Retired village employee appointed to Lyons ZBA

By Steve Metsch

The Karasek family has a long history of working for the village of Lyons dating back decades.

And that history is getting a new chapter.

Steven Karasek, 60, who two years ago retired after 36 years in the public works department, has been appointed by Mayor Christopher Getty to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

His appointment was unanimously approved by the village board on Jan. 4.

He fills the seat that had been occupied by his father, Joe “Pepi” Karasek, who died in July at age 88.

Steven’s mother, Jeanne Karasek, was a secretary for several mayors. “Bill Smith was the first,” she said. “I was here a long time. I loved it.”

His brother, Jim Karasek, was a Lyons firefighter for many years. He was recently hired as chief of the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District.

Given the family’s history of public service, it’s no surprise Steven Karasek agreed when Getty asked him to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“It’s an honor,” Karasek said. “I look forward to serving the village.”

“The village has come a long way,” he said. “This is a different capacity of the village that I’m looking forward to.”

Asked what he most enjoyed working for the village, he said, “serving the residents and making the town look better.”

Given his years in public works, Karasek pretty much knows the village like the back of his hand, Getty said.

Even in retirement, Karasek has offered his skills to public works if needed, Getty said. He’s a good addition to the ZBA “because of his extensive knowledge of the community.”

“We want to continue to utilize that knowledge and experience on the zoning board (of appeals),” Getty said. “Steven Karasek is well-known to our community.”

“He’s a great asset to the village of Lyons,” Getty said.

The late Joe Karasek “was dedicated,” Getty said because “he cared about what people were trying to accomplish, how it would affect the neighbors and what implications it would have on the community as a whole.”

In other business, the board approved paying Copenhaver Construction Inc., of Gilberts, an amount not to exceed $26,500 to demolish a vacant building at 7847 W. 43rd St.

Getty said that bid was the lowest of those received. The highest bid was $109,239. The engineer’s estimate was $47,500 “so this is well below.

The village has worked with Copenhaver before with good results, Getty said.