As community outreach coordinator for Kane County, IL, I’m thankful for the opportunity to post articles like this one.

Just for the fun of it, we asked county officials, elected and appointed, what they were thankful for this holiday season 2104, and their answers might surprise and delight you. We hope so, anyway.

I think it’s important, every once in awhile, to remind ourselves that local government isn’t just this faceless, nameless institution that’s out to get its hands on every tax dollar. In fact, local government is made up of a lot of good people, just like you and me, who work really hard and do their best to add value to other people’s lives.

So it doesn’t hurt to show them — every now and again — as the human beings they are.

On behalf of Kane County, thank you for being such a good citizen and for reading Kane County Connects. And as a Kane County citizen, thank you to the following staff members and elected official, who took a few minutes out of their busy days to make this article possible.

“I’m thankful that 25 years ago Thursday (Nov. 27, 2014), my prayer for courage was answered, and I actually called the number of the blind date I had been set up with. Gina agreed to have dinner with me; we were married the following October, and continue to live happily ever after!”

Mark D. Armstrong, CIAO
Kane County Supervisor of Assessments

“I am thankful for the privilege of being part of team of such competent, hardworking professionals who are passionate about what they do.  It is a blessing to interact with them and to see the amazing things we’ve been able to accomplish together for the residents of Kane County.  But most importantly, I am thankful for my wife who is my source of encouragement and inspiration to be the best I can be and make the most of whatever it is we have to work with.”

Joseph Onzick
Kane County Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

“I am grateful that I work for Kane County, a county that cares about the environment, resource recovery and recycling. I am thankful that I can be of service by improving and expanding opportunities for hard-to-recycle materials, things you can’t put in your recycling bin at home, but that are still recyclable! I get to help Kane County residents understand what, where, when, why, and how to recycle nearly anything and everything in Kane County. I am grateful that so many people in Kane are committed to rethinking, reducing, reusing, and recycling! Thank you all!”

Jennifer Jarland
Kane County recycling program coordinator

“I am thankful for the staff members of other Kane County departments who regularly attend the Monday morning meetings hosted at the Development & Community Services Department. These meetings have staff members from Environmental and Water Resources, the Division of Transportation, the Health Department and the State’s Attorney’s Office as well as representatives from other units of government, when appropriate, to provide citizens and businesses with a sort of ‘one stop’ process for discussing their ideas for creating or expanding business uses, new residential developments and other land use changes for improving their property and Kane County.”

Mark D. VanKerkhoff, AIA, Director
Kane County Development & Community Services Department

“I am thankful Sheriff John Randall gave me an opportunity for a career in law enforcement in 1992. I am thankful for the friends I have made throughout Kane County during my career. I am thankful for the people at the Sheriff’s Office who have made our office shine. I am thankful for my health. Most importantly, I am thankful for my wife, my sons, my granddaughter and coming in April, my grandson.”

Patrick Perez
Kane County Sheriff

“I am most thankful for my two sons and a new daughter in law, who all enjoy visiting with us on the weekends to share their stories about continuing education and the working world. I am also thankful they grew up spending time and holidays with their grandparents, who loved them always.”

Barbara Wojnicki
15th District Kane County Board member