Lyons village trustee resigns
Kotur moving out of town, leaves the board
By Steve Metsch
Lyons is looking for a new trustee.
Village Trustee Miodrag “Mike” Kotur, who had been on the board two years, has resigned.
Kotur tendered his letter of resignation dated Feb. 2. Mayor Christopher Getty read the letter at the board meeting that evening.
In the letter, Kotur said that while he is “proud of the work this village administration and community has accomplished during my tenure,” he and his wife have decided to move closer to family in DuPage County.
Not living in Lyons makes Kotur ineligible to continue to serve as a village trustee.
In the letter, Kotur wrote that he will “remain committed to the success of Lyons and will remain ready to help and assist in another other capacity you see fit.”
Kotur formerly served on the zoning board of appeals.
In February 2019, Kotur was selected by Getty to serve out the remaining years of the term of Greg Ramirez, who died in January 2019.
“We wish well,” Getty said of Kotur.
“My plan is to have a reception for him to present him with a plaque for his work he has done for the village, maybe in May. We’re trying to get past the pandemic.”
Trustee Mike Kotur has resigned from the Lyons Village Board because he is moving to DuPage County. Mayor Christopher Getty will seek a replacement. Photo by Steve Metsch.
After the meeting, Getty said Kotur wants to live within walking distance of his grandchildren.
“He’s been a great member of our team at the village,” Getty said. “And, he’s done well representing the Yugoslavian-Serbian community of Lyons. He’ll be missed. He said he’ll still be around to assist and translate and help us any way he can.”
Getty will seek “well-qualified candidates who have an interest in serving their community” to replace Kotur on the board.
In other business, the board approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement between Lyons and the MWRD regarding design, construction, operation and maintenance of green alleys in the village.
The village went into the agreement with the MWRD in 2020. The amendment allows a third green alley in the village. One was installed last year.
“The next two alleys we’re going to working with MWRD on is the alley between 44th Court and 44th Street, between Joliet Avenue and Lawndale, and also the alley between 44th Street and Christie Avenue between Joliet Avenue and Lawndale,” Getty said.
The board also approved a resolution accepting a grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Strong Communities Program.
The $175,000 grant covers two years, Getty said, and will be used for “dilapidated properties, or any issues with housing that we can utilize these funds for.”
“You can use it for almost anything, any issue caused by a vacant house or a house that’s dilapidated,” Getty said.
“Like grass cutting,” Getty said. “We can hire a contractor to cut the grass at a vacant house we submit for refund. It’s all about keeping the community strong, keeping the community vibrant, things like that.”
Getty thanked Village Manager Tom Sheahan and Administrator Kyle Leonard for their work on obtaining the grant.
Desplaines Valley News
Email Steve Metsch at sm4610@sbcglobal.net
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