Chuck Nora recently was named the newest member of the Long Grove Village Board, putting him in the public sector for the first time.
Nora, a nine-year resident of Long Grove who worked in HVAC sales for 16 years, noted he has much to learn about this new role and the intricacies of local government.
“I’m excited; I’m apprehensive all at the same time,” he said.
After voters elected the uncontested Bill Jacob as the new village president, he left his seat as trustee with two years remaining on the term. As his first act as village president, he appointed Nora to the vacant trustee seat on May 9.
Nora said he had to think about whether he wanted to serve on the village board since he recenty became a regional manager for a firm that dehumidifies indoor pools.
But he said he was comfortable with the added duties after juggling work and his role as the president of the Country Club Estates homeowners association for the past two and a half years.
Q: Everyone wants their hotel’s indoor pool to be comfortable. What happens when the humidity gets too high?
A: Over time, it can do so much damage to the structure of the building that I’ve literally see where they’ve had to rip out all the walls, the ceilings and redo everything. There’s moisture in the air, even on what we consider a dry day. Above 60 percent relative humidity, that becomes a health hazard for humans because that encourages microbial growth.
Q: Every leader has to balance the objectives they see themselves achieving with the needs of the public, who may not want to go on the bumpy ride between themselves and their leader’s objectives. How will you balance ambition with the public’s comfort?
A: The most important thing to negotiate properly is to take the emotion out of it. Our goal is to improve the lives of our residents, not inflict pain. Every single subject matter is going to be different, so it’s impossible to sit here and say, ‘This is the prescribed methodology that I’m going to use.’
Q: What should Long Grove’s board move on now?
A: We have to finish our comprehensive plan. To me, that is item number one. And we need some nighttime activity. Stores staying open when people come home.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.
