One last time for Palatine mayor, councilman

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins has banged her gavel to start more than 700 Monday night village council meetings since 1989.

Mullins hit the gavel one final time Monday, closing out her final full meeting as mayor. While she'll begin the May 4 meeting seated at her customary post, later that night she'll give way to Mayor-elect Jim Schwantz, who defeated her earlier this month in the election.

Mullins, who also served as clerk from 1981 to 1989, thanked the staff and her fellow council members. She seemed on the cusp of tears several times during the meeting.

"We did have a few disagreements, as I'm sure they were very public, but afterwards we went and made up, you know," Mullins said. "I wouldn't say kissed and made up, but we made up. We worked very, very well together, and Palatine has come a long way."

District 1 Councilman Michael Jezierski found himself in a similar situation after the meeting adjourned. Voters elected Aaron Del Mar to replace him, ending Jezierski's tenure on the council that started in 1993.

"Most of all I thank the residents of Palatine for giving me the privilege to serve them for these 18 years, and it has definitely been my privilege to serve each and every one of you," he said.

The village council voted Monday to rename Palatine's Volunteer Plaza at the corner of Northwest Highway and Hicks Road to "Rita L. Mullins Volunteer Plaza." The also voted to dub the board room at the future fire station on North Quentin Road the "Michael E. Jezierski Meeting Room." The station could open next year.

Meanwhile Mullins shared dozens of hugs and thank yous. Resident Carol Brandt led a line of women who dropped flowers in a vase standing in front of Mullins' council seat, saying the flowers "represent the many, many, many seeds you have planted in the road to make Palatine the community it is today."

Mullins also read from three red envelopes given to her in 1989 by former-Mayor Bob Guss. The envelopes, which were unopened, were filled with advice on how to be mayor during a crisis. The first envelope read, "Blame the past administration"; the second read, "Blame the staff"; and the third read, "Make three envelopes." Mullins said she planned on offering Schwantz her own envelopes with advice.

Meeting: Mullins finally reads advice from former mayor