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player ready...Hampshire Village residents Toby Koth, Janet Kraus and Rob Whaley have all been elected to serve as Hampshire trustees for the next four years.
Village resident Orris Ruth served as a village trustee for 31 years. He also served on the village zoning board for 11 years. He ran as a candidate during the recent election but did not regain his trustee seat.
Kraus and Whaley are incumbent trustees.
Whaley has served as a village trustee for four years. He has also served six years as Hampshire Township Park District commissioner and one year as its board president. He has chaired the village’s finance committee.
“I am pleased to be re-elected to serve our community,” Whaley said. “Over the next four years, I hope to optimize economic development to increase revenue, improve the village’s capabilities to serve, and enhance our ways of working.”
This year marks the first time that Koth will serve on the village board. Koth has been in the construction industry for 36 years and also has 18 years in municipal construction and reconstruction. He has served as president of the Elgin Trades Council.
During the Hampshire Area Chamber of Commerce’s Candidates Night, Koth said: “I have been on both the working side and the business side of business and would be able to add some practicality to this village.”
“I look forward to working with Toby Koth,” said Kraus. “I think he will be good for the village.”
Koth said that in order to prepare for growth, the village should hire a village manager and improve the village’s comprehensive plan.
Over the years, Hampshire has had three village managers who have all left for other positions.
Eric Palm is the village administrator for the Village of River Forest. Doug Maxeiner is the village administrator for the Village of Wauconda. Erik Bush left to become finance director for the Village of Channahon.
As a trustee, Kraus has served on both the economic development and finance committees.
She has also chaired the village services committee where she started both a used oil recycling program and a program for the disposal of needles and sharps used by diabetics and other medical patients.
“I have been running the used oil recycling program since I was elected in 2007,” Kraus said. “When the program first started, we would get one dollar for every gallon. We now get 50 to 60 cents per gallon. The price depends on heating oil needs. Originally RS Used Oil Inc. collected the used oil. Now Heritage-Crystal Clean of Elgin collects it. We generally collect 250 gallons or more every time we hold a collection.”
Used oil can be dropped off at the Hampshire Street Department from 9 to 11:30 a.m. this year on the Saturdays: April 11, May 2, June 6, July 11, August 1, September 5, and October 3.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News