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 History of Northlake > The 1970's & 1980's |
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Under
Doyle’s leadership, the current Northlake police station was added to the city hall. Built in 1971,
it was welcomed spaced compared to the small quarters officers were previously jammed into behind the
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Mayor Eugene Doyle discusses plans with
an architect, the city manager, the
president of the Industrial Council, Polic
Chief Lee Gehrke and the president
of Zenith Radio for the new Police Department addition to City Hall. |
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city hall. As well, the public works building at Palmer and Jerome avenues became operational and included
room for squad cars trucks and snow plows.
Doyle
and the city council created a Department of Environmental Control, which included health and safety
inspectors.
Infrastructure
improvements included the widening and paving of several streets curbs and gutter installation, storm drainage
improvements, landscaping and the much needed water retention basin.
In
the November 1982 election, Doyle ran against incumbent candidate harry Smith Jr., of River Grove, in the
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| Mayor Doyle and the city manager show kids the area on which
an ice rink will be built. |
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race for the Illinois 52nd Legislative District seat and ousted Smith by 1,300 votes.
In
his hometown, however, Doyle lost all four Proviso precincts and a majority of the Leyden precincts to
Smith, a Republican.
While
retaining his position of mayor in Northlake, Doyle and his administration mandated a residency requirement
for all city positions out of concern about the unemployment rate among residents.
The
Northlake Youth and Recreation Commission had a great deal of spirit with 450 children active in programs,
while parks were jeweled with new playground equipment and an ice rink.
Doyle
served for five terms before he was defeated by Reid Paxson in 1989.
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