Story posted Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Pat On The Back For Paul Petzold
Honored For Years Serving, Taking An Interest In Elk Grove
By TOM ROBB Journal & Topics Reporter
Guest gaveler Paul Petzold was honored by Mayor Craig Johnson (right) and the village for his service to Elk Grove at last week's board meeting.
Paul Petzold, one of the most visible and frequent faces seen around Elk Grove Village Hall, retired last week and was honored for his 18 years of service by gaveling closed the Tuesday, Jan. 12 village board meeting.
Petzold worked for the village, though not in Village Hall, and could be seen at almost every village board, commission and committee meeting held.
Even in retirement, he has no plans to stop attending village meetings.
For nearly two decades, the 80-year-old Petzold worked for the police department writing parking tickets in the Business Park. From 1969 to 1985 Petzold served as a paid on call Elk Grove firefighter.
Petzold's service to the village came in addition to his full-time job working for BP Amoco, a job he retired from in 1990.
"I just turned 80, I figured that's enough," Petzold told the Journal this week.
"I find it very interesting how government works. I would hear about the "six-b's" (property tax incentives for development) and ride around the Business Park and see what they were taking about," said Petzold.
Petzold started attending village board, planning and zoning commission meetings, committee meetings and just about any other public meeting held in village hall in the mid-1970's and never stopped.
"Other village presidents did a good job but (Mayor) Craig (Johnson) livens up the meetings," said Petzold.
Johnson makes frequent presentations to individuals and community groups and is known for passing out chocolates made in the shape of the village seal to everyone receiving a village honor or proclamation.
Over all those years working in the village and sitting in on meetings, Petzold said he has seen the village grow and said village administration has grown to keep up with it.
One of the most successful programs Petzold has seen is the Industrial Commercial Revitalization Commission's 10-year plan to keep Elk Grove Village's Business Park modernized and up to date.
Petzold recalled controversy at the village board several times over the decades when meetings ran for hours as residents vented their fears and frustrations.
When Wal Mart came to town residents were fearful of a business selling guns and liquor, recalled Petzold. When a K-Mart came to town (that is now a Home Depot) residents feared property taxes would fall and when Biesterfield Road was widened and an I-290 on-ramp later constructed, residents feared increased traffic would lead to increased traffic congestion. They were wrong, said Petzold.
Even at 80, Petzold said he would not be opposed to serving the village again, "on the zoning board maybe."
Speak Out!
Comments are edited first by Journal staff before running in print and appearing online.