…you know?
I’m on the Board of Directors of the Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance, and the Steering Committee of the Downers Grove Coalition for Managed Redevelopment. Mayor Ron Sandack appointed me to the Comprehensive Plan Ad Hoc Committee, for which I am honored to be one of eleven resident volunteers.
You can email me at markthoman@gmail.com, or you can call me on my cell phone 630-750-5179.
This site started out about Village actions over the last nine months of 2007 to take away our state given protections of the Environmental Protection Act, and the fight to keep them. It was touch and go for several months, but in the end residents came away with most of the state protections intact.
I don’t like using the word fight, but that’s pretty much what it was. Enough people thanked me for “doing my homework”, and providing information on this issue that I feel pretty positive saying people can be heard as long as they’re willing to speak up.
I was called a lot of names over the course of it, but no problems; most of the name-callers have come around to realize the village was on the wrong path and, because of our efforts, took (mostly) the right path.
Update: I helped organize the first DuPage County STEM Conference at Argonne National Labs November 13, 2012, and served as the moderator.
Update- I’m President of SALT Seniors And Law Enforcement Together. It’s been a matter of getting it back in gear.
...in Downers Grove 
June 2, 2008 at 09:59 pm
MT,
Where is the link to the map that shows all the stormwater repairs to be done? I can’t seem to find it. thanks.
August 15, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Hello, I have read some of your blogs’ content and commend your efforts at truly seeking to create an informed community. I also noticed a bit of your content regarding transparency. Do you have a position on financial transparency with Downers Grove?
August 15, 2008 at 01:04 pm
Our village switched from a standard May fiscal year to calendar fiscal year in 2007, so it has been a bit frustrating to compare apples to apples. Leading into the switch residents were told the calender fiscal year is the more responsible way, but now I find the May fiscal year is by far the more common for municipalities in IL.
Like all taxing body budgets, it’s pretty dense, and it’s not searchable. The info is there, they are as transparent as required by law, maybe a bit more forthcoming. I would guess there are fewer than 10 residents here in DG who actually read through it. I may be the only person who reads the annual TIF reports.
February 17, 2009 at 04:41 pm
Commentors with cryptic handles, no name, and no real email address get no respect here. If you think your opinion or idea is important, elevate your status by being open and honest.