Stroger setting up new meeting with Palatine officials

After an aborted visit to the Northwest suburbs on April 29, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is close to setting up another meeting, his spokesman says.

The meeting apparently will be facilitated through the Palatine Chamber of Commerce after Stroger backed out of the last meeting that was organized by Palatine village officials.

Stroger backed out, saying he thought some Palatine officials were trying to set him up by organizing it as a village meeting for their own political purposes, rather than as a public forum for Stroger to explain to suburban residents why a recent 1 percent sales tax increase was necessary.

Details of the upcoming meeting remained sketchy, but Eugene Mullins said he will submit three possible June dates for a meeting to Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin today or Wednesday.

More Coverage Links Stroger pays a visit to Hoffman Estates [05/14/08] Palatine councilman clears air over Stroger meeting [05/06/08] Cook Co. commissioner has his say over meeting [05/02/08] Stroger: Secede if you want to, but it's 'not really practical' [05/01/08] Palatine residents attend gathering despite Stroger's decision not to go [05/01/08] Palatine mayor accepts partial blame to Stroger's no-show [04/29/08] Preparing for Stroger meeting requires meetings over details [04/29/08] Editorial: Stroger to suburbs: Drop dead [05/02/08] Reader comment: Let's shut down the money machine 05/05/08] Reader comment: Goslin's no-show excuse rings hollow [05/05/08] Reader comment: Goslin: My votes were with Palatine [05/03/08] Reader comment: Peraica, Greenberg heard our voices [05/03/08] Reader comment: Stroger snub shows need for recall [05/01/08] Reader comment: Phone meeting in response to Stroger [05/01/08] Reader comment: No-show Stroger's disdain for suburbs [04/30/08]

Those, in turn, will be passed to the chamber for them to pick from, Mullins said.

But that's where the agreement between Mullins and Goslin on the upcoming meeting ends, however.

Goslin, a Glenview Republican, said Friday he was supposed to receive those dates two days ago and still is waiting for them. He also understood the meeting would be open to the public.

Mullins, however, said he thought the meeting would be a closed meeting between the president, the chamber of commerce and select business leaders the chamber invites. He said a separate public forum still was being discussed, with no set date or parameters in sight.

Goslin said he believes Mullins is simply mistaken.

"I'm not sure that he is in the loop," said Goslin.

Goslin said the chamber represents a more neutral host that will satisfy both the public's and the president's concerns.

"There will be time limits on how long people can speak," he said. "We want questions; not speeches. #8230; There will be no opening statements by anyone but the president."

"I'll hammer out the (further) details with the president," Goslin said.

Stroger's office has been vowing since the canceled meeting to set up another public forum. Thursday, May 29, will mark one month since that canceled meeting.