Palatine Village Council Bids Farewell to Del Mar, Welcomes New Members

The proverbial changing of the guard occurred for the Palatine Village Council at its meeting Monday night.

Newly elected Councilman Tim Millar was sworn in, along with incumbents Mayor Jim Schwantz, Clerk Marg Duer, and Councilmen Greg Solberg and Brad Helms.

Outgoing District 1 Councilman Aaron Del Mar also was officially thanked for his service to the village over the last four years.

“During Aaron’s tenure, we have been able to reduce staff while maintaining village services,” said Mayor Jim Schwantz. “We had back-to-back reduction in levies, maintained our bond rating, and were able to construct a new police headquarters on time and under budget-our new fire station in District 1 has reduced response times for our residents.”

Schwantz also mentioned the new TIF district and its surplus of more than $10 million, in addition to the strong advocacy that Del Mar gave to the Brentwood subdivision.

“Aaron worked tirelessly to widen the burn zone to Brentwood Estates, and under his leadership, the forest preserve district and the Palatine Fire Department worked together,” Schwantz said.

Del Mar then shared some words of his own.

“It’s been a phenomenal four years; village staff has done a tremendous job,” Del Mar said. “I’d like to thank all the voters that put me into office, my mom and dad, and my three children for giving up their dad on Monday nights.”

Del Mar went on to say that he had a great experience, and learned alot.

“Monday nights will now be about Bulls games and Monday night football with my kids,” he said.

“My three children and my parents were with me when this started and there are still here with me now,” Del Mar said.

After a resolution was presented to Del Mar by Schwantz, the swearing in ceremony took place.

Millar, the sole newcomer to the council, is the outgoing/former president of the District 15 school board, and said he decided to get into local government after having a land issue and reaching out to then Councilman Jim Wilson-who encouraged him to get involved.

“I’m looking at creating an even stronger environment for small business owners-whatever we can do to encourage them with all of the taxes and fees they encounter,” Millar said.

Millar said other challenges he expects the council will have to deal with, will depend on what the State of Illinois plans to do with shifting sales tax, which would put an even larger financial burden on municipalities.