Pulse: Precedent there for marathon forest preserve meeting
December 9, 2012 10:18PM
Father Ray Lescher, Pastor Sacred Heart Church, writes a note for John Scheidt as he and latino groups protest trade council support for immigrant detention center proposed for Crete outside the Will County Carpenters Local 174 Welfare & Pension Funds offices in Joliet, Illinois, Monday, May 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: January 11, 2013 6:07AM
Will the Will County Forest Preserve District Board see a repeat of the marathon meeting that gripped the county board back in 1972?
Both Joe Babich, D-Joliet, and Don Gould, R-Shorewood, will seek the post of president in Monday’s reorganization meeting. But the board is tied with 13 Democrats and 13 Republicans, so it could be deadlocked.
In 1972, the county board met for more than 10 hours and took 101 votes to try to select a chairman. The board wasn’t tied then, but three candidates ran and none could get a 14-vote
majority.
According to Herald-News archives, 12 Democrats supported Lockport attorney Stephen Luzbetak. Republicans split their votes between Roy Hassert and Bob Weidling. Finally, a compromise led to the creation of a vice chairman position for Weidling and Hassert was elected.
Stay healthy
What’s Charles Connor, former Joliet mayor and former Will County chief judge, doing these days? Keeping his sense of humor for one thing.
Connor attended last week’s ceremony to mark the opening of the remodeled Joliet council chambers and remarked to Mayor Thomas Giarrante, “I am the only surviving ex-mayor. This is a short-lived occupation, so enjoy it.”
Later, Connor, who was mayor from 1987 to 1991, was asked what he thought of the new chambers. He said it was more spacious, more modern, and, “I hope the council has improved with the chambers.”
Union town?
The Rev. Ray Lescher, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Joliet, has joined causes trying to get better pay for workers at Walmart and local warehouses. So, he knows something about local workers and unions.
When he spoke to the Joliet City Council last week and objected to the possibility of a privately run, nonunion immigration detention center being brought to the city, Lescher made this observation about Joliet and unions: “Everytime I hear someone say Joliet prides itself on being a union town, I ask what part of the last century they’re talking about.”
Smile, you’re on county camera
Why were Will County Board Republicans 15 minutes late to the start of the Dec. 3 board reorganization meeting? They were in a caucus talking about board rules but also about the board seating chart and cable TV etiquette.
Newly elected board member Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, said she didn’t like sitting in “Siberia.” So Republican Caucus Chairman Jim Moustis,
R-Frankfort, moved her to the front.
Then he warned other new board members to be careful about their personal grooming habits during meetings because the cable TV cameras catch everything.
“Don’t be talking on the phone and texting and twirling your hair,” he said.
Don’t fall asleep, either, Moustis, a 20-year board veteran, warned, but he then admitted, “I think I might have dozed off a couple of times.”
Cindy Wojdyla Cain and Bob Okon contributed to Pulse.
