By Fred Cederholm

(AXcess News) Creston, IL - I've been thinking about transitions. Actually I've been thinking about the American system of governmental turnovers, Sunday's reception, Bill Heal and Joan Myroth, 26 years of service, a hard fought election, Tuesday's village board meeting, continuity, and Creston. On January 20th, the world witnessed the peaceful transition of power when the Bush/ Cheney administration transferred the reins of government to the Obama/ Biden administration. There was pomp and ceremony steeped in history and tradition, but the transition was orderly and peaceful. It is truly a cause for celebration because in many parts of the world such is the exception and certainly not the rule.

You see this miracle of such quite uneventful transitions holds true across this nation at the federal, state, and local levels. In Illinois at the state level, we just experienced a somewhat different transition. True, the newly elected and re-elected officials were sworn in to begin their terms; but our sitting governor was removed from office by impeachment, and was replaced by our Lieutenant Governor. All Illinois shifts were orderly and uneventful despite the exceptional background at the chief executive level. Our American system of governmental transition is in a word - awesome.

On Sunday in my little hometown of the Village of Creston, we began the process of our own administrative change by holding a farewell reception for present Mayor Bill Heal and present Village Clerk Joan Myroth. Both have served their friends and neighbors in their respective elected offices for 26 years! So much has transpired during that timeframe. There is a new village hall, a new fire station, a new water tower, and a new village-wide sanitary sewer system.

The past election was hard fought. There were yard signs and banners and door to door campaigning. There was dialogue. There was debate. The people were given choices and they made their decisions in the privacy of the election booths. Tuesday evening's village board meeting will begin with Mayor Bill Heal and Village Clerk Joan Myroth, but will end with Mayor Tom Byro and Village Clerk Deanne Haub. Kurt Ward and Mike Brodzik were re-elected, Greg Hopkins and Scott Garrison joined the board, and Ron Janota and Cass Headon continue in office. All are good people and each will serve the community to the best of their abilities. There is newness; there is continuity!

While all levels of government are facing tough challenges in this present environment of economic and financial uncertainties, it will be the local governments who will face some of the hardest decisions. There will clearly be increased demands for daily services while the revenue base declines or holds steady - in the best scenario. Tough choices will have to be made. Everyone in the respective constituencies will be neither pleased by all decisions nor all allocations of resources; but everyone is welcome to attend the monthly board meetings to voice their concerns and to share their opinions. This is a Creston tradition which will also continue.

All macro economic/ financial factors considered, Creston is actually quite fortunate for the present. Out of an existing single family residence stock of roughly 230 residential units less than 10% are listed for sale - or for rent, with the option to buy. Only one of the approximately forty plus rental townhouses (or duplex rental properties) is now vacant. There is only one property in the village 60113 zip code that is now in pre-foreclosure! All of the village's bills are paid, the budget is currently in balance, and there even is some money on deposit in the bank accounts. This is rare for most communities (large or small) across the nation. Still as elsewhere in America... there will be municipal belt tightening and fiscal restraints required for the rest of 2009 and 2010 and beyond.

Our little village on the hill is a very special place to me. Whether a family spends a few years or a lifetime here, they soon realize what a difference people can (and do) make for this community. So to Bill and Joan - adieu and a heartfelt THANK YOU... and to Tom, Deanne, Kurt, Mike, Greg, Scott, Ron, and Cass - God speed and the best of luck!  I'm Fred Cederholm and I've been thinking. You should be thinking, too.

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