Candidate Thilliens should fit right in with the do nothings in Springfield.

Think what could have been. Had the Park Board been just content to replace the pools as is I’m sure the savings would have been considerable. Then you have the funds to do “the many things out there the public wants.” And for all the parents out there concerned about child safety there’s nothing better than having two retention pounds in a park close to two schools. $600,000 over budget, a proposed 2.8% tax hike, what’s next increased community center fees ? Yes Mel will get my vote for his recreational expertise fiscal vision and enlightened thinking.

Will Thillens have to disclose his tax return for this election? If yes, won’t the public be able to find out how much money he made from the Taste of Park Ridge? He may have to explain how much profit he made from a government contract too, in addition to the items you mention above?

EDITOR’S NOTE: We don’t believe disclosure of one’s tax return is required of state rep candidates.

But this doesn’t even have to get to personal profit. We’re every bit as concerned, if not more, about his bad judgment and his pandering tax-borrow-and-spend political philosophy. But that’s solely as a Park District official because, frankly, we don’t expect him to be any more of a Madigan tool than Marty Moylan already is.

Thillens is portraying himself as the ultimate volunteer (“I put my hand in the air”) as if that alone qualifies him to represent us on the Park Board or in Springfield no matter what public policies he believes in. That’s messed up.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As we’ve noted before, too many people find it too easy to mistake activity for achievement.

Isn’t Dick Barton backing Thillens? Didn’t Barton back Frimark and Ryels against Schmidt? Didn’t Barton do p.r. for the Youth Campus Park? Didn’t Barton do p.r. for the last D-64 tax increase referendum?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Barton backed Frimark and Ryles, and did p.r. for the Youth Campus Park referendum group Our Parks Legacy. We don’t know if he did p.r. for the D-64 2007 tax increase referendum, or whether he is supporting Thillens – although he was photographed at Thillens’ recent announcement of his candidacy.

To bad for Mel it will be more than just Park Ridge that will have to vote for him. If it were only Park Ridge he would be a shoe in. His positions and actions seem to match the majority of PR voters (please note I said majority, not ALL). These folks have no problem spending and even borrowing to get the things they feel they “need” but demand cuts on things they have no use for. Mel seems to fit in just fine.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re betting even Thillens doesn’t really believe your central point, otherwise he wouldn’t have been so opposed to putting the new Centennial water park to referendum – or worked so hard to pass the Youth Campus referendum even though it had no organized opposition.

I thought you didn’t get involved in politics beyond Park Ridge’s borders? So why are you writing about the state rep race?

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re writing about the difference between Candidate Thillens and Commissioner Thillens, and warning our readers about the possibility/likelihood that the former will control the latter between now and November 2014.

Here’s a laugher. You’d think this guy was some sort of dyed in the wool fiscal conservative taught those values done the day he popped out of his Mom and into this world. Geez.

Can Mel, or those pushing him on us as a fiscal conservative really think people are so stupid??

http://www.vote4mel.com/

EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again, our only concern is how he conducts himself as a Park Commissioner between now and next November.

His job as Park Commissioner is done. Centennial Park is destroyed, the taxpayers of Park Ridge are in debt for projects that will never cover the cost. Isn’t it time for him to run and hide from his decisions and support of costly projects. Have we seen this act before in Park Ridge ? Who can forget Emerson School, the uptown TIF, lead by the the quickly disappering past City Manager. The die has been cast and now we live with the costly consequences.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We suspect his job as Park Commissioner will continue, if only because Moylan is the local Combine’s candidate, meaning he’s a favorite of the Maine Twp. Republicans under the leadership of Bob Provenzano and Carol Teschky.

Emerson Middle School was the product of the brought-in-to-make-it-happen Supt. Fred Schroeder, but the TIF was indeed the product of the not-missed city mgr. Tim Schuenke. The discredit for the no-referendum Centennial goes to the Park District’s bureaucrat supreme, Director Gayle Mountcastle, with Thillens simply being one of several rubber-stamp board members.

While I applaud the principle of only being concerned about Mel’s local antics, especially how he conducts himself on the park board, but consider that whoever wins the 55th district may also have a vote in whatever “solution” to the pension crisis Madigan puts forth. And THAT may have a significant effect on all our property tax bills.

EDITOR’S NOTE: C’mon, FWT, do you really believe Thillens can be a “solution” to any problem of any type at any level?

In as duplicitous a way as he possibly can . Nice you are calling him on it .

Mr. Thillens is nothing more than a self-serving blowhard. How could any of those republicans be seen with him at his announcement of his run for office.

The state of Illinois is on the path to a financial crisis and Mr. Thillens is clearly not the person to try to turn this state’s finances around. He has with the TOPR folks taken money from the taxpayers of PR, racked up $20,000,000 of new debt at the park district, failed in his responsibility to all the taxpayers of PR by heading up a lobbying organization to get the $13,200,000 Youth Campus referendum through, destroyed a highly used beautiful park, voted to built a limited use $7,700,000 outdoor waterpark that will never make money, and supported a PD administrator whose only goal is to pad her resume at PR taxpayer expense so she can move on and get another job making more money.

There is probably a joke in here that this list of accomplishments makes Mr. Thillens qualified to work in Springfield. But it is time for the voters of Illinois to wake up and vote for candidates who can make a difference and fix the unsustainable pension benefit. Why does the Illinois Republican party think Mel Thillens is the right candidate? Have they not looked at the damage he has done in PR on the PRPD board and with TOPR?

Since Mr. Thillens will be very busy trying to shake the Etch-a-sketch and rebrand himself as someone who is fiscally responsible, he should step down immediately from the PRPD board and let another PR taxpayer fill the remainder of his term.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For the past 20 years, half of the Illinois Republican Party has been too busy obsessed with abortion while the other half has been too busy cutting deals with the Madiganocrats. So they’ll take almost anybody who steps up, which Thillens did.

PubDog, my point was: No, he probably can’t. So while you’re admirably focused on Thillens’ local profligacy, don’t overlook the damage he could do if elected to office in Springfield.

EDITOR’S NOTE: More damage than Madigan puppet Moylan?

Six of one; half dozen of the other.

EDITOR’S NOTE: On the other hand, for those of us who believe reform can’t come to Illinois so long as the Prince of Darkness remains House Speaker, electing a majority of Republicans – no matter how inept or duplicitous they might be – appears to be the only way to retire Mr. 666 from the speakership.

In a non-related reference to the premise of the this article, I have to ask:
“Friends of the Park”, how did Centennial Park get ‘destroyed’? Is it the big slide in your way? Are you mad you can’t go down the snowhill this winter?

You can argue about the cost or the way it was handled, but you really show your lunacy when you constantly throw comments like that out there. “Destroyed”???????

Since it’s related to the above:
In Yoots Campus news, we have Commissioner John Bennett voting AGAINST the development, because he wants single-family homes there. Not sure if he was around in April, when the voters said what they wanted CLEARLY. What a waste of time. What’s scary is, these commissioners have power. This just shows how odd they are.

And of course equally strange is Alderman Smith who said that we should go play in the forest instead of building the Youth Campus Park, because the forest has “tremendous recreational resources.” I bet they do.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Friends can speak for him/her/them-self/selves, but here’s our take on it:

A lot of mature trees were removed and grassy areas are being paved over. That’s a substantial change which some people could reasonably characterize as having “destroyed” the “park” element.

If you’ve been watchning the Planning & Zoning Commission, or reading its minutes, you shouldn’t be surprised by Mr. Bennett’s comments or his vote. But since the Park District’s plan was approved, what are you beefing about besides Bennett?

Finally, irrespective of Smitty’s affinity for the “forest,” he effectively elected himself thanks to the apathetic residents of the Third Ward, about whom we wrote in our 04.06.11 election post:

At the very top of the “You suck!” list are the residents of the 3rd Ward, who couldn’t even produce a legitimate petition-filing candidate to actually appear on the ballot. If this were truly a “just” system, you 3rd Ward derelicts would go unrepresented for the next four years. But because justice appears to run second to mercy in our system, you will be represented by write-in candidate Jim Smith.

PW—–>I was really hoping you’d have an article about Alderman Dan Knight’s article about the TIF.

Isn’t it huge news to suggest a special tax increase in the City of Park Ridge? We are very interested in your thoughts.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tomorrow or Wednesday.

While I agree that getting rid of speaker Madigan is step one in the process of bringing necessary change in Springfield, the Republican Party is taking a step backward when they putting forth a candidate like Mel Thillens. His actions on the park board demonstrate he is an arrogant blowhard supporting wasteful government spending.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If nobody runs against Thillens in the Republican primary, you’ll have to choose between him and Moyligan (Moylan + Madigan = Moyligan) in November 2014. In other words: Dark Lord of the Sith v. “arrogant blowhard supporting wasteful government spending” by our Park District.

Last November, District 55 voters chose Moyligan, thanks in large part to not only the express endorsement of retiring “Republican” representative Rosemary Mulligan but also the rumored support of the Maine Twp. Regular “Republican” Organization (Provenzano, Teschky, et al.) and then-“Republican” state senator “Skip” Saviano’s field workers. Oh, and the Dark Lord’s gerrymandering of Rosemary’s district to strip Republican newcomer Susan Sweeney of most of her Park Ridge base.

Sure, but as your post explains, Mel’s not giving the voters any reason to think he’ll fight vs. Madigan, at least not to reduce spending. A key test will be the next couple of park board meetings where they vote on next year’s budget.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The “key tests” already occurred with Commissioner Thillens’ support of the Centennial water park non-referendum, the 5% tax increase, and the Youth Campus Park overspending/overborrowing.

From now on, everthing is being done by Candidate Thillens.

I do not know Mel all that well but I have chatted with him over the years at various events and I think he is a very nice man with good intensions. I appreciate him (and many others in PR, even those I do not always agree with) raising his hand…….but I just read his letter on his website…..and please!!!!!!

Perhaps he can contemplate what to cut (which pension) while playing a rousing game of Paddle Tennis in our new Park paid for by the taxpayers who have this “terrible” burden.

The old phrase “do as I say, not as I do” comes to mind.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For us, it’s a quote from Justice Louis Brandeis:

“The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in the insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding.”

I think you are being overly critical of Commissioner Mel. First, supporting the land acquisition for the Park District was approved by referendum. He didn’t do anything wrong with supporting and / or leading that issue. It won overwhelmingly.

Second, I don’t think that the budget for the upcoming year has been finalized or approved by the Commissioners. So it is not fair to accuse him of supporting a tax increase that hasn’t been voted on for the upcoming year.

Third, the pool issue that you are hammering him on, you are critizing the process of not going to referendum. Even if he wanted the issue to go to referendum he would have needed at least 3 other commissioners (maybe 4)to also put it to referendum. So his voting his support for expansion of the pool was within his role and responsibilities. For the issue not going to referendum he is not the sole commissioner responsible to be blamed. He is a convenient target because he is running for another office.

Fourth, you maybe taking some of his positions out of context. Let the debates determine where he stands on issues. However he voted as a Commissioner he will have to explain.

Finally, do you really think he won’t do a good job representing us? I think he would be an excellent candidate.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A Youth Campus “land acquisition” could have been had for less than 1/2 of the $13 million-plus price tag – but Commissioner Thillens (and Exec. Dir. Mountcastle) knew that a mere “land acquisition” wouldn’t have been as salable to the voters as the amusement park that was dangled in front of them. That “land acquisition” also could have been financed with non-referendum bonds had the Centennial water park been put to referendum rather than allowed to use up all the District’s non-referendum bonding power – but Mel and Mountcastle didn’t want to risk the voters saying “no” to the water park. The way they did it gave them both projects, and gave the voters almost $20 million of long-term bonded debt.

Commissioner Thillens already voted on the 5%+ tax increase we’re talking about, so it’s nothing but “fair” to accuse him of it – especially since Candidate Thillens is now claiming to regret that vote.

Third, nobody said Commissioner Thillens deserves all the blame for the water park not going to referendum. But unlike his fellow park commissioner Rick Biagi, who on several occasions at least suggested the possibility of an advisory referendum, Commissioner Thillens never even hinted at it – presumably because he really likes spending OPM and revels in the power of being able to legally do so, despite now trying to convince a different crop of voters for another office otherwise.

Fourth, it’s impossible to take these three positions “out of context.” The actions of Commissioner Thillens, all within the past year, have already spoken louder and more truthfully than anything Candidate Thillens will say on the campaign trail.

Finally, Commissioner Thillens has been an affable spendthrift on the Park Board, so he most certainly will “do a good job representing us” – if we also are affable spendthrifts, as you seem to be. But “an excellent candidate”? NFW.

2:26:

His positions on all the issues you mention simply do not match the fiscal conservative position he now seems to be taking on his web page.

Yes the land acquisition won in referendum and he did support it….in fact he lead the support group. He supported it soooo much that he took that leadership role even though (while not in violation of any rule)some might question the appropriateness of an elected official drumming up support for a referendum.

The Parks Legacy kept saying “….it only ads $70 in taxes.” I applaud him for his hard work, and as you say, it/he won but this same position is an argument that public employees would make for tax increases (or a progressive tax system) to fund the unfunded pension system. It only costs X or it only affects X.

The problem (at least for me)is it simply does not match the “what about our children” position he is taking as candidate Thillens.

I think this board needs to recognize a huge difference. At the Park Board, I believe Thillens did what he thought was right for the community. The vote for the Youth Campus clearly stated that the voters agreed with him. The Centennial Pool project is probably more favorable with the voters as well (or at least pretty damn close).

Moylan/Madigan are interested in power for the Democratic Machine, unions and other special interests. Thillens didn’t vote for both projects to gain power. He put himself out there. In fact, he had the guts to be the face of the Youth Campus. Most of us on here, don’t even have the guts to sign our FIRST NAME on this blog.

The Youth Campus vote and a new pool vote shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence as the pension crisis, increased tax rate by Kotowksi/Cullerton/Madigan, the metra scandal, the unemployment rate and on and on.

We will shortly see the results of OUR investment in the Youth Campus and Centennial. How’s your investment of the 67% tax increase that the Dem Machine gave us? I sure don’t see any positive results. All spending isn’t equal.

If Mel voted for the pool then his uncle’s cousin got the contract…well that’s a different ballgame.
The guy voted for something that he thought would make Park Ridge better.

It’s elections season almost. I’m sure you could find Thillens and just ask him. Then hold him to it!

EDITOR’S NOTE: We can’t believe that even a really stupid person could consider depleting the District’s non-referendum bonding power in order to borrow $6 million and spend over $7 million on a facility usable only 3 months a year as being “right for the community” – especially when it prevents a referendum vote. Unless you’re pretty sure you’re going to lose that vote.

That’s every bit as dishonest in principle as much of what the crooks in Springfield have been doing, just on a smaller Park Ridge Park District scale.

As we’ve said before, we’ve seen what Commissioner Thillens has done in the past year; and it’s not what Candidate Thillens is now advocating.

7:19 pm-You are right-we will soon see the results of “our” investment in the YC and the waterpark and the return will be negative. The waterpark will not make money and will cost the taxpayers money on an annual basis to operate. In addition, the YC will also drain money from the PRPD’s budget and neither amenity will do anything to increase our property values. A lose-lose.

I would disagree that the voters “clearly” showed support for the $13,200,000 YC purchase. PR has 28,546 registered voters and only 32.94% bothered to vote-9,372. Of the 9,372 only 7,791 voted on the referendum and 4,390 voted yes while 3,401 voted no. Hardly overwhelming support or a clear victory when only 15.43% of registered voters supported the YC purchase.

I would also be careful saying the majority of PR taxpayers support the waterpark even though we did not get to vote on spending $7,700,000 on Phase I. PR taxpayers have voted down a waterpark several time over the last decade or so.

And Mr. Thillens having the guts to put himself out there as the head of the Our Parks Legacy group could easily be argued as an ethical breach of his fiduciary responsibility as an elected official of the PRPD board. He is supposed to represent all the taxpayers not just those 4,390 who voted for taking on $13,200,000 in debt. He had no business putting himself out there as the face of that lobbying group.

The PRPD has 2013 budgeted revenue of an estimated $13,100,000 and budgeted expenses of $13,850,000. Mr. Thillens has voted in favor of $21,000,000 of new debt. Does this seem to you like someone who is doing a good job as commissioner? Imagine how dangerous he will be in Springfield.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Only government – in this case, the Park Ridge Park District – can take one of the safest of all investments, land, and build something on it that substantially depreciates the value of that land from Day One, yet have boneheaded citizens call it “an investment.”

3:42:

That is exactly the point. He did what he thought was right which involved spending a hell of a lot of money and raising our taxes. But now he pulls out the “what about our children line”. These two positions simply do not match.

I agree that Madigan has to be out and because of that sentiment Thillens may have a chance but this is a big problem with the Republican (and Democrat) party as a whole. They demand some cuts but spend on other things that make them look stupid. To use a national example, cut food stamps but spend on farm subsidies.

Take a look at Mel’s twitter link and some of the organizations he follows. At least by appearance it would seem he supports SB1 which even goes after already retired teachers pensions. So if our financial situation is so dire that we have to go after the retires, if it such a burden on citizens, why did he endorse spending all that money?

He talks about debt and taxes after just recently played a very important role in RAISING our debt and our taxes!!!!!!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Exactly. If Commissioner Thillens had splurged on his $20 million of goodies financed by long-term debt several years ago, maybe the argument “he’s learned and become wiser, listen to what he’s saying now” would have some merit. But that $20 million has been incurred in just the past year, albeit before he became Candidate Thillens.

9:36- Thanks for the vote breakdown, but then void our Mayor’s election as well as most of the city elections. That’s a garbage excuse. Where was the coalition against the purchase of the Youth Campus? None of you had the guts to organize against it and now you’re stuck with sour grapes. This blog should serve as a wake-up call to issues that are barely covered in our local news. The wake-up should be for everyone to get off their butts and do something about them.

PW, c’mon the 3-month pool excuse is ridiculous. Every suburb has pools. If the park board didn’t protect their asset then they wouldn’t have been doing their job and would’ve hurt our community.

One thing the anti-improvement contingent has to realize: There WAS an election after Centennial Pool was decided. Why did Biagi and his crew win? I think the Bende ticket also agreed with Centennial and for sure Youth Campus.
Voters approved of Biagi’s board by re-electing them.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Turnout is, indeed, a “garbage excuse” because 2 votes beat 1 vote every time. That SHOULD be a “wake-up” call for people “to get off their butts and do something” about local government, but it’s a slow process for folks who’ve been asleep for so long (often induced by the bureaucrats and a generation or two of elected officials who hate[d] scrutiny).

You answered your own question: EVERYBODY who ran in the April election for the Park Board supported the non-referendum Centennial water park, so the voters had no choice of candidates based on that issue.

Destroyed: Here goes and please don’t buy into the costly agruement that these item will all be replaced in the new design, yes they will but why would anyone destroy something that was functionally sound and rebuild it at taxpayer expense. Destroyed: a shaded playground with a sandbox,used from late March to late November Destroyed: a small area with a firepit by the totem pole. Destroyed: a beautiful shaded picnic area just south of the old pool. Destroyed: a small area containing numerous Evergreen trees. Destroyed: a small berm containing a wide variety of trees. Destroyed: A beautiful aproximatley 250 year old elm tree just north of the sled hill. Destroyed: horseshoe pits and bocci? ball courts. Destroyed: athletic fields used for youth soccor and youth football practice. These items were repalced by parking lots and storm pounds.

Lastly, if you have been following the state guidelines on recreational pools, you will know that safety concerning screened drains is a huge issue. (Rumor is that was what caused the delay in hot tub at the community center). That being said what precautions are being implemented for the storm drains in the two retention pounds ? Given the size of the drains, could this be a safty concern ?

As far as being unable to slide down the snow hill in the winter yes it will be missed, but importantly you should feel sorry for the dozens of people and track teams that use the hill for cardio workouts on a daily basis.

8:03-why should the no voters have had to organize? An elected government official and a taxpayer paid PD administrator should not have been lobbying for this referendum. How could no voters have possibly had the resources to fight against those using taxpayer money-that is what Mountcastle was doing-to advance their cause.

And to assert the no voters are anti-improvement is just plain wrong. Speaking for myself improvements are great especially when they are thoughtfully planned and will benefit the majority of the people paying for the improvements. The $13,200,000 YC and a partially completed $7,700,000 waterpark fail this test. In fact, both projects will lose money year after year after year and will leave leave the PD broke which will result in continually higher user fees and property taxes. Even the yes voters may come to realize they have been taken advantage of by Mountcastle and her supporters.

The last few posts miss the point. I realize it is natural to want to relitigate things. I am guilty of it myself at times. But FOP…sorry but you lost. Thillens won.

It is not about how many people voted for the park land referendum or who did or did not organize and it sure as hell is not about Bende. Bende is not running for a state office claiming to be a fiscal conservative.

We have a man running for office. This is a rare case where we have real live and very recent votes and behaviors on which to judge him. Does the new pool complex and park land match the story he tells on his web page??

It does not. Of course (as someone stated above) that makes him very qualified to be in Springfield.

EDITOR’S NOTE: That’s just about right. Commissioner Thillens is Candidate Thillens’ evil twin. Or vice versa.

But considering that Rep. Moylan is a Madigan tool (hence, “Moyligan”) and Thillens seems to be just a plain tool, the question that will likely remain unanswered until election day is: Do you want to help ensure that the Dark Lord of the Sith remains Speaker for another two years by electing the Democrat, or are you willing to risk voting for Candidate Thillens and hoping he doesn’t revert to Commissioner Thillens if elected?

I understand what you are saying about Madigan but it is so freakin’ disappointing that this this is what it has come to.

The best reason one can come up with to vote for a candidate is not their record or ones belief in them but rather that it might, maybe, possibly be a part of taking down Madigan which is a long shot at best.

Try and fit that on a bumper sticker.

PubDog, please let your readers know that whoever this “Friends of the Park” person is has absolutely NO connection to the Friends of the Park Ridge Parks, a bona fide non-profit foundation, independent of the Park District, whose mission is to support enhancements and improvements to the parks, facilities and programs. Thanks!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Since we don’t know who “Friends of the Park” is, or who you are, we can’t accept your assertion that he/she “has absolutely NO connection to the Friends of the Park Ridge Parks.”

The individuals managing the day to day activities and finances of Park District (including Gayle Mountcastle and April Armer) are incompetent. Its that simple. These people wouldn’t know a capital improvement from an operating expense and they certainly don’t know how to plan for a major project like the water park. This incompetence will simply manifest itself in higher taxes and participation fees. Please write April Armer and voice your displeasure. [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re not sure we agree with you…we often think they know exactly what they’re doing, and what they can get away with.

But we do encourage anybody with displeasure or accolades to voice them to the appropriate public officials – elected, appointed or employed.

Two interesting items connected to the Mountcastle/Thillens/Youth Campus Triangle of Doom. 1) Did anyone notice in the paper a few weeks ago that one of the items on the list of reasons the PD was looking at a potential tax increase was to pay to have the utilities at the YC disconnected before construction begins. Apparently the wasn’t included in the 13.5 Million. We don’t even own the YC yet and it’s already sucking the revenue life out of the rest of the system.

2). In the paper last week, regarding cell phone towers in parks. Ms. Mountcastle’s response when asked by the zoning board if the YC is one of the possible locations. Her response, “At&t asked but I steered them away because it (cell phone tower) was not included in the proposal for the park”. What? Is it in the plans that were laid out for any other park in town? Why is she continually giving preferential treatment to the residents of that neighborhood? (Beside the obvious of them being in cahoots to get the referendum passed.) The people who live near every other park in town have the exact same rights as those who live near the Country Club, oops, I mean Youth Campus. If any park is in play, all should be in play.

Galley Mountcastle is padding your resume, do don’t say? Fixing to go to a higher paying Park District?! No!!! But not only one month ago, she had told all her staff that she wasn’t going anywhere and that they can put 100% of their trust in her! At $143k a year, isn’t she the king of the hill, anyways?

Great article, BTW. Keep up the great work.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bigger park districts that pay $20K, $40K or $60K more are out there, and that makes for not only a bigger paycheck but a bigger pension – which Ms. Mountcastle could collect for 25-35 years.