Mount Prospect candidates discuss downtown, village's finances at forum

Mount Prospect's downtown area and the village's finances were among the topics candidates for seats on the village board debated Saturday morning.

Six of the seven trustee hopefuls running in the April 7 election participated in the forum at village hall. On hand were: incumbents A. John Korn, Paul William Hoefert and Richard Rogers; and challengers John Dyslin, Colleen Saccotelli and Kevin Nohelty.

Challenger Kevin Grouwinkel didn't attend.

The 90-minute forum was organized by a League of Women Voters group for the Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Buffalo Grove area. About 50 people packed the board room hear the candidates' answers to questions they wrote on index cards and gave to a moderator.

Of the six candidates, Dyslin was the most critical of the current village board members, their policies and their actions. He complained that Mount Prospect's downtown area is not thriving as well as those in Arlington Heights, Palatine, Park Ridge or Des Plaines and called for zoning-law changes that could encourage development.

He also called for "fresh new leadership" on the board.

Nohelty had a similar message, saying the board needs trustees who "don't accept the status quo." He said the board should eliminate the assistant village manager's position as a way to save $175,000 annually.

The third challenger, Saccotelli, said she wants to improve government communication with residents and expressed concern about public-safety staffing levels.

Saccotelli also suggested sending residents their water bills digitally as a way to reduce paper and postage costs.

Rogers, who was appointed to the board two years ago, was among the candidates who voiced significant concern about the revenue cuts proposed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

"We can't afford to cut additional people," Rogers said. "There's no fat on the bone at this point."

Hoefert called those cuts - which could total a few million dollars in Mount Prospect - "devastating" to the village.

At one point, the candidates were asked about the village's $6.5 million settlement of a federal racketeering lawsuit filed by the owner of the now-closed Ye Olde Town Inn. Whereas Saccotelli pressed for more information about the settlement deal, Hoefert and other incumbents cited a clause that limits what they can say about the matter.

"I wish I could talk to you about this," he told the crowd. "Because I could tell you stories."

Korn said his 10 years as a trustee make him a good candidate. He also cited his accessibility to the public, inviting anyone to stop by his house to talk.

"I'm very easy to find," Korn said. "I'm not hiding anyplace."