Village Trustee Janine Witko Responds to Former Mayor

I’ve been involved with the Village of Morton Grove under three Village Presidents. I was appointed to the Economic Development Commission by Rick Krier, to the Plan Commission/ Zoning Board of Appeals by Dan Staackmann, and to the Village Board by Mayor DiMaria. I respect anyone willing to put his or her time and effort into our Village. That said, I take issue with a few inaccuracies published by Dan Staackmann.

Four years ago, we, the Action Party, promised to make economic development a top priority. There wasn't an Economic Development Director in place, just as there was no plan in place to attract and retain businesses. As promised, we invested in Morton Grove with marketing strategies and bought the property at Dempster and the Metra tracks; this let us "control our destiny".

Two of the most recognizable businesses that invested in Morton Grove are Audi of Morton Grove and Moretti’s Ristorante. Mayor DiMaria was instrumental in attracting each valuable business. Gary McGrath was quoted as saying, "Mayor DiMaria was pivotal in our decision to relocate to Morton Grove. He has a long-term vision to bring more businesses to the Village and has the energy to make it happen.” Mark Hoffman, owner of Ala Carte Entertainment, said “To be honest with you, the reason Moretti’s and Ala Carte Entertainment is coming to Morton Grove is because of the progressive vision of Mayor DiMaria and the Board to improve the quality of life in Morton Grove. He is very passionate and cares very much about his constituents and the future of Morton Grove.” Long-term economic development takes time and cooperation by all parties; continuity in Village government is vital at this time. Our goal is always to attract businesses to maintain or lower our taxes while improving quality of life.

Fiscal responsibility does not mean cutting and eliminating key items and staff. Four years ago, the previous administration cut staffing to the point of inefficiency. More importantly, some services, including code enforcement and a social worker, were also cut. We now have "right sized" our staff and brought back social services. We also have contributed more to the pensions than legally required. Under Mayor DiMaria’s administration, we have contributed $19.4 million to fund our pensions, 22% more than Dan Staackmann’s administration. We made a promise to our employees and we are keeping it! We have put the right people in place. We are proud to say that in the past four years, our village debt has gone down $7 million, while our fund balance has gone up $2.5 million, all while increasing pension contributions and maintaining excellent services. These sound fiscal actions have enhanced our long-term financial outlook.

Financial responsibility means strategically planning for the Village’s long term core needs. To that end, under the vision of the Village Board and the leadership of Mayor DiMaria, we have partnered with the Village of Niles to purchase Lake Michigan water from Evanston. Not only will this stabilize our water rates, we estimate a savings over 40 years of $100 million dollars; funds which will be used to upgrade our aging infrastructure.

When one objectively looks at the facts and not fictitious, negative allegations and half-truths, it is plain to see that the Village of Morton Grove is in better shape today than it was four years ago in many ways. I am proud of our village and the exciting things that the future will bring. I am proud of our accomplishments and know there is still much work to do. I am thankful to serve alongside a Village President who keeps his promises and is dedicated to moving our incredibly close and amazingly open village forward. Continuity in governance and leadership is critical to maintain our progress. I ask that our team be honored by your vote and your support so that we can continue to improve the village for four more years.