SSMMA slate of officers approved at Bult Field dinner meeting

With airplanes landing and taking off right outside the windows, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association approved the 2018-2019 slate of officers at their May 17 dinner meeting held at Bult Field, the future site of the South Suburban Airport. It was hosted by the communities of

Beecher, Monee and Peotone.

Most officers, including the association’s president, Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry, Jr., were re-elected to serve an additional one-year term. However, Country Club Hills Mayor James Ford replaces Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta as one of two Cook County at large representatives; Presta was unable to continue to serve due to conflicts with his own municipal meeting schedule. The new term of office will take effect at the June 21 business meeting.

“Re-electing the officers is a matter of continuity,” said Park Forest Mayor John Ostenburg, former past President and nominating committee representative. “Sometimes one year just isn’t enough time to complete projects from start to finish.”

The following officers will make up the 2018-2019 Executive Committee: Mayor John Ostenburg as immediate past president, Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward as vice president, Thornton Mayor Bob Kolosh as secretary, Glenwood Mayor Ron Gardiner as treasurer, Lynwood Mayor Gene Williams as a Cook County at large representative, Country Club Hills Mayor James Ford as another Cook County at large representative, and Beecher Mayor Greg Szymanski as a Will County at large representative.

Committee chairs and representatives include: Crete Mayor Mike Einhorn as transportation chairman, Thornton Mayor Bob Kolosh as public safety chairman, Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold as legislative chairman, Park Forest Mayor Ostenburg as housing chairman, and Richton Park Village Manager Regan Stockstell and Flossmoor Village Manager Bridget Wachtel as Management & Finance co-chairs.

“We appreciate the dedicated work of all the officers who serve and encourage our members to participate in SSMMA’s standing committees so that all of our communities are represented as a region,” Mayor Alsberry said.

SSMMA gratefully acknowledges Beecher Mayor Greg Szmanski, Monee Mayor James Popp, Peotone Mayor Steven Cross and their staff for kindly hosting this event at the Bult Field facility. It was acquired by the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics in July 2014 for the South Suburban Airport. A Built Field representative said that air traffic has recently increased due to the opening of Amazon in Monee and reopening of Balmoral Park in Crete.

More photos are here.