DeWayne's World - For a small town Sasso carries big responsibility

The village has taken quite a beating in these pages in recent weeks with the election being what it was.
I wanted to prove to you, the reader, I could write something positive about Germantown Hills.

But, what?

Then an idea popped into my head. Not too long ago after Germantown Hills Village Clerk Ann Sasso helped me get copies of the comprehensive plans for the village, Metamora and Eureka, I left stating over my shoulder that one of these days I was going to write something nice about her.

Well, I made good on my threat.

I recall the first time I met Sasso.

I walked into village hall like the Lord High Prince of Germantown Hills, introduced myself and then asked to see where the village’s Freedom of Information Act materials were posted so the public could see them.

Sasso showed me.  

I asked when she had taken the state mandated training for FOIA requests. She produced the date.
I asked to see where the required FOIA materials were on the village website (even though I had already seen them) and she complied.

Sasso was pleasant, courteous and helpful.

Sasso passed the little test I had given her which some other governmental entities in Woodford County failed.

When I told Sasso she passed a smile replaced the deer caught in the headlights look she had been wearing.

So, on election day I strolled into village hall again. Sasso saw me coming.  

She had a half-smile on her face, ready to switch to deer caught in the headlights depending on what I was there to ask for.

When I asked if she recalled I said I was going to write something nice about her there was a pause.
“Yeah,” she said, slowly.

“Well, the day has arrived,” I announced as if I was there to tell her she was going to be Grand Marshall of the Rose Bowl Parade.

Her look was nothing short of “What have I gotten myself into?”

Before she could object I reminded her she would be doing the village a public service by letting me print something nice. She bought it, err, didn’t object.

I found out that in addition to village clerk she is also zoning officer, bookkeeper, FOIA officer, Illinois Municipal Risk Management Coordinator, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund operating agent, zoning commission secretary and administrative assistant to the village board.

Man, that’s a lot of titles. I’m kicking myself now for not asking if she also cut the grass.

“They are all important jobs. All these activities make the village work,” she said when I asked what her favorite work duty was.

 “They make everything fit together. With one person filling all these roles I know what is happening on many levels. All these things are inter-connected. It’s worked so well it makes sense.”

Sasso has been with the village for 18 years. The first two years was part-time work as assistant to the village clerk.

“I enjoy my work. Every day can be different. I enjoy that,” she said.

“My favorite part, I think, is when someone calls me with a question and I can give them an answer right away or can tell them, ‘I know just where to find that information.’”

Asked about her least favorite part of the job Sasso struggled to find an answer. That, in itself, constitutes an answer.

Wearing so many hats in the village I asked if she had learned to like surprises.

“Once in a while something comes up that I have to dig into. I’m not usually caught off-guard,” she said.

“Why do you ask that? I don’t like all surprises,” she said as she saw me pulling my camera out to take her picture.

She’s a trooper though. She let me take her picture.

And, I was in for a surprise when I asked her age.

I expected her to say 30. Her reply: 46.

Man, there must be something in the water at her house.

If I looked 16 years younger than I actually was I’d be stopping people on the street and asking them if they wanted to take my picture.  

Anyway, when I asked about an accomplishment she was proud of she mentioned the Safe Routes to School Grant the village received in 2007.

That grant helped pay for the sidewalk on Fandel Road leading up to the grade school.

“I feel I contributed to that. We applied for another grant. We haven’t heard about that one yet,” she said.

She has lived in the village for 23 years, and grew up in Metamora.

After 18 years at village hall I asked what kept her engaged.

“Things are happening. Things still come up that challenge me. We are taking advantage of grants,” she said.

“We are trying to get sidewalks. We are changing ordinances to make the village a better place. I enjoy looking for opportunities to improve the community. Germantown Hills has a lot to offer.”

Now that strikes me as positive.