How Would the Candidates Change the Way Village Government Functions?

Editor's Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles Lake Zurich Patch will provide about Village Board candidates' views on key issues within the village. All five candidates were given a questionnaire and had the same amount of time to prepare and submit their answers. Their answers are presented in their own words. The order of their responses will rotate with each article so that each candidate is fairly represented.

Five candidates are seeking to fill five available posts on the Lake Zurich Village Board in the Tuesday, April 5 consolidated election. 

Incumbent Tom Poynton and former Mayor John Tolomei are running as independents. Mark Ernst, Dana Rzeznik and Jennifer Talley are running as part of the LZ Vision party along with incumbent Kathleen Johnson, who is running unopposed for village clerk.

Following are their answers, in their own words, to the question:

What, if anything, would you change about how the village government functions?

Mark Ernst

The biggest change is how we deliver services. Currently each neighboring village has its own village services such as police, public works, and building departments, etc. There is a significant cost for providing those services on an individual community basis because of infrastructure, management, and minimum staffing necessity.

The current economic condition may provide the incentive to look beyond the border of each individual community and look at the delivery of services on a region-wide basis.  This can provide for better utilization of resources, eliminating duplication and achieving economies of scale. We currently do this with the Lake Zurich Rural Fire Department why not follow that similar model for other services? This will take flexibility, cooperation and political will.

Tom Poynton

I would speed up the processes. It is too cumbersome and often too slow.

Dana Rzeznik

Because of the tough economic situation, the village is facing very tough decisions. The residents should be informed and more involved in helping make the difficult decisions.

Jennifer Talley

Looking from the outside in, I feel the current board is not always focused on what is important. We need a board with a good mix of qualifications, backgrounds and people who can work together as well as work well with the staff to make things happen.  Items brought up at the meetings often sit on the agenda for long periods of time before decisions are made.

John Tolomei

I believe that more information could be given to help residents through the village building permit process and to insure that the same inspector is assigned to projects to insure complete consistency in reviews and inspections.