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Mike Fish steps down from Village Board; Maureen Grady-Perovich steps up

Incumbents Saad Abbasy and Jerry Zeldenrust re-sworn to Village Board

LANSING, Ill. (May 2, 2023) – Mike Fish served in his last meeting as a Village Trustee Tuesday night, and Maureen Grady-Perovich was sworn in to replace him.

Fish was elected to the Village Board of Trustees in 2019 alongside Saad Abbasy and Jerry Zeldenrust, who were reinstalled to their incumbent terms Tuesday night as well. Fish did not run in the April 4, 2023, election.

Grady-Perovich, the sole member of the Lansing First Party, earned the trustee seat over Rob Collins, a member of the Village Voice Party. Grady-Perovich previously served on the board from 2017–2021.

Abbasy and Zeldenrust are also of the Village Voice Party.

Mike Fish

During the meeting, Fish reflected on a half century of involvement in the Village of Lansing, starting at age 21, when then-mayor Bill Balthis asked him to be on a youth committee. Beyond 30 years of work in the Public Works department, Fish served as a park board member, Copper Mugger, and LARC board member, as well as holding various other volunteer positions.

“This is like 50 years that I’ve been involved in the town. And I’m not retiring — I’m just taking a little break. I may be back,” said Fish. “I want to thank all the department heads, all the employees — we couldn’t do it without you. We had a couple rough years through COVID, but we all handled it, and we did pretty good.”

Village Board
Mike Fish shares a laugh with Mayor Eidam while being recognized for his time on the Village Board. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)

Swearing in new and incumbent trustees to the Village Board

All three trustees were sworn in with family members by their sides. Each was also given the chance to speak.

“There are a lot of people that I come across daily that have so much invested in this community,” Abbasy said. “They are looking for individuals who love this community to represent them and make decisions that are not only in the best interests of myself or my family, but in the best interests of the community as a whole. So that’s my promise to the residents, that I’ll do that in every decision that I make.”

Village Board
Flanked by his family, Saad Abbasy raises his hand to be sworn in as a Village Trustee. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)

Grady-Perovich said, “I want to thank the community that supported me, and that allowed me this opportunity to serve the village. ‘Lansing first’ is my motto, and whatever it is I can do, I’m blessed to be able to have this opportunity. Thank you all for being here, and let’s get to work.”

Trustee Maureen Grady-Perovich returns to the Village Board after two years off it. She was sworn in by Judge Tom Panichi. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)

“There is no one on this board that I can’t call my friend, and I know they’re good friends because they tolerate me when I don’t see everything exactly the way they do. But there is no doubt that their heart is for the good of Lansing,” Zeldenrust said, “That’s what I look forward to in the next four years is working hard, together, for the best that Lansing can be.”

Trustee Jerry Zeldenrust shares a hug with Mayor Patty Eidam after being sworn in to another trustee term. (Photo: Josh Bootsma)

The Village Board typically meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Lansing Courtroom, located within the Lansing Police Department at 2710 170th Street.

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Josh Bootsma
Josh Bootsma
Josh is Managing Editor at The Lansing Journal and believes in the power and purpose of community news. He covers any local topics—from village government to theatre, from business openings to migratory birds.

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