Politics & Government
Burns Pays Tribute to City Staff During Swearing-in Ceremony at City Hall
Mike Bruno joins a veteran City Council as Mayor Kevin Burns takes the oath of office for the fourth time—becoming the longest-serving mayor in Geneva history.
As he took the oath of office Monday night at City Hall, Kevin Burns made history as the longest-serving mayor of Geneva.
Burns began his fourth term with a four-minute speech that thanked his supporters but also centered on his deep appreciation for the work of the 142 staff members of the city of Geneva.
"These men and women, particularly the leaders in the city of Geneva whom you just reappointed, and their entire teams in every department are consummate professionals whose chosen careers are rooted in the very best of public service," Burns said.
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"As elected officials, we chip, carve and cut consensus out of stone. That stone has veins of differing opinions, passions, visions and concerns, and one false strike risks causing a pile of rubble. Once we complete our creation—the policies and practices that govern this city—we entrust the professional staff with the job of introducing and implementing those policies for the more than 22,000 citizens and 1,100 businesses that call Geneva home.
"The ferrying of policies from adoption to implementation is both delicate and deliberate. This balancing act rests on the fulcrum that is Geneva's 142 professional staff.
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"So while the history we make here tonight is punctuated by the pomp and circumstance of administering the oath of office, the history and the future of Geneva is often captured by the prose written by our staff—capable, dedicated and committed to the city of Geneva—those who have worked with us, those who are working with us, those who will work with us."
Geneva 1st Ward Alderman Mike Bruno also joined the City Council for the first time Monday, following in the footsteps of Sam Hill. Bruno, a former member of the Geneva Historic Preservation Commission, took the oath of office from the Honorable Judith Brawka, chief judge of Illinois' 16th Judicial Circuit Court.
Brawka also gave the oath of office to four aldermen who ran unopposed: 2nd Ward Alderman Richard Marks, 2nd Ward Alderman Donald B. Cummings, Jr., 3rd Ward Alderman Dawn Vogelsberg and 4th Ward Alderman Ron Singer.
Re-elected Clerk Lynn P. Landberg, Treasurer Patrick J. McQueeny and Burns took the oath, as well.
In other action, the City Council voted unanimously to award a new, five-year solid-waste services contract to Advanced Disposal Services Solid Waste Midwest, LLC. The new contract will lower the sticker fee to $2.85 during the first year of the contract, and residents will have a variety of options for garbage and recycling collection.
Patch will provide more information on the new garbage collection contract in a separate article Tuesday.
