility to give back to the community for what they have provided to our family," said Miller, 53.

But there's more to Miller than keeping Mundelein's streets safe and the water running. He's also a lifelong hockey fan, a former firefighter and a proud husband and father of two.

Here are seven things you might not know about Ken Miller.

1. He's a loyal employee: Miller recently celebrated his 30th anniversary as a village employee. He started working for the village in 1979, as a laborer in the sewer division. "It was a rough time for public works in my early years, as there were many, many very large problems to address, Miller recalled. "This provided me with so much opportunity to learn and to do much more than most otherwise one would have the chance to do." He was named public works director in 1989.

2. Public service in his blood: In addition to his public works responsibilities, Miller served as a firefighter with the Mundelein Fire Department from 1979 to 1990. The job runs in the family; his late father was a firefighter, too. Miller also has been the village's safety director since 1990.

3. He ran afoul of authority as a youth: While a junior at Elkhorn High School in Wisconsin, Miller crossed swords with a dean over driving privileges. "I had an open period in the morning, and often I would leave campus to go eat breakfast," he said. "The dean called me in and said he did not want to see me driving my car out of the parking lot during the day. Being a kid, I had one of friends lay on the floor of the car and work the pedals and steering wheel, with me sitting in the back seat at a very slow speed. It appeared as no one was driving, including me. The dean was less than amused."

4. He's not a "Survivor" fan: Miller prefers the true-life programs and documentaries that air on the History and Discovery channels to so-called reality shows. "I wish that they would show the programs from these channels in our schools," Miller explained. "Kids need to know what the greatest generation ever before us did and sacrificed for all of us." This topic is particularly dear to Miller; his dad was a World War II veteran who drove tanks for Gen. George Patton and was injured in the Battle of the Bulge.

5. He's surrounded by people whose names start with K: In addition to the man in the mirror, Miller's wife is Kris, and his sons are Keith, 30, and Kurtis, 20.

6. He knows his way around a hockey rink: Miller played competitive hockey until he was 50. His sons were among his teammates.

7. He's got strong feelings about politics: Miller is frustrated by how Americans seem to automatically vote for longtime incumbents. "It is time that politics get cleaned up (and) politicians begin to work - yes, really work - toward what is really the best for America and for the majority of Americans," he said.