Patricia (Pat) Schuberg: 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: ElburnWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Elburn Village Board Age: 57Family: Married for 32 years to Mark, two grown sons Chris and Josh. Our oldest was just married this past June.Occupation: Publisher's representative/College Textbook SalesEducation: BA Psychology from Bethel University, MBA from Aurora UniversityCivic involvement: I have had the honor of serving on the Elburn Planning Commission as both member and Chairperson from 1997 to 2013 and as a Village of Elburn Trustee from 2013 to present.Elected offices held: Elburn Planning Commission, Village of Elburn TrusteeQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I've had the honor serving the Village of Elburn for nearly 20 years"â#128;ťfirst on the Planning Commission as a Commissioner and as Chairperson, and over the past four years as a Trustee. I have also volunteered for Cub Scouts Pack 107 and Troop 7 Boy Scouts (both sons are Eagle Scouts), Youth Baseball and Softball, Friends of the Library and Therapy Dog International. Elburn is not just "where I hang my hat""â#128;ťit is also where I am passionately committed. As a Trustee, it is critical to analyze and evaluate issues to understand how it may affect a resident and/or business owner today and long term. I strive to look at the big picture so I can make wise decisions. Since the board sets an overall strategic direction and Village staff carries out policies, I believe it is crucial to remember the community as a whole and not promote a personal agenda. Professionally, I have over 25 years of sales, marketing and consulting experience. The experience, combined with my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bethel University and an MBA from Aurora University, makes me an ideal candidate for Village Trustee.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.First, property taxes are high for homeowners"â#128;ťnot only in Elburn but neighboring communities as well. Our property tax bill contains a laundry list of taxing districts such as the Fire and Library, Waubonsee Community College, Kane County, Blackberry or Campton Townships (depending on where you live), Kaneland School District and the Village of Elburn. The Village of Elburn's portion is 5% of the total"â#128;ťequaling about $150 per year for an average $150,000 house"â#128;ťabout $.75 per day. For less than a local cup of coffee we as residents have village services provided such as maintenance of streets, public places, staff for public works, police, water departments and much more. The second part of the question is sales tax. The percentage collected in Elburn is 7% and it is lower than our neighboring communities. While other neighboring towns are considering increasing their sales tax or imposing additional taxes, such as restaurant use tax, Elburn will remain at our current level for the foreseeable future. To change the tax rate will require voter approval on a referendum question.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?The Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District is a separate governmental entity from the Village. They serve the Villages of Elburn, Virgil, Lily Lake, Campton Hills, Mill Creek and other subdivisions. These men and women do a tremendous job in times of crisis.The Elburn Police department is effective but challenged with scheduling shifts using both full and part time officers. State mandates and the police union dictate how schedules can be filled. Many times this results in overtime hours impacting the budget. In a perfect world, we would have a force comprised of a majority of full time officers. While it is difficult to "right size" a department, the process is doable but requires balancing both full time and part time. One can be certain the next decade will usher in new policies and procedures designed for the safety of the community and officers alike. Elburn has processes in place to remain up to date and compliant with state statutes. Although we may feel we are far removed from the Chicago-urban area, we are more connected than we may recognize. The Metra Train line is a very real connection. For example, when the Cubs victory parade was scheduled, the Elburn Police and Public Works staff jointly managed the throngs using Metra with very few complaints and incident. Our Elburn Chief of Police is"â#128;ťand needs to be"â#128;ťconnected to the wider state levels of Policing.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Let's first agree there is rarely enough money to do all the things one wants to do"â#128;ťthis is a universal truth whether it is a personal household or government budget. The Village budget is no different. Some incoming revenues can be used for day-to-day needs, whiles others are earmarked and locked for certain areas. For instance, water and sewer revenues can only be used for operating, maintaining and paying for the updated Waste Water Treatment Plant. Another of the revenue categories, Motor Fuel tax, can only be used for roadways.Although the day-to-day needs of the Village are met, there are capital improvement projects that will demand large dollar amounts. One example is improvements to the storm water system in the older portions of Elburn. If there were a budget area that doesn't get enough money allocated, it would be long-term capital. Capital line items can fund the example above or bring fiber optic throughout the community. There is a balance between budgets for the day-to-day needs vs saving for the longer term, bigger capital expense items. Unless there is an increase in revenue from the State, additional sales tax, more residents, or successful searches for funding grants, we will need to continue our budgeting process as it is today"â#128;ťwhich is living within our means and saving a little bit each year for future projects.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would like to see an Explore Elburn mobile app tied to a mobile friendly website, both geared to improving resident engagement. This app and site should be easy to navigate as well as a point of communication-- upcoming events, a way for the community to ask non-emergency questions and or express an idea/need. It would not replace weather and emergency warning systems, but be a central point to receive notifications.Community applications (app for short) are becoming standard procedure for connecting with residents. Some apps are grown out of a Chamber of Commerce to promote area businesses; other mobile apps are focused on fire/emergency districts so residents are better prepared. At a minimum the Village of Elburn website should be updated and modernized. Yes, lots of information is on the web site. However, when a resident has a question they need an easy way to find the answer. We need to continue to find ways to connect with the community and increase resident engagement.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I think a lot about why a resident or business should choose Elburn. My family moved to Elburn 25 years ago for an improved quality of life. Other residents may have moved here more recently, perhaps for the Metra connection to Chicago. A common attraction is the friendly atmosphere, wide-open spaces, and sense of community. These attributes are just a few of those often sited when residents are asked what they like about our town. Businesses will share similar feedback for why they chose Elburn"â#128;ťopen spaces, community, affordability, and "quality of life". As Elburn grows, how do we maintain these qualities? We need to encourage community and places for individuals to connect. We have wonderful active organizations such as the Library, Lions Club, Youth activities, and more! The Economic Development Commission and Chamber of Commerce are both strong advocates for the business community. I'm excited for the new Park Commission and the recreation ideas to be developed for all ages. The Village Board needs to be forward looking and help establish an even more cohesive community.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Leaders are passionate and bring out the best in others. John Elway, former Denver Broncos (my team!) quarterback, exhibits leadership on and off the field.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Be kind to others no matter whom they are. We may never know know what another person is going through.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would like to travel more both here and abroad. There are so many places I would visit within a days drive, weekend and longer.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subject and degree is in Psychology, where I learned to listen effectively and understand othersIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be confident in your ability to make good decisions and to stand up for your beliefs.