New Lenox Mayor Makes Passionate Plea for Civility Following Tragic News

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | December 15, 2025

Article Summary: During the New Lenox Village Board meeting on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, Mayor Tim Baldermann issued a deeply personal call for kindness and civil discourse in the wake of recent international tragedies. The Mayor also thanked staff and volunteers for maintaining “Christmas in the Commons” activities despite bitterly cold conditions.

New Lenox Village Board Key Points:

• Civility Plea: Mayor Baldermann urged residents to reject “vile hatred” and violence, noting the proximity of recent horrific events to his own family in Australia.

• Holiday Events: Despite extreme weather causing some vendors to withdraw, the village will continue “Christmas in the Commons” for one final weekend.

• Australian Connection: The Mayor revealed that his daughter and grandchildren live just 20 minutes from the site of a recent horrific event in Australia.

The New Lenox Village Board on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, paused its regular business to address a growing lack of civility in public life, led by a passionate address from Mayor Tim Baldermann.

Referencing a “brutal 72 hours” of news involving horrific events in the United States and Australia, Baldermann spoke about the fragility of life. He shared that the tragedy in Australia hit particularly close to home, as he has a daughter and grandchildren living only 20 minutes from where the event occurred.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take for us as a human race to realize that we can disagree, we can passionately disagree, but when that spills into hatred… it’s really disgusting,” Baldermann said. He encouraged the board and residents to make a resolution for the coming year to “take a step back and just be a little kinder to each other.”

The Mayor also provided an update on the village’s “Christmas in the Commons” festivities. While the previous weekend saw “bitterly cold” temperatures that forced several vendors to withdraw, Baldermann noted that staff from the village, CERT, and ESDA worked diligently to keep the activities running safely for those who attended.

The village plans to accommodate vendors who were unable to participate due to the weather. The event is scheduled for one final weekend, with details available on the village website.

Trustees echoed the Mayor’s sentiments of community pride. Trustee Bryan Reiser, marking his first full year on the board, expressed gratitude for the staff and residents. “Now that I’ve been able to see the village from a different perspective, I have a new level of appreciation and just an overall feeling of gratitude for this great town,” Reiser said.