Barbara Williams: Vernon Hills Trustee Candidate

Name: Barbara J. Williams

Age:  69

Family: Widow; Daughter, Cindy; son-in-law Dan; 2 grandsons, Luke and Jack

Education: BA- Business Administration

Occupation: Location Manager – First Student

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices :

Village of Vernon Hills - Planning and Zoning Committee 1980-1981

Village Trustee – Village of Vernon Hills- 1981-1989

President 1989-1993 - Village of Vernon Hills

Lake County Reginald Development Commission - Member then Chairman 1994-1996

Village Trustee –Village of Vernon Hills -2001-present

Served on the Illinois Municipal League Legislative Committee - 1985-1993

Other community involvement: Christ Lutheran Church

Position sought: Village Trustee

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Why are you running? 

There are a few more items I would like to see completed, such as the renovation of the Mall, The Housing development on Rt. 45, The completion of the Tiff District at RT45 and Route 21

In what ways would the village benefit from your service?

My knowledge, experience and understandings of the past developments and how it relates to our success of developing one of the most beautiful Villages in Lake Country is very important. In making sure that the village is maintained in a way that preserves our way of lift. My understanding of the workings of government helps me to do the job that I feel the people want.

To not just maintain our way of life but to enhance it.

We have a beautiful Village and will work to make sure it stay’s that way.

What is the biggest challenge the village faces and what should be done to address it?

Right now we are busy trying to revitalize the mall and bring in new stores. We are working with the developers in the corporate parks. These two issues are very import to our residents. If we do not make sure that the business can produce enough revenue to support our budgets, that burden will fall on the shoulders of the people and no one wants that.

We are always trying to improve not just Vernon Hills but things out side our boundaries that affect us. Such as the extension of Route 53, the wielding of state route 45 from 83 south/east down to state route 21.

What do you think the village does well?

Planning, both in how to off set any and all lose revenue cuts from the state.

And providing the things that the people of town want.

The first item I have already talked about the second one is our long range planning. Finding out what the people want and then finding a way to provide it. Over the years such things as The Post Office, The High School, The senior building off of Deerpath, The library to name a few. Of course the list would be missing a large Jewel if I did not mention The Vernon Hills Athletic Complex.

Our long range plans do not just happen over night. They take time to come about.

Right now we are busy trying to revitalize the mall and bring in new stores. We are working with the developers in the corporate parks. These two issues are very import to our residents. If we do not make sure that the business can produce enough revenue to support our budgets, that burden will fall on the shoulders of the people.

What should be some of the village’s priorities over the next four years? 

I think my answer above to the question of “What is the biggest challenge the village faces and what should be done to address it?”

What else would you like voters to know?

I have always had a strong feeling for the Seniors and Youth of the community.

The youth are being pulled apart by drugs. Not just Pot but the drug Heroin. This horrible drug is killing our kids. It’s ruining their lives. I would like for us to come up with a place for young and older teens to go to. A place they can be safe to just go play games listen to music or just be. Not something the park district has but some place by its self, maybe an empty store some where. This would take a lot of work on all of our parts. It’s not going to work without the help and work of a lot of people. We all have to take an interest in what is going on in their lives.