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Hebda intends to resign as Vernon Hills trustee after 25 years

Changes in local government in Vernon Hills will continue but, this time, it will be a long-tenured elected official saying goodbye.

There is no set date but village Trustee Cindy Hebda, who has served on the board since 1993, has her house on the market and will end her village board run likely this summer.

Hebda will move to Fishers, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis, to be closer to family. Her current board term ends next spring and the seat will be up for election.

It appears Mayor Roger Byrne will have to appoint an interim replacement.

"We just listed the house a couple of weeks ago," Hebda said. "Once we have a formal closing date, I'll submit my resignation to the board."

Hebda also is retiring after 25 years as an early childhood educator with the Vernon Hills Park District and will be feted by former students and families during a retirement party at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, at the Sullivan Community Center, 635 N. Aspen Drive.

"I hope I made a difference in the kids I taught and the community I've lived in," she said.

"We moved here to Vernon Hills in 1988. It's going to be bittersweet," added Hebda, who has been a bulldog on the appearance and design of various developments during her tenure.

She was appointed in July 1993 to fill a vacancy when then-trustee Roger Byrne was elected mayor and his seat was open. She trails only Thom Koch, who was sworn in May 4, 1993, as the board's longest serving trustee.

She has family in Carmel, Indiana, and her husband, Larry, is from Hammond. Both graduated from Purdue University so it will be a homecoming of sorts, she said.

"Life's too short. We need to enjoy the family," said Hebda, 62.

"Some people might be happy I'm going. Who knows? I think it's important for change, too. It's time to move on."

She will still be at it a bit longer in Vernon Hills and expects to return for visits. But she already is considering some form of service in her new community and has checked on the availability of spots on volunteer commissions, such as planning and zoning.

"I will miss the board, that's for sure. I do have to come back for Mellody Farm," she said of the planned opening this fall of the Whole Foods-anchored retail/residential project on the northeast corner of routes 21 and 60.

Other recent changes in town oversight has involved the requested resignation of former village Manager John Kalmar and the announced departure on May 25 of Finance Director Nikki Larson.

Hebda, Marquardt, Sanders re-elected in Vernon Hills

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