8
Public Service Open House See page 4 IN THIS ISSUE Looking Towards the Future We’re proud to announce that after four years of planning, the Department of Natural Resources awarded Lake Michigan water allocations to the Village of Wauconda and nine other Lake County communities. Securing this allocation will offer us an opportunity to investigate a number of other options to make sure a plan is in place that will best fit our community. The Board’s ultimate goal is to transition from groundwater to Lake Michigan water in order to meet our community’s future, long-term water demand projections. We will keep the community informed as we review options to this valuable resource and plan to bring our findings forward to you, our public. Mayor’s Message SPRING / SUMMER 2011 VILLAGE OF WAUCONDA NEWS Trustee Doug Buster, a longtime resident of Wauconda, was unanimously appointed to the Village Board on April 5th, replacing retired Trustee Pam Wahl. Doug will serve as the Chair of the Building & Zoning Committee. Trustee Ken Arnswald retired from the Countryside Fire Protection District after serving the public for 35 years and will serve as the Chair of the Public Works Committee. Trustee Chuck Black has lived in Wauconda for nine years and serves as President of the Lake View Villa Homeowners Association. Chuck will serve as Chair of the Environmental Quality Committee. Trustee Linda Starkey has been a resident of Wauconda for six years. She previously served as Village Trustee for two years in North Barrington and served as its Mayor for six years. Linda will Chair the Communications Committee. The Board would also like to thank David Geary for accepting the additional role of Wauconda’s Village Administrator. David has over thirty years of senior management experience in the fields of public works, emergency services, and disaster preparedness. Since 2006, he has served as Wauconda’s Director of Public Works. He also oversees the Building, Zoning and Planning Department for the Village. We look forward to working with David on all aspects of village operations, including economic development initiatives that are important to our Board and community. I am excited to announce that the Village Board and staff will meet in June to work on the 2011 Strategic Plan. This session will build upon the Village’s first Strategic Plan adopted in 2010. The Plan will provide measurable goals and guidelines for operations and projects for the coming year. Your Village Board looks forward to the positive momentum that has been generated as we prepare for the future. I invite our residents and business owners to participate as well so we can accurately address the needs of the community. As always, we would like express our sincere appreciation to all the residents who donate their time on community service projects. Their tremendous outpouring of volunteerism makes Wauconda the special community it is today! On behalf of the Village Board and staff, I would like to express how proud we are to serve this wonderful community! Have an enjoyable spring and summer, and take advantage of all that Wauconda has to offer! And remember, together, we can make a difference! MAYOR’S MESSAGE 1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2 PUBLIC WORKS 3 POLICE DEPARTMENT 4 BUILDING & ZONING 5 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 6 VILLAGE OFFICIALS 7 CONTACT INFORMATION 8 ISSUE 123 Please join me in welcoming your new Village Board members – Doug Buster, Ken Arnswald, Chuck Black, and Linda Starkey.

Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Quarterly Village Newsletter

Citation preview

Page 1: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

Public Service Open HouseSee page 4

In thIs Issue

Looking Towards the FutureWe’re proud to announce that after four years of planning, the Department of Natural Resources awarded Lake Michigan water allocations to the Village of Wauconda and nine other Lake County communities. Securing this allocation will offer us an opportunity to investigate a number of other options to make sure a plan is in place that will best fit our community.

The Board’s ultimate goal is to transition from groundwater to Lake Michigan water in order to meet our community’s future, long-term water demand projections. We will keep the community informed as we review options to this valuable resource and plan to bring our findings forward to you, our public.

Mayor’s MessageSpRiNg / SUMMER 2011 ViLLAgE OF WAUCONDA NEWS

Trustee Doug Buster, a longtime resident of Wauconda, was unanimously appointed to the Village Board on April 5th, replacing retired Trustee pam Wahl. Doug will serve as the Chair of the Building & Zoning Committee. Trustee Ken Arnswald retired from the Countryside Fire protection District after serving the public for 35 years and will serve as the Chair of the public Works Committee. Trustee Chuck Black has lived in Wauconda for nine years and serves as president of the Lake View Villa Homeowners Association. Chuck will serve as Chair of the Environmental Quality Committee. Trustee Linda Starkey has been a resident of Wauconda for six years. She previously served as Village Trustee for two years in North Barrington and served as its Mayor for six years. Linda will Chair the Communications Committee.

The Board would also like to thank David geary for accepting the additional role of Wauconda’s Village Administrator. David has over thirty years of senior management experience in the fields of public works, emergency services, and disaster preparedness. Since 2006, he has served as Wauconda’s Director of public Works. He also oversees the Building, Zoning and planning Department for the Village. We look forward to working with

David on all aspects of village operations, including economic development initiatives that are important to our Board and community.

i am excited to announce that the Village Board and staff will meet in June to work on the 2011 Strategic plan. This session will build upon the Village’s first Strategic plan adopted in 2010. The plan will provide measurable goals and guidelines for operations and projects for the coming year.

Your Village Board looks forward to the positive momentum that has been generated as we prepare for the future. i invite our residents and business owners to participate as well so we can accurately address the needs of the community.

As always, we would like express our sincere appreciation to all the residents who donate their time on community service projects. Their tremendous outpouring of volunteerism makes Wauconda the special community it is today! On behalf of the Village Board and staff, i would like to express how proud we are to serve this wonderful community!

Have an enjoyable spring and summer, and take advantage of all that Wauconda has to offer! And remember, together, we can make a difference!

� MAYOR’S MESSAGE 1 � ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2 � PUBLIC WORKS 3 � POLICE DEPARTMENT 4 � BUILDING & ZONING 5 � ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 6 � VILLAGE OFFICIALS 7 � CONTACT INFORMATION 8

Issue 123

Please join me in welcoming your new Village Board members – Doug Buster, Ken Arnswald, Chuck Black, and Linda Starkey.

Page 2: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

2

Join our growing list of subscribers and sign up to receive e-News for the Community today! it’s easy! Just visit www.wauconda-il.gov and click on “Village of Wauconda e-News.”

AN UpDATE FROM ...

Economic DevelopmentThe Village of Wauconda is entering a new fiscal year with the goal of reaffirming and communicating the importance of economic development as a common thread throughout our entire organization. The Mayor and Board of Trustees have asked staff to use this over-arching goal in the development of the Board’s strategic plan and their departmental short and long-term objectives. Moving forward, economic development in our community will benefit from collaborative departmental efforts focused on new business growth and the retention of our existing businesses. We want Wauconda to be a community

where people want to live, work, and play. As we begin to develop the new strategies for the next year and enhance existing strategies to support your community and its businesses, the Board’s strategic efforts will be communicated through the Village website (www.wauconda-il.gov), the quarterly electronic newsletter, and our weekly “e-News” updates. please feel free to contact the Department of Economic Development any time you have questions about available properties or concerns about current business prospects. We can be reached at 847-526-9609 or via e-mail at [email protected].

“We want Wauconda to be a community where people want to live, work, and play.”

PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET Pet waste affects health and water quality

Of all the chores done by pet owners, the least enjoyable is undoubtedly cleaning up their pet’s waste products. An undesirable but necessary task, it is important to dispose of waste promptly and properly. Feces attracts flies and other insects, damages lawns, makes walking hazardous and just plain smells bad. Viruses, bacteria and parasites can easily be spread in areas used for elimination endangering your pet’s health as well as your own.

Both canine distemper and parvovirus are highly contagious and can be spread through pet waste. A nasty protozoan called giardia -- which can make both you and your dog sick -- is also spread through waste.

Adults working in their gardens, children playing outside and family pets walking in the area are all exposed to the bacteria and parasites found in pet waste.

Also, every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste wash down storm drains and into streams, wetlands and lakes. This waste contains bacteria that leads to weed and algae growth and dramatically compromises water quality.

What you can do:

• Yourdog’s“dootie”isyourduty.Pickuppetwastefromcommonareas,trails and your yard. it is NOT a fertilizer.

• Carrydisposablebagswhilewalkingyourdogtopickupanddisposeofwaste properly. When you dispose of pet waste in the trash, wrap it carefully to avoid spilling during collection.

•Spreadthewordtonewandolddogownersalike.

• It’smorethanetiquette;it’saboutenvironmentalhealth-andfollowingVillage ordinance 96.06 DEpOSiTS OF STOOLS No person is to allow any animal to deposit stools on any public property, right-of-way, parkway, street, alley or the like … All possessors of any animal shall immediately remove any and all such stool deposits from these areas.

Page 3: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

3

Water Conservation Measureplease remember there is a permanent outdoor water use conservation period from June 1st - September 15th. The conservation plan permits watering at any time of the day on an alternating daily basis. (Homes with street addresses ending with even numbers are allowed to use outside water at any time on even numbered calendar days and the same for odd number street addresses.) There are provisions for new landscape planting, and should an emergency drought condition arise, an alternative conservation measure would go into effect that would further limit watering times. Contact the public Works Department at 847-526-9610 if you have any questions.

Brush Service ProgramThe Village will conduct two Village-wide residential brush collection events in 2011. Brush pick-up will be performed for all residents in the Village during the weeks of May 23th and October 10th.

• Twigs and branches must be no larger than 4 inches in diameter.

• All brush must be stacked in the same direction when placed curbside.

• Bundles should not be bagged or tied.

• Brush must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on Monday, May 23rd for the May collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on October 10th for the October collection.

Residents who need additional brush pick-up service throughout the growing season will be able to contact our contractor, Kramer Tree Specialists, directly at 630-293-5444, to request the service. Once twenty Village residents sign up for this additional service, a pick-up will be scheduled. please note that residents requesting this service will be allowed one pile of brush (up to 5’ x 10’ x 6’) for collection, and will be required to pay $45.00, in advance, directly to Kramer Tree Specialists.

(Continued on p.4)

Public WorksFROM THE DEpARTMENT OF ...

3130

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22

29

23 24 25 26 27 28

SuN MoN tue WeD

May 2011tHu fri Sat

31

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23

30

24 25 26 27 28 29

SuN MoN tue

october 2011tHu fri SatWeD

Brush Pick-UpDates

Wauconda has declared May 15–21 Public Works Week.

Page 4: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

4

AN UpDATE FROM THE ...

Police Department

“One way to assure the

security of your home is to

think, ‘if I can see it or take

it, then so can the burglar.’”

Bangs Lake SafetyResidents who plan to use Bangs Lake are reminded that the Marine Team will be in place again this summer, ready to assist boaters, inspect watercraft and issue permits. Water skiing or similar activities, as well as the operation of personal watercraft and specialty prop-craft are permitted only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and are prohibited when the waters are too crowded with watercraft or water skiers.

At the same time, personal watercraft, specialty prop-craft or similar craft may not exceed the maximum motorboat noise levels. Boaters may not modify a personal watercraft or similar craft in a way that amplifies or increases the noise level above the legal limit. The operators of watercraft must reduce speed while heading out from or returning to shore to reduce noise levels.

Chief Larsson reminds lakefront property owners that piers that are placed into the lake must comply with the Village ordinance, which states no pier can be longer than 150 feet. pier owners can contact the police Department for more information regarding the ordinance.

Spring Burglaries a Concern for PoliceThough some people may be looking forward to making a quick retreat this spring, the Wauconda police Department encourages vacationers to take a little time burglary-proofing their houses before they go.

Have a neighbor pick up your newspapers and mail each day. Burglars look for papers and flyers in the driveways or attached to doors that would normally be picked up each day. Burglars are also looking for darkened homes – timers are a cheap defense against break-ins.

“Residents should secure anything that they want to still own when they come home, like a child’s bicycle,” said Chief Doug Larsson.

The temptation to leave windows

open is greater than ever with warmer days and lighter evenings. However, burglars will see an open window and seize their opportunity – an open window is an open invitation.

Lock your car in the driveway and keep car keys hidden from view - car owners can prevent the theft of their vehicles from their home simply by keeping car keys well hidden in their house and not leaving them near letterboxes or windows where they can be fished out by a burglar without even having to physically break in. “it only takes a moment for them to gain entry and steal small items such as car keys, laptops and cameras. Close and lock your windows and doors, even if you only leave home for a short time,” says Chief Larsson.

“The best way to avoid being affected is to take away that opportunity,” he said. “One way to assure the security of your home is to think, ‘if i can see it or take it, then so can a burglar’.”

please join the Village’s police and public Works Departments for their annual Open House on Saturday, May 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the public Works Facility at 302 Slocum Lake Road. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the people who dedicate their time to maintaining the vital services and systems of the Village to make our community a better and safer place to live.

Things to do at the Open House:• Takeaphotoofyourchildina dump truck and/or big tractor

•Seeapolicedogdemonstration

•Getacloselookatourstreet sweeping equipment and high lift boom truck

•Viewtheequipmentusedby your police officers

•Testyourbestbaseballpitch against the radar speed detector

•Findouthowafirehydrantworks and how much water is in a water tower

•Learnaboutthenewest technologies used to keep our roads safe in the winter

•Fingerprintyourchild

• Touraportionofourwater reclamation plant or a water treatment facility

•Learnhowtoplantandcare for trees

Public ServiceOpen House

PublicWorks

Continued from...

Page 5: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

5

Building & ZoningFROM THE DEpARTMENT OF ...

property values. Applications for inspections are processed at the Building and Zoning Department permit Desk and require a $75 fee for each separate dwelling unit to be inspected.

if the dwelling passes inspection, a “Letter of Compliance” is issued to the owner. This document is required for closing and is passed on to the buyer to open their new sewer and water account with the Village. This document is also required for new renters. if the dwelling fails inspection, the seller must make the required corrections and schedule a free re-inspection. if the dwelling is being sold “as is” then the buyer must submit a “Letter of intent” which states they will make the required repairs within 90 days of closing. An “Authorization to Close pending Repairs” document is then

issued to the buyer to use at closing and for their new Village account.

A copy of the three-page inspection report is posted on the Building and Zoning webpage along with an informational brochure, inspection application, and a sample Letter of intent. please allow ample time to complete this process to ensure you have all documents required for your closing or rental transfer. Once again, please call 847-526-9609 or e-mail [email protected] if you have any questions.

Permit Desk Hours:

Monday through Friday

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Garage Sale Season BeginsWith the warmer weather on the horizon, garage sale season is ready to begin. Residents are allowed two garage sales each year, which must be registered with the police Department. There is no charge for this “epermit”, a link for which can be found at www.waucondapolice.com. This permit allows the sale and allows residents to post up to 6 small signs on the day of the event. if you have any questions about garage sales, you can find a list of guidelines on the Wauconda police website or contact the police Department at 847-526-2421.

Permits RequiredSpring is the beginning of the home improvement season. Before you begin any project, start the process by obtaining a permit from the Building and Zoning Department permit Desk. You will find numerous user-friendly informational brochures and flyers to assist you with your plans on the Building and Zoning webpage of the Village website at www.wauconda-il.gov. Do not hesitate to call or e-mail if you need additional information or guidance. permit desk hours are posted below right with additional afternoon hours available by appointment.

Some typical projects that require a permit are: decks, patios, fences, driveways, siding, roofs, gutters, windows, sheds, garages, interior alterations, piers, and pools. A copy of your plat of Survey is required for exterior projects to ensure applicable setbacks, placement, and code compliance prior to construction. garage sales require a no-fee permit and are issued by the police Department both online and in person.

All building permits include inspections that are required at various stages of your project. plumbing and electrical inspections are performed by authorized, licensed contractors. All other structural inspections are performed by department staff. To avoid project delays, please provide 48-hour inspection request notice to ensure inspector availability.

Residential Dwelling Inspectionsif you are selling your home, or own a rental unit that will have a change in occupancy, Wauconda Municipal Code requires a dwelling inspection prior to the sale or occupancy by a new renter. The program was established to protect the health and welfare of the occupants as well as preserve and protect area

Page 6: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

6

Advisory CommitteeTo learn more about caring for

the lake, environment, and the

benefits of native plantings,

come join the Bangs Lake

Advisory Committee at

their quarterly meetings.

All meetings are held on a

Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the

Board Room of the Village Hall.

The remaining meeting dates

for 2011 are May 23, August

22, and November 28. For

more information, please visit

the Village’s website and click

on “Community Links.”

Saturday, July 9th is the 6th Annual Kids Fishing Derby. For entry forms, e-mail

us at [email protected]. Learn

about your lake by joining

us for a boat tour of Bangs

Lake, Friday mornings at 9

a.m. Contact John Lambert

at [email protected].

Tours will be scheduled from

June 17th thru July 22nd.

The 2011 boating and fishing

season is just around the

corner. Remember the rules

of the lake. if you are not sure

of the rules, please check the

police website at

www.waucondapolice.com.

Let’s all enjoy a safe boating

and fishing season.

AN UpDATE FROM THE DEpARTMENT OF ...

Environmental QualityProtecting the Blanding’s Turtle- A State of Illinois Threatened Species The Village of Wauconda is home to a diverse community of threatened and/or endangered species listed by the State of illinois. One of these threatened species is the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). The Blanding’s Turtle is a medium-sized turtle with a dark shell and it is characterized by a bright yellow chin and throat. They are usually found in and around water. These turtles require 15-20 years to mature before they can reproduce and they can live to be sixty years old. Annually, during the months of May and June, the female turtles travel upland in search of drier locations in which to lay their eggs. Often times, this means that the turtles will cross roadways to get to these areas which may be located up to 1.5 miles from the water. in addition, turtles of both sexes may also cross the road from April through November as they may move from wetland to wetland.

if you see a turtle crossing the road in front of your car, please slow down and drive around the turtle, but only if it is safe to do so and traffic conditions permit. You may also consider pulling off to the side of the road to help the turtle cross the road. But, again, only do this if it is safe and traffic conditions permit. if you do stop to help the turtle, make sure that you move the turtle to the side of the road that it is facing.

Being aware of the presence of the Blanding’s Turtle on our area roadways, and avoiding them if possible, will help to protect their numbers and ensure survival of the species.

For more information, you can visit the following websites:

http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/herps/species/em_blandin.html

http://www.busseron.org/BCWp-pTC_Blanding.htm

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/animals/reptiles_amphibians/turtles/blandings_turtle/factsheet.pdf

SWALCO UpdateHousehold Chemical Waste (HCW) public Drop-off Collection Events are being held twice a month at SWALCO’s permanent facility in gurnee. SWALCO hosts collections there the second Saturday and the fourth Monday of the month (excluding December). The facility is located at 1311 N. Estes St., gurnee. Spots are limited, and an appointment is required. You can sign up for one of the available time slots and will receive an e-mail confirmation of your appointment. if you do not have access to a computer, you can call the SWALCO office and register by phone at 847-336-9340. Visit www.swalco.org for a list of items that you can bring to a collection event or to learn more about HCW programs and other SWALCO programs and events. You can even sign up to receive announcements of upcoming programs, events, and services.

Page 7: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

7

BeautifulBangs Lakeat sunset

Village Board of TrusteesAT A gLANCE ...

Lincoln F. KnightTrustee

Ken ArnswaldTrustee

John F. BarbiniTrustee

Chuck BlackTrustee

Ginger IrwinVillage Clerk

Linda StarkeyTrustee

Mark F. KniggeMayor

Doug BusterTrustee

Page 8: Village Voice Spring/Summer 2011

Village Hall is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

MEETiNg DATESVillage Board meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the Village Hall.

Committee of the Whole meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the Village Hall.

Zoning Board of Appeals/plan Commission meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the Village Hall, when needed.

Bangs Lake Advisory Committee meetings are held quarterly on the fourth Monday of February, May, August, and November at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the Village Hall.

Village Officials Village Contact InformationMAYOR

Mark F. Knigge

VILLAGE CLERK

Ginger Irwin

VILLAGE TRUSTEES

Lincoln F. Knight

John F. Barbini, Ed.D

Doug Buster

Linda Starkey

Ken Arnswald

Chuck Black

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR

David Geary

CHIEF OF POLICE

Douglas R. Larsson

Police/Fire Emergency (Voice & TTY) 911

Police Non-Emergency (Voice & TTY) 847.526.2421

Fire Non-Emergency 847.526.2821

Village Hall 847.526.9600

Building and Zoning 847.526.9609

Environmental Quality 847.526.9610

Finance Department 847.526.9600

Public Works 847.526.9610

Water Billing 847.526.9604

J.U.L.I.E. (call before you dig) 800.892.0123

Village of Wauconda website www.wauconda-il.gov

Police Department website www.waucondapolice.com

Fire District website www.waucondafire.org

101 North Main Street • Wauconda, IL 60084

is published by the Village of Wauconda, Illinois, as a public information service for its residents. No reproduction is allowed without Village authorization and credit line.

The Village Voice is designed by fokoz creative group.www.fokoz.com