Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Safe Community, Motor Vehicle/ Traffic Safety Task Group met March 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the task group:

CALL TO ORDER

Dan Martin called the ZOOM meeting to order at 10:32am. Dan Martin had emailed the task group members the Zoom meeting link, agenda and minutes from the previous meeting prior to this meeting.

IN ATTENDANCE

Dan Martin / Village of New Lenox, Jim Mihalovich / Top Driver, Margaret Pearson / Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, Kristine Kioltyka, / New Lenox Police Department, Rocky Dellamano / COUNTRY Financial, Jen Vujosevic / Lincoln-Way Community High School District #210, Mary Ellen McCoy / Catholic Charities and Olga Viano / New Lenox Community Park District.

Everyone in attendance took a moment to introduce themselves.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Dan Martin announced his upcoming retirement and in doing so, thanked everyone for their contributions to this task group and to our coalition. Dan shared several stories about how our Safe Community Coalition programs have literally saved lives. Dan noted that he is preparing everything for a smooth hand off to his successor. Hopefully an announcement will be made at the March 26th Coalition meeting as to who that person will be.

Dan advised that he hopes to see everyone at his final Coalition Meeting on March 26th / 10:30am at Gatto’s Italian Restaurant where a FREE luncheon will immediately follow the meeting.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Minutes from the November 12, 2024 Task Group Meeting, which had been disseminated via email to Task Group members, were discussed. Jim Mihalovich made a motion to approve the minutes, and Rocky Dellamano seconded the motion. After no further discussion, the motion carried and the minutes were approved. *It was noted that there was no task group meeting on January 14, 2025.

OLD BUSINESS

“Teen Driver? What Every Parent Should Know”

This presentation was held via Zoom on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The presenters were John Karales / Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210,

Jason Helbling / Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, Jim Mihalovich / Top Driver, Margaret Pearson / Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, and Rocky Dellamano / Rocky Dellamano COUNTRY Financial. Brian Tamblin from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office was not present.

234 citizens registered for this presentation via Eventbrite and approximately 50% attended. Dan thanked Jen Vujosevic for promoting this event via social media as well as through her email list to Freshman and Sophomore parents at all three high schools.

Discussion regarding this event included finding a replacement for Brian Tamblin from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.

Rules of the Road Review Course – Offered by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office This course was held from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Thursday, November 21, 2024 in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This was the LAST TIME this course was offered by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. Margaret Pearson took a moment to explain the shift in personnel resources withing the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office (Education Division being shifted to Mobile DMV responsibilities). Approximately 25 citizens, mostly older adults, attended the presentation.

NEW BUSINESS

“ThinkFirst For Parents of Teen Drivers”

This presentation will be held from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday, April 17, 2025, via Zoom Videoconference. This is a 60-minute evidence-based traffic safety program designed to educate parents on the GDL law. The goal of the program is to reduce new driver crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities by increasing parents’ awareness and enforcement of the GDL law. Dan showed everyone a flyer on the program by sharing his screen. Michelle Larsen, Project Manager, ThinkFirst, will be the presenter. Dan encouraged task group members to attend this presentation.

“Operation Lifesaver” (Rail Safety) Presentation

Dan will work with Carl Cicero from Metra to set a date for the next “Operation Lifesaver” presentation. This presentation will be held via Zoom. Dan mentioned the importance of this information as the weather will be getting warmer soon and kids will be tempted to play on the train tracks. In addition, Proms will be held in May and high school kids have been known to take prom pictures on the train tracks.

GOOD OF THE ORDER / ORGANIZATION UPDATES

Dan Martin mentioned each of the following programs to help set the stage for future events:

• Illinois Secretary of State’s Office Mobile DMV

• Rules of the Road Refresher (Jim Mihalovich has offered to present)

• “Teen Driver? What Every Parent Should Know” (Fall, 2025)

• Senior Vehicle Inspections (Fall, 2025 at LWCHS)

• Bicycle Safety

• Motorcycle Safety

• Child Car Seat / Booster Seat Event

For those new to the Task Group, Dan explained each of the programs and / or concepts of each of these injury prevention areas. Other task group members provided examples and additional commentary.

Dan also took some time to discuss the importance of statistical data (traffic crashes, crash causation factors, etc…). Historically, data has driven our Safe Community Coalition educational programs.

NEXT COALITION MEETING

The next New Lenox Safe Community Coalition meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 / 10:30am, at Gatto’s Italian Restaurant in New Lenox. A FREE luncheon will immediately follow the meeting. THIS WILL BE DAN MARTIN’S LAST MEETING AND HE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IF EVERYONE WOULD ATTEND.

NEXT TASK GROUP MEETING

The next meeting of the Motor Vehicle / Traffic Safety Task Group will be Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 10:30 am via Zoom videoconference.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:25am.

Motor Vehicle and Traffic Safety Task Group

“To establish collaborative partnerships with organizations that utilize education, engineering and enforcement efforts to reduce deaths and injuries related to motor vehicle crashes.”

https://www.newlenox.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03112025-345