HR0194 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0194 LRB098 11537 MST 43795 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Eugene L. Siegel as he retires from his position as mayor of the Village of Chicago Ridge; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Siegel was first elected as part-time mayor of Chicago Ridge in 1975 to fill an unexpired term; he was re-elected in 1977 to a full-term and has been mayor ever since; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Siegel has accomplished much during his 37 years in office; he was instrumental in the development of the Chicago Ridge Mall in 1981 and the Commons of Chicago Ridge in 1988; he saw to improvements to Ridgeland Avenue, installation of an adequate water system with a reservoir and pumping station, street lighting, construction of a senior citizen center, installation of traffic signals at hazardous intersections, creation of a full-time fire department/paramedics, the doubling of the police department, and the establishment of a youth service bureau; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Siegel's most recent accomplishments include the public works facility located in the industrial park and the new municipal complex, which holds the village administrative offices, the police department, the youth services bureau, and the senior citizen center; the village board named the new facility the Eugene L. Siegel Municipal Complex; and

WHEREAS, Since 1984, Mayor Siegel has hosted an annual children's Christmas party at the Chicago Ridge Mall theatres; he also supports youth sports activities, scouting programs, and a senior citizens Christmas luncheon; he has spent over $225,000 of non-taxpayer funds over the years for these programs; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Siegel currently serves as vice-chairman of the Southwest Council of Mayors and is the legislative chairman for the Southwest Conference of Local Government; he is a member of the Illinois Municipal League Board of Directors and is on the executive committee; he was elected first vice president and then president of the Illinois Municipal League in September 2004 and served as president until September 2005; he was a past member of the Midway Airport Task Force and is currently a member of the Cook County Advisory Board on Community Development Block Grant Applications; he was one of the founders of Southwest Central Dispatch and is now a member of the executive board of directors; he was on the Chicago Area Transportation Study for Northeast, Illinois, and was a member of the executive committee and original member of Southwest Local Government; he is on the Mayor's Caucus and serves on the executive committee for the Mayor's Caucus and was one of only 2 mayors representing Illinois on the National League of Cities Council in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Siegel was married to Virginia for 42 years before her passing; he remarried in 2001 to Linda (nee Wilkins); with his remarriage, he added Linda's son, John Herring and grandson, John to the fold; his children with Virginia are sons, Gary, Andrew, and Matt; daughter, Janet; and grandchildren, Stephen, Bradley, Victoria, Alexandria, and Abigail; he has been a resident of Chicago Ridge for the past 56 years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Eugene L. Siegel as he retires from his position as mayor of the Village of Chicago Ridge, thank him for his service to the community of Chicago Ridge, and wish him well in all his future endeavours; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mayor Siegel as an expression of our esteem and respect.