SYCAMORE – Rick “Spider” Kramer made his return Monday night to the dais at Sycamore City Council, and he wasn’t a bystander.
Although his voice sounds strained by his nasopharyngeal cancer – which starts in the upper throat area – that he’s been fighting, his demeanor wasn’t.
In Kramer’s first council meeting since July, he made a motion to approve the special-use permit for Pet IQ to run as a veterinary clinic on Puri Parkway. The clinic, which Sycamore City Manager Brian Gregory said would offer services such as nail trimmings and minor inoculations for dogs and cats, would be next to the new Meijer store that is being constructed near the northwest corner of Route 23 and Peace Road.
Gregory said any customers of Pet IQ, and their pets, would enter the location through the front of Pet IQ, and there would be no doors that lead into the Meijer. He said it’s no different than any other strip-mall location, other than it’s next to a store that uses 160,000 square feet.
Kramer made a motion to waive the first reading, and then he made a motion to approve. The city council approved the clinic with an 8-0 vote.
After the meeting, Kramer said he was glad to be back.
“It does feel good,” Kramer said. “It’s a rough road. What happens to me on the chemo dictates whether I can move around or not.”
He said his lightheadedness from the chemotherapy presents a problem. However, he seemed to be OK Monday evening.
“I’m off for six weeks now before the next round, which is radiation. Kramer said. It gives me some time to get more weight to get my energy up for the next round.”
Virginia Sherrod, 4th Ward alderwoman for Sycamore, gave Kramer a hug before she left.
“It’s good to see you,” Sherrod said to Kramer.
Kramer had some good news for those worried about his ongoing battle with cancer.
“The tumor has shrunk over 40 percent since the treatment, so that’s a good thing,” he said about the treatments that started eight weeks ago. “Now, I’m just meeting with a couple doctors to go onto the next treatment phase, which is radiation. It will totally eradicate it and put me in remission.”
Gregory said it’s “great” to have Kramer back in his seat on the council. He said the council is a close-knit group.
“He’s an inspiration to all of us,” he said.
Gregory said Kramer inspires the council because he takes his position seriously.
“We’ve been thinking of him,” Gregory said. “We’ve been sending positive thoughts and prayers his way.”
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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