Mokena board says goodbye to retiring public works director
MOKENA, Ill.
The Village of Mokena’s longtime public works director bid adieu Monday, May 11, during the board of trustees meeting.
Pictured is Mokena Public Works Director Lou Tiberi, who is set to retire this month. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF MOKENA
Lou Tiberi, who began his tenure with the Village in 1999, is set to retire this month. During the May 11 meeting, Tiberi was congratulated and recognized for the key role he played in growing the Village over the course of his career, including:
Helping the Village with its transition to Lake Michigan water.
Working on local transportation projects to relieve congestion and enhance traffic flow, such as the widening of LaPorte Road and improvements to Townline Road, 195th Street and 104th Avenue.
Coordinating and managing Mokena’s Clean-Up Day for many years.
“Lou played a very important part of the management team here throughout the years,” Village Administrator John Tomasoski said. “Lou was a very good team member … [and] very loyal to the Village throughout these years.”
Mayor Frank Fleischer thanked Tiberi for the work he did for the Village for two decades.
“It’s easy to forget all the stuff that you have done for the Village for the past 21 years,” Fleischer. “It’s easy to forget the old infrastructure that we have here that you had to maintain and keep an eye on year after year. You had to take care of a plant that was getting old on us, and you did the best job you could to keep that going. You took care of the infiltration problems that we had in town, which probably saved the Village a lot of money over the years.
“I thank you as a resident and as a mayor, Lou, [for] the time and effort that you put into our community, because it does mean a lot and it will mean a lot in the future.”
Trustee Joseph Siwinski wished Tiberi well on his “much-deserved retirement.”
“Our public works department has done an exceptional job under your leadership,” Siwinski said. “You really made our board shine, and I thank you for that. Our snow plowing, in my opinion, is second to none. People know when they enter the streets of Mokena, and that was done under your leadership. I know it is a lot of hard work.
“Our water and sewer system, I believe, functions and does a really good job at a really good price for our residents, and that’s because of the hard work that you do along with your team.
“Your contributions to our community were great. I can’t thank you enough for how much you’ve dedicated to the Village of Mokena.”
Tiberi also spoke during the meeting, thanking his coworkers, the board members, his friends and family for their support.
“We’ve accomplished many things in the 21 years I’ve been employed with the Village,” Tiberi said.
Mayor comments on governor’s stay-at-home order, continued need for residents to shop local
Near the end of the meeting, Fleischer said he is becoming frustrated by “the lack of clarity and commitment that we’re getting from the governor’s office” regarding the stay-at-home order.
“People have got to realize that the governor has not asked any mayor’s opinion on any of these things that he’s going forward with,” Fleischer said. “He’s not even meeting with his state legislators to discuss the issues moving forward. That’s part of my frustration and that’s part of I think the legislature’s frustration.”
Fleischer also said it is important to continue to shop locally in Mokena.
“The sales tax receipts that we get are still extremely important,” Fleischer said. “They allow us to do the things that are happening in town.”
He also asked residents to try to remain positive.
“This will be over, and we will be able to move forward,” he said.
Help support local journalism. Contribute to the work being done by Richard Free Press without signing up for a subscription: https://paypal.me/RichardFreePress?locale.x=en_US.