Villa Park's police force is stretched so thin that Chief Todd Kubish and his two deputy chiefs have been personally out enforcing traffic laws.

The department has lost five officers over the past decade, dropping from 43 to 38, Kubish told the Village Board at its Monday, July 13 meeting. With two more retirements planned for 2027 and an unexpected departure already this year, the chief asked trustees to approve hiring two new officers immediately.

Kubish told the board the department has a staffing problem, the Villa Park Review reported. Injuries, parental leave, and mandatory overtime to fill shifts are burning out the officers who remain, he said. Training a new officer takes eight to 11 months, and if a recruit doesn't work out, the department starts over.

All five trustees present indicated support for a 2027 budget amendment that would send two recruits to the police academy in August, with the officers available to work in the village by mid-2027. Village President Kevin Patrick said the board would formally vote on the amendment at its July 27 meeting. Kubish noted the next academy after August would not start until January 2027, making the August cohort the only near-term option.

The village confirmed on social media that the board advanced the budget amendment at its Monday, July 27 meeting. A final vote count has not been published. The recruits were slated to enter the academy in August, meaning the hiring timeline is active now.

Rodent ordinance targets private property

The board unanimously approved a new nuisance ordinance on July 13 that gives the village authority to address rodent infestations on private property after providing owners notice and an opportunity to act.

Brandon Nolin, Villa Park's director of community and economic development, said the ordinance would allow the village to send notices to dozens of properties and would help deal with owners who do not respond. The village's Fire Department page acknowledges Villa Park is "currently experiencing increased rodent activity."

A resident of the 300 block of South Michigan Avenue told the board rats had been observed on his block and asked whether the village would use aerial surveillance to identify problem properties. The village attorney cautioned that using drones to look into backyards could raise legal problems, and Trustee Jack Kozar said he did not want to live in a community that used drones without a warrant to observe properties.

Board orders clerk to release executive session recording

In a 4-1 vote, the board directed Village Clerk Rolf Laukant to provide Patrick access to the audio recording of the June 29 executive session. Trustee Khalid Sabri cast the lone dissenting vote. Patrick did not vote on the resolution.

Patrick said he was unable to attend the June 29 special meeting because his father had passed away in June. He told the board he sent multiple emails to Laukant requesting the recording and had received no response.

"He doesn't even respond to my emails about wanting to see these executive session recordings," Patrick said of Laukant, who was absent from the July 13 meeting.

Laukant, who won the clerk position as a write-in candidate in April 2025 in a race with no declared candidates, attended the June 29 meeting but was absent from both the July 6 special meeting and the July 13 regular meeting. Deputy Village Clerk Kristin Karl, the village's community and economic development analyst who was sworn in as deputy clerk in March, served as acting clerk at both sessions.