Community Corner

Lemont Park District Vice President Mike Colaizzi Resigns

Colaizzi will leave the Board of Commissioners next month to pursue a new career opportunity, park district officials announced Tuesday.

Vice President Mike Colaizzi will leave his position next month to pursue a new career opportunity, park district officials announced Tuesday.

Colaizzi was elected to the Board of Commissioners in April 2007. His resignation is effective April 30, the last day of the current fiscal year.

According to Lemont Park District spokesperson Carrie Dellamano, Colaizzi announced his candidacy as the park district was in the midst of a second proposal for a referendum to fund the , 16050 W. 127th St.

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In a press release, Dellamano described Colaizzi as a "genuine, passionate and charismatic candidate with savvy marketing qualities."

“Becoming a candidate at a time when, not only was he selling himself, but publicly supporting a referendum in the face of adversity ... from the first round loss, Mike stood firm in his belief that the community of Lemont needed something to grab on to and revitalize the District,” Board President Patrick Sexton stated in a release.

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In his five years with the Lemont Park District, Colaizzi has taken on a number of responsibilities, serving as vice president of the board and member of the Employee Relations, Intergovernmental, and Maintenance and Environmental committees.

Additionally, he was instrumental in the construction and grand opening of the CORE, as well as numerous other park district enhancements and special events, Dellamano said.

In January 2011, during the Illinois Association of Park Districts' annual conference. The honor is part of the IAPD Board Member Development Program, which recognizes overall involvement and “achievements at the local, state and national  levels in the field of parks, recreation and conservation,” according to an IAPD press release.

“From his involvement with our Lemont taxing agencies, local civic groups, the IAPD/IPRA Joint Conference team, to our legislative partners in Springfield and Washington, Mike Colaizzi blazed a path that truly put our district on a new course," Sexton said. "Without Mike's involvement, the success we have achieved over the past five years would not have been as expedited as it was."

Dellamano said Colaizzi submitted his letter of resignation to the board last week

“The Lemont Park District Staff would like to extend much gratitude to Commissioner Colaizzi for his hard work, dedication and genuine care for the District as a whole over the past five years. Even though he’ll be missed greatly, we wish him and his family the absolute best,” Lemont Park District Executive Director Louise Egofske stated in the release.

The Lemont Park District will release more information in the coming weeks about its plans to fill the vacant position, Dellamano said.


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