Addison Trail students tour Addison Village Hall

On Feb. 21, 13 Addison Trail students visited Village Hall in Addison.

During their tour, Addison Community Relations Director Don Weiss shared information about the village’s Rotunda and Village Green areas.

The students then met with Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra, who spoke about the various village departments and the responsibilities of each group. He also discussed the partnerships the village has with other Addison intergovernmental agencies such as the fire protection district, the library, the park district and the school districts. The students then learned about the budget process, and Veenstra said the village focuses on meeting the needs of Addison residents, while being fiscally responsible and fair to taxpayers. Students also were able to ask Veenstra questions about what it’s like to be mayor and how he chose that career path.

Veenstra said the village is 133 years old and has about 240 employees. He added he is proud to be the 16th mayor of Addison.

“Addison has a wonderful atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a great place to work and live."

The students also watched a court session and were able to meet with DuPage County Associate Judge Brian Jacobs, who spoke about the legislative process, his caseload and the challenges of that field.

“It’s a great opportunity for our students to see firsthand what they’re learning about in the classroom,” Addison Trail teacher Paul Parpet Jr. said about bringing his Branches of Government class on the tour.