CHANNAHON – Missey Schumacher was sworn in as Channahon's new village president Monday night, and words of appreciation were given to outgoing village president Joe Cook.

Cook stepped down after six years as village trustee and 12 years as village president.

“It’s been a wonderful 18 years of serving this community,” Cook said.

Schumacher was sworn into office by Will County Circuit Judge Ray Nash – a Channahon resident. She then administered the oath of office to Village Clerk Patricia Perinar and Trustees Scott McMillin, Debbie Militello and Scott Slocum, all re-elected in April.

Schumacher thanked her parents, her husband and family, and her grandfather, Steve Rittof, Sr., a former Channahon village president to whom she said she owes a debt of gratitude.

Schumacher discussed how her political career began. Village Clerk Eileen Clark had to step down due to health issues in 2008, and there was an opening for the position.

“I was minding my own business hanging my clothes on my clothes line, and Joe Cook pulled into the driveway,” she said. “He said, ‘Can I appoint you village clerk?’”

She was elected to the position the following term, then voted in as trustee in 2013.

“I wanted to have a decision in the direction of the village,” she said.

Schumacher said she believed she could make a positive difference in the village by running for mayor, especially with what she sees as an economic rebound on the horizon.

She said before Monday’s meeting that she loves Channahon's small town feeling and wants to retain it while bringing in more retail by attracting visitors to the village's many natural resources.

Cook says goodbye

Cook said he first ran for office after tiring of a group of friends complaining about the way the village was run. He lost his first run in 1995, then got serious and won in 1997. There were growth issues at the time, he said, and standards of housing needed to be addressed, as did some police department issues.

Some of the highlights of his years leading the village were bringing in medical facilities, bringing stoplights to several Route 6 intersections and reshaping the police department.

“Before we were making the papers, and not for good reasons," Cook said of the police department. "We went from a department on the edge of failing to a premier police department and one of the top 100 safest communities in the United States. I am so proud of everything our police department has accomplished.”

The best part of his time in office, he said, were the “wonderful people I’ve met and the wonderful organizations I’ve been involved with. I’ve enjoyed the different roles and the learning opportunities with local governmental matters to truly global affairs. ... The supportive board, the supportive staff and the support of the people of Channahon are the highlights of my time in office.”