Lemont is full of passionate people with ideas on how to make things better. A lot of that discussion is taking place in our online comment forums. Recently, however, we've become concerned about the hateful and hurtful tone of some users. We need your help to improve the quality of discussion.

The Issue: Local municipalities are scrambling to compensate for the loss of tax funds usually distributed by the state.

Our View: Enough is enough. We must elect people to serve in Springfield who can assert leadership to make tough but necessary decisions.

New cuts to be implemented next week in Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A could make the school day more complicated for parents of students involved in extra curricular activities.

The Issue: For the fourth time, the school board will ask voters if it may increase its tax rate to plug a $2 million deficit.

Our view: The district must address the issue of administrator and staff salaries to control spending.

THE ISSUE Some members of the District 113A Board are frustrated over how Janet Hughes conducts herself at meetings.

OUR VIEW Hughes should take training offered to new School Board members and make sure she’s prepared to act on agenda items.

SPEAK UP
Should training for newly elected school board members be mandatory in Illinois? Comment on this editorial at mysuburbanlife.com or e-mail us at opinions@mysuburbanlife.com.

Packed with music, games and entertainment, Lemont will host its 18th annual Heritage Fest Saturday, July 12.

It is imperative that a pedestrian/bicycle bridge be built over 127th Street near Old Quarry Middle School. By sometime this November, an interchange off the North-South Tollway at 127th Street will open, and hundreds if not thousands of additional cars will be rolling down the street, which not only passes in front of the middle school, but in front of Lemont Park District’s Community Park. The area, a mecca of activity — primarily children’s’ activities, is barely a hundred yards east of the coming I-355 interchange.

When the North South Tollway bridge spanning the valley over the Des Plaines River, Sanitary and Ship Canal and Illinois & Michigan Canal started construction, we had a vision of a beautiful engineering marvel reaching across the valley almost elegantly.

With visions of revenue gushing out of the coffers of local school, library and park districts, it’s easy for people to dislike tax increment financing districts.