Jerry Glogowski: 2021 candidate for Algonquin village trustee

Four candidates running for three, 4-year terms.

Bio

Town: Algonquin

Age: No response provided

Occupation: Retired, formerly worked for Siemens

Civic involvement: Algonquin village trustee; active member of the Algonquin Lions Club since 2003 and served two years as Lions President; member of the McHenry County Environmental Defenders since 2005; currently serve on the Environmental Defenders Transportation Committee

Q&A

Q. How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?

A. As an elected official we are responsible to address with Board of Health Department(s) and as Algonquin is in two counties, both McHenry and Kane Counties have to be communicated with in order to obtain information, that we can inform our residents on the process to register and to keep our residents informed as the state (we) move forward. The state process has been slow at first and is improving and trust we will be allocated to have more vaccines soon for our residents. We also work to help out our businesses to succeed during these troubled times and had received $350,000 in grant monies that we distributed to our local businesses that had qualified.

Q. Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A. I feel we have moved in the right direction to continue serving our residents during these disruptive times. We had minimal disruptions with staff and our Police and Public Works departments, by scheduling into smaller groups making sure if anyone would become ill that we would have minimal disruptions, to continue our high quality services throughout our Village day to day operations. We have initiated virtual inspections for certain permit inspections and allowing staff to implement a work at home policy when possible.

Q. In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A. The guidelines we have in place are working well and staff is continuously reviewing if we can do better. And if we can what measures need to be in place so we can achieve these goals. Algonquin has had flooding issues that we continue to work on and to have a viable plan, that has worked in years past. We also need to prepare for other emergency situations and that our staff carries out the necessary training for our workers and keeping our residents informed.

Q. What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A. We had put our Financial Resiliency Plan into place cutting about $1.4 million dollars from our budget. And we were able to recoup some of the costs from the CARES act. We will continue to streamline our services and expenses were possible to insure our budget is balanced.

Q. What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?

A. The completion of the Waste Water Treatment Plant improvements/upgrades that are being made in our downtown to the water and sewer lines. Algonquin has been fiscally responsible for many years since I have been on the Board and we are in good financial shape that we can continue on with the infrastructure plans scheduled. Staff does prioritize these projects and bring to the Board for approval which is based on the immediate and/or planned needs moving any project forward

Q. Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?

A. The McHenry County and Kane County Health Departments are responsible to enforce the governor's order to restrict or close a business

Q. Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board/council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A. Currently we do not allow recreational sales of marijuana.

Q. What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A. Algonquin has been a leader in both McHenry and Kane Counties yet I would like to see us develop a better communication to promote the many various parks and recreation areas that we have available to our residents as well as the water and open space issues within our community.