5.2.13 - My Suburban Life
MCCOOK – On April 17, Cook County Commissioner and McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski was honored by the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Public Servant of the Year at their 2013 Seeds of Greatness Awards dinner. The event took place at the William Tell Holiday Inn in Countryside, and other receipts included Thom Serafin as Business Leader of the Year, Matthew Serafin as Young Person of the Year and Daniel Pancake as the recipient of the President’s Award...
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“The experience that people have at the zoo is greatly enhanced by Good Works volunteers, and simultaneously helps the students in overcoming developmental and social obstacles.”
- Commissioner Jeff Tobolski
Pictured Left to Right: Good Works Volunteer Brianna and Jeff Tobolski
5.1.13 - Brookfield, IL - As Good Works completes its 10th year at Brookfield Zoo, Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski, whose district includes the zoo, presented the volunteers and staff of the program with an honorary resolution today.
In 2002 the Chicago Zoological Society established the program to develop and fine tune time management, communications, and inter-personal skills so that students would be better equipped to find employment or volunteer opportunities after graduation from high school.
Students volunteer at the Hamill Family Play Zoo, an award winning hands-on learning environment for children and families.
“The experience that people have at the zoo is greatly enhanced by Good Works volunteers, and simultaneously helps the students in overcoming developmental and social obstacles,” said Commissioner Tobolski. “I have many fond memories of my daughter at the zoo, and the Hamill Family Play Zoo is where she learned to overcome her fear of animals.”
Upon graduating from Good Works many students go on to find fulfilling volunteer opportunities or paid employment at the zoo or the surrounding communities.
Cook County District 16 includes the villages of Berwyn, Cicero, Schiller Park, Franklin Park, McCook, Hodgkins, Lyons, Summit, Willow Springs, Countryside, Western Springs, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Northlake, Forest Park, Westchester, Stone Park, Berkeley, Broadview, Hillside, Melrose Park, Brookfield, Riverside, North Riverside and Stickney.
11.14.12 - This December will mark my second year in office as your Cook County Commissioner. It has been a pleasure representing the Sixteenth District, and I am very optimistic about the progress that we are making.
I recently voted to pass President Preckwinkle’s 2013 budget. I am pleased to report that it is $100 million less than the county’s budget just two years ago, and passed with broad bi-partisan support by a vote of 16-1. This budget also marks the final rollback of the Stroger sales tax, saving taxpayers over $400 million. The spending plan also includes a $2 million investment in violence prevention, intervention, and reduction programs by awarding money to non-profit groups with proven experience in violence prevention and community outreach.
This is a fiscally responsible budget that reflects the values and priorities of the citizens we represent, and I am proud to have helped craft it with my Republican and Democratic colleagues on the County Board. It makes key investments in our public health and public safety systems while also scaling back the size of county government.
I am also happy to report that in the past two years I have been able to bring back over $12 million in community block development grants from the federal government to help build senior centers, HOME funding to finance housing investment, and county highway funds for badly needed street resurfacing. This amount exceeds what was brought back to the district in the entire last eight years, and I hope to match, if not exceed, this amount in the remainder of my four year term in office.
I am dedicated to remaining an advocate for the Western suburbs, and will continue to fight for better business policies, a decreased tax burden, and ensuring that the suburbs get their fair share of services from the county. Thank you and it is truly an honor and a pleasure to serve as your Cook County Board Commissioner.
Jeff Tobolski
Cook County Commissioner, 16th District
7.29.12 - During the past eight years, Cook County has sunk $26 million into buying and repairing an aging West Side warehouse where it stores a massive number of documents involving court cases and other matters of public record.
But the 475,000-square-foot building — the size of nearly four Target stores — needs more than twice that space to modernize the place. That's led to a debate in county government about whether it's better to spend to fix up what's already there or to rent space elsewhere.
Go read the article here
6.8.12 - CHICAGO -- June 6, 2012 -- Cook County elected officials announced Wednesday that 1.8 million second-installment property tax bills are expected to be mailed on time this year for the first time since 1977 – a move that will save municipalities and school districts millions of dollars.
Staff from county agencies met months ago to develop an accelerated schedule to restore timeliness and when tax bills are mailed this July, it will be the result of cooperation among the various county agencies. Read the whole Press Release here
5.22.12 - Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control, Rabies Vaccine and Microchip Clinics
Schedule for 2012. Events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Click here
4.16.12 - Tomorrow Jeff plans to introduce an amendment with President Preckwinkle reforming the way that Cook County Commissioners can use their contingency funds.
Go read the article here
3.2.12 - Demanding accountability at the Medical Examiner’s Office, Commissioner Jeff Tobolski unanimously passed a reform ordinance today aimed at putting stricter notification procedures in place at the Morgue, making the Medical Examiner report to the County Board quarterly, and placing a 60 day maximum time limit on how long bodies can remain at the County Morgue.
2.5.12- LaGrange Sun-Times - "What I don't like is when people tell me it isn't their responsibility," said Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski. "We need to get in and figure out how... Read More
Sales Tax increase. A budget amendment passed today also restores funding for vitals services in the State’s Attorney and Public Defender’s Offices.
“This scaled-back budget sends a loud-and-clear message that we are moving toward a more efficient, transparent, and business friendly Cook County,” said Tobolski, who applauded the leadership of President Toni Preckwinkle and his fellow Republican and Democrat Commissioners who voted for the new budget. “Since the initial rollback of the Stroger sales tax, we have already seen an increase to Cook County businesses. We need to keep making cuts, continue to hold the line on spending and stay focused on moving the county forward in the right direction.”
10.21.11 - Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle attended a ribbon cutting in Summit, Ill. for the grand opening of a Senior Housing Development made possible in part by a $2.7 million HOME Investment Partnership Program loan (HOME). “With the economy struggling right now, I am proud that Cook County is able to help residents when we can by providing loans to important projects like this one,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle... Read More
9.23.11 - It’s no secret that families throughout Cook County are hurting during these uncertain economic times. They’ve responded by tightening their belts and cutting back wherever possible.
As elected officials, we need to show that same restraint. We have a responsibility to lead by example and exercise fiscal discipline when it comes to county spending.
Shortly after taking office, I sponsored an ordinance that called for 10 mandatory, non-paid days off for non-essential county employees, which is projected to save taxpayers an estimated $30 million dollars... Read More
A Message from Cook County Clerk David Orr - 9.13.11
Dear Friend,
As the 2012 Presidential Election approaches, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is committed to providing your constituents clear information about voter registration, regardless of language barriers. That’s why we have developed a voter registration video in both English and Spanish.
Please find the links to both videos below; feel free to post it on public websites, or pass them along to any constituents, community base organizations or individuals seeking voting information.
If you have any questions, contact our Latino Liaison Sue Ellen Colon at 312 603 1099 or SueEllenColon@cookcountyil.gov. Thank you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z6cEIfNgfc&feature=related English
Preckwinkle Creates More Than 1,600 New Jobs - Cook County Blog
8.23.11 - "I'm pleased to have worked with President Preckwinkle and sponsored the ordinance to grant the Hill Group a 6B property tax incentive that resulted in the creation of 1,600 jobs. We need to get people working again in Cook County, and this is a great way to make sure that it happens." - Jeff
Read more...
Veterans Honored with Silver Star Service Banners
8.15.11 - On Friday Commissioner Tobolski hosted an event to honor veterans who were injured in combat with the Silver Star Service Banner. Check out the Story from CBS 2 and the Suburban Life.
7.29.11 - Aside from rolling back the Stroger Sales Tax and making Cook County more business friendly, solving the incessant flooding problem for the Western Suburbs has been my biggest priority since being sworn in last December. Every year It rains, and every year it floods. Common sense dictates that this problem will not magically go away on its own. Yet our government officials can never seem to fully fix this problem- instead opting to finger pointing and blaming one another; and the homeowners are left holding the bag.
I asked to become Chairman of Cook County's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Committee for this sole reason. Over the past few months we have made progress with a new Director, Michael Masters. He has my full support, and is on the path to having a full flood plan created by the end of this fall.
However, after diving into this problem and consulting with all the stakeholders in this process- the State, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the County, and our local mayors I have come to the conclusion that it will be impossible to solve this problem without the help of our representatives at the Federal Government. The article below spells out the torrid history with the deep tunnel project, and just how many resources need to be devoted to solving this. It is immense. Just to implement the Salt Creek Project (which will primarily help the communities around Salt Creek, but not even solve the larger problem) would cost roughly $100 million dollars. Obviously, this would be impossible to tackle from a local perspective.
I have made it clear to our representatives at the Federal level- Congressmen Lipinski, Quigley, and Gutierrez as well as Senators Kirk and Durbin that our communities desperately need their help. I pledge to you to keep pressing them- in conjunction with the 24 mayors in the 16th District and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle- to stay on them until the job is done. But we need your help to remind them just how import it is. Please don't hesitate to contact me or my office for more information.
-Jeff
READ THE ARTICLE BELOW FOR MORE BACKGROUND
7.29.11 - Chicago flooding Q&A: Freak storm, aging sewers and Chicago's topography lead to flooding woes - Chicago Tribune
Chicago's Deep Tunnel was billed as an engineering marvel that would "bottle rainstorms," but one of the nation's most expensive public works projects was no match for the biggest rainstorm in the city's recorded history. Read More...
Cook County Board President Preckwinkle Unveils STAR Performance Management Report - cookcountygov.com
7.7.11 - Commissioner Tobolski applauds President Preckwinkle on unveiling the first steps of the Countywide performance management review. He looks forward to working together with her on making county government more efficient and accountable to the people that it represents. Read the full story here, and please send Jeff any thoughts you might have on making the Cook County run bettere. Read more...
Making the most of your wild adventure at the zoo
6.22.11 - Here are some great tips to make your trip to Brookfield Zoo more enjoyable. Read more...
6.21.11 - County promises fun at water parks - Southtown Star
Commissioner Tobolski recently attended the reopening of the Cermak Aquatic Center in Lyons and announced the reforms made to the pool alongside President Toni Preckwinkle and Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty. Read more...
6.20.11 - Everest College opens its doors - El Dia News
Melrose Park, Illinois (NED).– Everest College-Melrose Park celebrated its grand opening Wednesday, June 15. Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski spoke to dignitaries, invited guests, students and faculty about the importance of education, and Dr. Marta Alvarado of Westlake Hospital addressed the increased need for trained healthcare professionals in the Chicagoland area. Everest College provides career training for in-demand fields such as medical assistant, pharmacy technician and dental assistant... Read More
6.6.11 - BREAKING NEWS: President Preckwinkle says she will veto permit for Gun Club; permit request sent back to committee where it's expected to stay
The Gun Club's request for a permit, which would grant exclusive use of public land to a private entity, was sent back to the Real Estate committee at the June 2nd meeting of the Board of Commissioners for the Forest Preserve District where it is expected to remain, indefinitely.
Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski (D-16th), who has adamantly opposed the permit request, said that President Toni Preckwinkle responded to his strong letter urging a veto by promising to veto the permit if it was approved by the board and came to her desk.
Events
7.27.12 - Commissioner Jeff Tobolski is hosting an event to honor our Veterans
Commissioner Tobolski is honoring the men and women who have served (or are still currently serving) our country . The event will be held on Friday, July 27th, 2012 at 3pm at the Max McCook Athletic & Exposition. All are welcome and RSVP's should be made to Gail Lovero at 708-431-0091 More info
