Elk Grove trustee Czarnik to retire after 32 years

After 32 years of elected service to the residents and businesses of Elk Grove Village, longtime village Trustee Nancy J. Czarnik has announced her retirement, effective during the Nov. 16 village board meeting.

Nancy first became involved in Elk Grove Village as an appointed member of the Plan Commission on April 25, 1989. When Ed Hauser resigned from the village board, Nancy was appointed to fill the opening on Nov. 14, 1989. She has been a village trustee ever since, having been elected and reelected eight times. However, her elected service is only part of the Czarnik story of service to the village.

Nancy's husband Frank Czarnik, for whom an annual college scholarship is named, was first involved as a youth sports coach with the Elk Grove Park District prior to his running for an elected opening on the park board of commissioners. At the time, Nancy was content on letting Frank work the political side as she held down a full-time position as a loan officer with what is now Chase Bank.

However, after living in Elk Grove since 1968, and relocating to her second home in town on the west side of the village, Nancy also immersed herself in village affairs.

She first served on the plan commission beginning on April 25, 1989, during the high-growth phase of the village. When the village needed a west side resident with a business mindset, Nancy was asked by Mayor Charles J. Zettek to join the village board, which she did in November 1989.

During her tenure on the village board, Nancy was involved in just about every facet of the community. Most notably, Nancy has been the village trustee representative for the Parade Committee since its inception in 1997.

"We truly wanted to do something special for the community during RotaryFest, so we started a nighttime parade that featured members of the community and professionally lighted floats," Nancy said.

While it has moved back to a daytime event, the annual parade continues to this very day, having just celebrated its 23rd anniversary during the village's recent Oktoberfest.

Nancy also co-chaired several other festivities, including the 40th Anniversary Celebration, 50th Anniversary Celebration and the village's Camelot on the Green celebration.

On the governance side, Nancy has been involved with just about every committee of the village board and has served as the village's first deputy mayor since June of 2020. She is the current chairwoman of the Capital Improvements Committee, as well as the Business Leaders Forum.

She has chaired the Health & Community Services Advisory Committee and served as a member of the Community Service board. Nancy has also chaired the Judiciary, Planning, and Zoning Committee, as well as the Personnel Committee and the Recycling and Solid Waste Committee.

Moreover, Nancy has served on the board of directors of the Joint Action Water Agency, as well as the board of directors of the now defunct TRANSPART.

Finally, Nancy has been a member of the Liquor Commission, Gaming Commission, Labor Panel, and Cable Television Committee. While doing all of this work, one of her greatest sources of pride was establishing a Community Healthy Nurse position to support the needs of the community.

"It has absolutely been my highest honor and deepest privilege to have served the residents and businesses of Elk Grove Village for the past 32 years," Nancy said.

"I am immensely grateful for having had the opportunity to do so, and appreciative of the tremendous success that we have achieved during our time. With a milestone birthday coming up at the end of October, and children/grandchildren still living in the village, I felt it best to leave office on a high-note after 32 amazing years.

"I want to thank everyone for their confidence in reelecting me and their ongoing support as we accomplished so many wonderful things for the Elk Grove community. While I plan to live in Elk Grove for many years into the future, I leave office knowing that the community is on solid ground and in good hands," she said.

"Nancy has been a voice of reason, respect, and integrity for longer than I have been on the village board," said Mayor Craig B. Johnson. "She has a strong business acumen, combined with a charming personality, that made her highly successful in accomplishing so very much during her tenure.

"The citizens of Elk Grove Village have benefitted tremendously from her work over five different decades of village service. I am personally grateful to have had her experience, advice and counsel on the village board and, while inevitable, I am personally sad to see her retire," Johnson said.

In total, Nancy Czarnik served with three mayors, 11 village trustees, and three village managers. She attended 649 village board meetings; adopted 1,859 village ordinances; and 1,989 village resolutions.

Concurrently upon the retirement of Nancy Czarnik, Mayor Johnson plans to nominate her replacement in order to maintain the governance of the village during busy and challenging times.

Mayor Johnson plans to nominate resident Tammy K. Miller to the board of trustees with the village board's concurrence, which would be effective Nov. 16. The intended appointment came about as Tammy is no stranger to local government in Elk Grove Village.

Born and raised in Nebraska, Tammy and her family moved to Elk Grove Village in 2000 when her husband, Clark, an architect, relocated to the Chicago area for his company.

Tammy holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Prior to coming to Elk Grove, Tammy spent 18 years with the Omaha Public Schools as an educator, coach and administration extern.

Until her retirement in 2019, Tammy held various positions at the Elk Grove Park District, including facility manager of the Hattendorf Center, Farmhouse Museum, Skate Park and recreation manager. Tammy was promoted to director of Leisure Services in 2005.

Moreover, Tammy has worked on several committees involving other governmental agencies, including the village, the library, local school districts and other governmental organizations. She has been an active member of the Community Character Coalition since 2003.

Finally, Tammy has served as a Sunday school teacher, Worship Committee member, church council member, and chairwoman of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee of the Prince of Peace United Methodist Church in Elk Grove Village.

"Tammy Miller has a tremendous background and successful record of accomplishment in the village for over two decades. Her unique combination of education, skills, experiences, and can-do attitude make her an exceptionally strong candidate for the village board," Johnson said.

"We are truly honored to have someone of her caliber available to us as Nancy retires and we continue with a legacy of success in the village."

"I am personally humbled and honored to follow Nancy Czarnik as a village trustee," Tammy said. "Elk Grove Village has been my home for the past 21 years. I raised my family here and I love the community and all it has to offer.

"Overall, I am grateful to be a part of the Elk Grove team, and we are excited for the new opportunities in front of us."

On the personal side, Tammy and Clark have three grown children and four grandchildren. Currently, Tammy works part time at That's Caring, a socially responsible gift basket company in Elk Grove Village. Tammy said that she intends to run for election when the term she is filling expires in April 2023.