Jeff Pruyn: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: ItascaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Itasca Village President (4-year Term)Age: 48Family: Married, Wife Kristi 2 Children Austin 19 Andrew 16Occupation: CPAEducation: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of NebraskaCivic involvement: Itasca Lions Club 1993 to Present Commissioner Itasca Plan Commission 1993-1995Elected offices held: Village President 2009-Present Village Trustee 1995-2009Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Elgin O'Hare Western Access Tollway - This new tollway will have a impact on the Village of Itasca since the roadway will traverse a good portion of the Village's Northern section. Present plans show that this tollway will be elevated nearly 25 ft above the exsisting grade from I-290 to the Village's eastern boundary near Salt Creek. Over the upcoming months we are going to have to work with the Tollway officials to see what can be done to make this roadway as aesthetically pleasing as possible in addition to limiting its impact on nearby residential areas. Also to provide the most economic benefits to the region, we will need to continue lobbying State, Federal and City of Chicago officials to provide true western access to the airport.Key Issue 2 O'Hare Modernization Program - In October 2013 O'Hare plans on opening a new runway 10 Center 27 Center. This new runway will increase the number of flights over Itasca as the Airport begins to operate on a more east west flight pattern as the OMP is implemented. The Village in cooperation with the O'Hare Noise Compatibilty Commission will need to continue to monitor airplane noise levels in the Village and to continue to pursue ways that noise impacts to residents can be improved.Key Issue 3 Impacs of State of Illinois Financial problems on Village - a great concern at this time is what sacrafices the Village of Itasca will incur as the State addresses its large deficits. Any reductions in the our income tax allocations or sales tax could impact residents and businesses with new taxes or reductions in service levels.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?As Itasca's Village President for the past four years I have interacted extensively with officials from the Tollway, IDOT, Chicago Department of Aviation, and ONCC regarding the Elgin O'Hare Western Access and O'Hare Modernization projects. I have a very good understanding of the impacts these projects will have on our residents and businesses.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I think it is just right. The Village is in a good financial position now as our finances have improved enough to allow us to be able to start investing in capital improvements again after taking several years off.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.Where Stop Signs and other traffic control devices should be placed throughout the community, and the process for residents to request a traffic control device at a particular intersection. The Village is currently updating its stop sign policy in order to have a clear policy on the criteria for determining if a sign is warranted, and establishing procedures for sign requests.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Budgets can always be trimmed, however with all the cutting done in the past few years any further cuts would affect the level of services the Village provides. If needed in the short term the Village could postpone capital improvements to help balance the budget.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I believe the time has come for intergovernmental bodies coming together and starting the discussion on areas that services or equipment can be shared. Recently several Itasca taxing bodies came together and worked cooperatively to rehab our Historical Train Depot. This is a project which most likely would not have been accomplished without this intergovernmental cooperation.