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March - April 2014
Lincolnwood
CONNECTIONS
President’s Message 2
Inside ThisIssue
Art Gallery:New Exhibit 3
Safety Tips 4
AcceptingSeasonal Job Applications 5
Service Reminders 7
Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department Earns Accreditation by State Agencies
The Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department has been recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) at the annual Illinois Parks and Recreation Conference held on January 24, 2014. The Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department is the first municipal parks and recreation department in the State to earn this recognition.
IAPD and IPRA administer the Illinois Distinguished Accreditation program with the goal of improving the delivery of park and recreation services to Illinois residents. “The Illinois Distinguished Accreditation program provides an opportunity for these agencies to undergo a voluntary comprehensive evaluation process to demonstrate that they have met state guidelines to provide exceptional park and recreation services to their community,” explains Peter Murphy, IAPD President and CEO. “The end result is to improve the quality of life for Illinois residents.”
“By going through the state accreditation process, staff are better equipped to offer quality programs and facilities to residents using the highest standards for the operation of a parks and recreation agency,” said Jan Hincapie, Director of Parks and Recreation. “The process helped the department run more efficiently and to be better aligned to adminster laws and mandates through the development of policies and protocols. Our residents benefit from this accreditation because the department has learned to use its resources to the fullest by adopting the practices of successful agencies throughout the state and being cognizant of state and national trends in the areas of recreation programming, park facilities, conservation and business operations.”
The quality of the Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department can also be found in the variety of programs offered to the community and greater Chicago-land area. The Parks and Recreation Departmentoffers a wide variety of activities including an aquatic center, camps that serve 1,100 youth, afterschool programs, senior outings and 13 state of the art parks. The Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up for the summer so look forward to future editions of the Village newsletter and Parks and Recreation Brochure to learn what activities are available. For more information, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (847) 677-9740.
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President’s Message
Jerry TurryVillage President
Dear Fellow Residents,Well I hope that we are nearing the end of the worst winter in three decades! I can assure you that we have all had enough of Mr. Winter! If it never snows again, I will be one of the happiest mayors on the planet. And those temperatures, oh my! Enough, now let’s get to some of the really important information I want to share for this time of year.By now you have likely received your first installment of your 2013 property tax bill from the Cook County Treasurer. The Treasurer’s office has included the financial information about the various taxing bodies on this bill. On your tax bill, there are four columns which may not be easily understood. The column furthest to the left is titled “Money Owed by Your Taxing District.” This amount is comprised of all outstanding bonded debt, loans, and accounts payable to our vendors and other miscellaneous payables. The next column, “Pension and Healthcare Amounts Promised by Your Taxing Districts” is the actuarial-determined benefits owed to current and retired employees of our Village. Our sworn personnel are covered by the Village’s Police Pension Fund and all other employees are participants of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. The column labeled “Amount of Pension and Healthcare Shortage” are the funds needed to fully fund the benefits to the participants of these pension funds. The last column, “% of Pension and Healthcare Costs Taxing Districts Can Pay” is the portion of the total amount the Village has funded, to pay all of the retirement benefits for all retired and existing employees of the Village. It should be noted that the Village currently funds the required annual pension contributions to these plans in order to meet our annual obligations and will continue to do so in the coming years. The State requires that all pension funds be 90% funded by the year 2040, and we fully intend to meet this obligation.Lastly, it should also be noted that while the Village is responsible for paying into our pension funds, it is the State Legislature which controls the amount of retirement benefits our employees receive. As always, the Village will work hard to make our voice heard in Springfield especially regarding future pension legislation which increases our pension obligations. Of course we will continue to provide the best services to our residents in spite of the impact of growing pension obligations.
This last year showed growth as several businesses opened their doors bringing new products to the Village, while others did major changes and improvements to existing businesses. We embarked on some major projects with respect to community development and business planning. This includes the proposed Devon/Lincoln TIF (Tax Increment Financing District), the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Study of the Devon Corridor, and the Touhy Avenue Retail Overlay. In March, I will speak to members of our business community as well as our residents about some of the significant happenings within our Village during 2013. We accomplished a great deal of which to be proud of. On the next page are a few highlights from the Village Board and Village Manager’s Office that I will discuss during my ‘State of the Village’ speech which will be delivered on March 20 and hosted by our Lincolnwood Chamber of Commerce. You can reserve a seat at the luncheon by contacting Chamber Executive Director Jackie Boland at [email protected] or (847) 679-5760.
Understanding Your Tax BillOn your property tax bill you will find a break down of the taxing bodies that receive funding from property taxes. The Village receives a minor portion of the overall property taxes along with the school districts, other governmental bodies, public library, community college, and the township. The graphic on the right shows the percentages that each of the taxing bodies receives from all property taxes.
High School District 35.91%
Village of Lincolnwood9.23%
Other Governmental Bodies 7.58%
Public Library 4.06%
County of Cook3.16%
Oakton Community College2.42%
Niles Township and General Assistance
0.53%
School District 74 37.12%
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Below are some of the highlights attributed to the Mayor and Village Board and the Village Manager. Mayor and VillageBoard highlights:
• Dr. Marvin Cooper was selected as the Human Relations Commission’s 2013 Award recipient. Please watch for the announcement to submit a letter of nomination for a deserving resident this spring for the Madeleine Grant Award.
• Rachel Bender, Niles West High School and Joey Rubin, Yeshiva High School were presented with the Top Male and Female Student Achievers of 2013. A total of 37 student achievers were honored in June.
• The Lincolnwood Chamber of Commerce awarded their 2013 Corporate Citizens of the Year awards to Grossinger Auto Group and Loeber Motors.
• Development plans for The Shoppes at Lincoln Pointe (formerly the Purple Hotel site) were presented to the Plan Commission and Plan Commission hearings have been concluded. As the plan continues to be discussed, check the Village website for upcoming meetings and corresponding documents at lincolnwoodil.org. Village Board, Plan Commission and Economic Development Commission meetings are public meetings and I encourage you to attend. Village Board and Plan Commission meetings are also televised on Cable Channel 6 and online at lincolnwood.tv.
Village Manager’s Office highlights:• Redesigned the Village’s website providing easier access to information and services. • Added live streaming of the Village’s Cable Channel and Village Board, Plan Commission and Zoning Board of
Appeals meetings.
Gerald C. TurryVillage President
President’s Message
Village Art Gallery: New Exhibit Featuring the Artwork
of Piotr AntonowThe artwork of Piotr Antonow will be featured at the Village Hall Art Exhibit from March 11 to April 30. The exhibit, “Structural Color” include paintings that deal with in-depth color and composition analysis within subjectively selected frames. Piotr explains, “As a vehicle, I am discovering and inventing flat abstract elements or objects located on the surface of the image, serving as building blocks and recognized by the human eye as the language of structure and space. In this way, my images may be considered a translation work.” A public reception will be held on Tuesday, March 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Village Hall Art Gallery in Village Hall, 6900 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Village Looking to Feature New ArtistsThe Village is looking for new artists to feature their artwork at the Village Art Gallery located in Village Hall, 6900 N. Lincoln Avenue. The Village holds a public reception for all featured artists and information about the exhibit is disseminated through press releases and the Village website. Interested artists are asked to contact Shirley Engelstein, Art Coordinator, at (847) 674-3806. More information about the Village Art Gallery is available at lincolnwoodil.org/enjoy-lincolnwood/art-gallery/.
Human Relations Commission Seeks New MemberThe Lincolnwood Human Relations Commission (HRC) has a vacancy and the Village President is currently accepting applications for a new commissioner. The HRC was created by the Village in 1997 to act as an advisory board on cultural diversity and community integration. Interested parties should send resumes to President Jerry Turry, 6900 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60712. More information about the HRC is available at lincolnwoodil.org/government/boards-and-commissions/human-relations-commission/.
• Led an effort with the Village of Skokie and the City of Chicago to add a left-turn lane for south-bound Central Avenue at Pratt Avenue.
• Began negotiations with the City of Evanston on water purchase in order to no longer be dependent upon the rising costs of Chicago water.
You will hear much more by attending the luncheon. It should be entertaining and thought provoking.
With warmest wishes for the coming spring to you and yours,
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Safety Tips and Events
Purse Theft and Pickpocket Prevention Most thefts are crimes of opportunity. There are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of being a victim. • Don’t carry purses. Carry only a credit card and small amount of cash, and keep them in an inside coat pocket.• Use purses with shoulder straps worn across the body while holding it firmly in front of you.• Never leave purses or wallets unattended in shopping carts, store counters or fitting rooms. • Keep house keys in a separate location. If your purse is stolen, the offender will know your address.• On a bus or in a restaurant, never leave a purse on a seat. Place it on your lap or between your feet on the floor. • Pickpocketers target crowds near elevators, shopping areas and public transportation. Be aware of your surroundings.• Place wallets in a front pants pocket.
Consumer Fraud Lottery and Sweepstakes Prize Scams
Criminals use clever schemes to defraud millions of victims annually. But beware, if the deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. This includes “get rich quick” and something for nothing propositions. There are different ways that scammers commit fraud. Scammers convince consumers to wire money to a foreign country using a well-known insurance company to guarantee delivery of the “prize”. Internet fraud can include emails requesting personal information like bank account numbers, social security numbers, and dates of birth. These emails should be disregarded and deleted. Never give out your personal information by phone or mail to solicitors. If you suspect that you are the victim of fraud, you can report the incident with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/index.html. For more information, please contact Lieutenant Randy Rathmell at (847) 673-2167 or [email protected].
If your purse or wallet is stolen call 9-1-1 and report it to the police immediately. For more information, contact Lieutenant Randy Rathmell at (847) 673-2167 or [email protected].
Affordable Care Act and YouDo you have questions about enrolling for healthcare? Do you wonder if there are options available that are cost effective for your family? Connections, Howard Area Community Center, and YMCA can help you with GetCoveredIllinois, the Insurance Marketplace, at the Lincolnwood Community Center on Saturday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments for a private consultation are recommended. To schedule, call Lisa with the Howard Area Community Center at (773) 262-6622 x267. Walk-ins are also welcome. Enrollment by March 15 will guarantee coverage by April 1. Enrollment closes on March 31.
Cell Phone Numbers Go Public Cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies this month, and you may start receiving sales calls on your cell phone in the near future. If you are interested in preventing these calls, contact the National Do Not Call List at (888) 382-1222 and request that your cell phone number be placed on the do not call registry.
Niles Township Food Pantry Food Drive
The Niles Township Food Pantry and the Lincolnwood Human Relations Commission (HRC) will be holding a fooddrive from March 1 to April 15, 2014. Items collected by the HRC will directly benefit the Niles Township Food Pantry. Please bring donations such as canned and bottled foods, dry foods, and grocery store gift cards to drop-off boxes located in Lincoln Hall, Rutledge Hall, and Todd Hall Schools. For more information, visit the HRC website at lincolnwoodil.org/government/boards-and-commissions/human-relations-commission/.
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Information and Events
Parks and Recreation Accepting Applications for Summer Staff
The Parks and Recreation Department is currently accepting applications for several summer positions in the aquatics and day camp areas.
The first step for qualified applicants is to complete an employment application. Applications are available on the Village website at lincolnwoodil.org, by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department at (847) 677-9740, or visiting the Parks and Recreation Department in Village Hall.
Aquatics positions include pool managers, maintenance staff, front desk, concession stand attendants, and lifeguards. For more information, please contact Chris Stachewicz, Superintendent of Parks and Facilities, at [email protected].
Day camp positions include coordinators, supervisors and counselors. For more information, please contact Katie Smith-Gamroth, Superintendent of Recreation, at [email protected].
Memorial Day Parade and Festivities Please help American Legion Post #1226 and the Village of Lincolnwood celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, May 26.
This year’s events will include the long-standing parade tradition which will begin at approximately 10:20 a.m. at the corner of Cicero and Pratt Avenues. The parade route will travel east on Pratt Avenue and turn north on Keeler Avenue with a final stop in Proesel Park at Madeleine’s Garden where a ceremony will take place.
Consider showing your support by submitting a parade entry on behalf of a community group, or get your neighbors together to show support along the parade route. For more information, please contact Katie Smith-Gamroth, Superintendent of Recreation, at [email protected].
Hydrant Flushing
vicinity of the work may experience temporary discoloration of their water. This discoloration consists primarily of harmless silt and precipitates, and does not affect the safety of the water. If you experience discoloration in your water after crews have been flushing in your neighborhood, clear the pipes in your home by running all water faucets.
If you have any questions regarding hydrant flushing, please contact the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888.
Tree Removal PermitsWith spring approaching, the Public Works Department would like to remind residents that in order to remove any private property tree that is eight inches or greater in diameter, you must first apply for a tree removal permit through the Community Development Department. The Village’s tree removal Ordinance is intended to protect, manage, preserve, and enhance the Village’s urban forest. For questions regarding the Tree Management Ordinance or to obtain a tree removal permit, please contact the Community Development Department at (847) 673-7402 or the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888.
During the spring, the Public Works Department will begin to flush hydrants. Signs will be posted in the areas that will be affected prior to flushing. Periodic flushing of fire hydrants is an important preventative maintenance activity to maintain the integrity of the water system and ensure water quality. As a result of the flushing procedure, residents in the immediate
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Roads and Utilities
Crawford Avenue Reconstruction Project Community Meeting
March 20On Thursday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. the Village of Lincolnwood will hold a meeting along with the Village of Skokie and the Cook County Highway Department to provide residents and businesses with information regarding the Crawford Avenue Reconstruction Project which is slated to begin in April 2014. The meeting will be held at the Lincolnwood Village Hall in the Council Chambers located at 6900 N. Lincoln Avenue.
The project is anticipated to be a year-long project. The project limits are from Devon Avenue north to Jarvis Avenue and continuing north into the Village of Skokie. The project will include new stormsewers, road, curb, sidewalk and trees within the medians and replacement of streetlights, water mains and fire hydrants. During construction, a dedicated webpage lincolnwoodil.org/crawford-avenue will be updated with construction information on a regular basis. Please direct questions about the project to the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888.
Village to Move Forward with Stormwater Management Pilot ProjectOn Monday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. the Village will be holding a community meeting regarding the stormwater management pilot area improvements that are slated for construction in 2014. The meeting will be held at Village Hall in Council Chambers, 6900 N. Lincoln Avenue. The pilot area is bounded by Pratt Avenue to the north, McCormick Blvd to the east, Devon Avenue to the south and Lincoln Avenue to the west. See the map provided below.
Working with the Ad Hoc Sewer Committee and engineering consultants, the Village has identified that the most cost effective means to slow the release of stormwater from heavy rains into the Village’s combined sewer systems is to use the streets as temporary storage. During very heavy rains, water will be store on the street through a carefully designed systemof berms and underground restrictors. The restrictors will be specifically designed to slow the release of water into the sewer system, thereby creating capacity to keep the water flowing positively through the sewers and not filling them quickly with water, which is what causes the sewers to discharge into basements during heavy rainfalls. It is anticipated that the streets would only hold back water during very heavy rainfalls, and within two hours of the conclusion of the storm, the water will be drained from the streets.
For additional information concerning this program, you can read the full stormwater management report on the Village’s website at lincolnwoodil.org/resident-services/stormwater-study/ or call the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888 for more information.
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Service Reminders
Groot Garbage Pick-UpAs a reminder, Groot picks up garbage and recycled items every Monday. If Monday falls on a holiday, garbage will be picked up on the following day. During the 2014 calendar year, Groot will be observing the following holidays: Memorial Day, May 26, 2014 (pick-up will occur on Tuesday, May 27, 2014) and Labor Day, September 1, 2014 (pick-up will occur on Tuesday, September 2, 2014).
If a pick-up is missed, residents must call Public Works on Tuesday prior to 11 a.m. Failure to report missed pick-ups in a timely manner will impact Groot’s ability to dispose of refuse prior to the next normal pick-up.
Yard waste pick-up will resume as of March 17, 2014 and will run through November 24, 2014. Groot will not pick up garbage that is mixed with branches and yard waste. If you have yard waste in your garbage, Groot will notify you by placing an orange tag on the garbage bin. If you receive an orange tag, separate your garbage from the yard waste and contact Groot at (847) 734-6400 to schedule a pick-up. When disposing of yard waste, please ensure that branches are four inches or less in diameter, four feet or less in length and tied together in bundles not exceeding 60 pounds. Yard waste bags may be purchased at Village Hall for $2.00 which includes five bags.
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888.
Reduced Pressure Zone Testing As spring approaches, residents are reminded that a licensed and certified backflow prevention assembly tester must perform an annual backflow prevention assembly test and certification on all reduced pressure zone (RPZ) valves installed on sprinkler systems. Plumbing inspectors must submit the reports directly to the Village’s backflow testing company Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI). For questions regarding requirements, contact BSI at (800) 414-4990.
If you have a lawn sprinkler system and do not have a RPZ valve installed you must install one immediately. The State of Illinois and the Village’s Cross Connection Control Program requires all plumbing cross connections to comply. Plumbing cross-connections, which are defined as actual or potential connections between a potable and nonpotable water supply, constitute a serious public health hazard. There are numerous, well-documented cases where cross-connections have been responsible for contamination of drinking water, and have resulted in the spread of disease. Should you have questions regarding the Village’s Cross Connection Control Program you may contact the Public Works Department at (847) 675-0888.
Permanent Street Sweeping Schedule
ReminderEach year the Public Works Department performs street sweeping throughout the Village to keep streets clean as well as to prevent dirt and debris from entering the Village’s combined sewer system. In 2012, permanent signs were installed on each block notifying residents when street sweeping will occur in their area. Signs were installed on each block on each side of the street. Residents will have street sweeping performed every month on the same day of the week. Street sweeping will resume on April 1, 2014. Provided below is the schedule for street sweeping:
Section 1: First Tuesday and Wednesday of the monthSection 2: First Thursday and Friday of the monthSection 3: Second Tuesday and Wednesday of the monthSection 4: Second Thursday and Friday of the monthSection 5: Third Tuesday and Wednesday of the monthSection 6: Third Thursday and Friday of the monthSection 7: Fourth Tuesday and Wednesday of the monthSection 8: Fourth Thursday and Friday of the month
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT NO. 113
CHICAGO, IL
LINCOLNWOOD CONNECTIONS is published by the Village as a public information service for residents. The newsletter is available for download under “Quicklinks” at the Village’s homepage at www.lincolnwoodil.org.
The Village Hall, Police Department, Fire Department, Community Development Department, and the Parks and Recreation Department are located at 6900 North Lincoln Avenue in the Municipal Complex. Village Hall office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Village Website Fire / Medical Emergency Village Hall Police Department Fire Department Public Works Department Community Development Department Parks and Recreation Department Village EngineerCode Enforcement OfficerAdministration Social Services Groot SWANCC IDOT Cook County
Board and Commission MeetingsVillage Board (TV)Plan Commission (TV) Human Relations Commission*Park and Recreation Board Zoning Board of Appeals (TV) Economic Development Commission Traffic Commission Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Telecommunications Advisory Commission *Designates a vacancy, please call Village Hall at (847) 673-1540 if you are interested in serving on a board or commission with a vacancy. Village Board meetings are held in the Council Chambers in Village Hall at 7:30 pm on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Please check the Village’s website at lincolnwoodil.org for Board and Commission meeting dates, agendas, and minutes. To receive meeting agendas, send an email to [email protected].
(TV) = Broadcast live on Comcast Cable Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 and lincolnwood.tv. Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Village Board meetings are also re-broadcast one week following the scheduled meeting on Comcast Cable 6 and AT&T U-Verse and are also available on-demand at lincolnwood.tv.
ECRWSSPOSTAL CUSTOMER
LINCOLNWOOD IL 60712
www.lincolnwoodil.org9-1-1(847) 673-1540(847) 673-2167(847) 673-1545(847) 675-0888(847) 673-7402(847) 677-9740(847) 745-4862(847) 745-4811(847) 745-4717(847) 673-2167(847) 734-6400(847) 724-9205(847) 705-4000(708) 485-7130
1st, 3rd Tuesday of the month1st Wednesday of the month2nd Monday of the month2nd Tuesday of the month3rd Wednesday of the month4th Wednesday of the month4th Thursday of the monthAs neededAs needed
VILLAGE OF LINCOLNWOOD6900 N LINCOLN AVELINCOLNWOOD IL 60712www.lincolnwoodil.orgVillage President Gerald TurryTrustee Ronald CopeTrustee Lawrence ElsterTrustee Craig KlatzcoTrustee Nicholas LeftakesTrustee Jesal PatelTrustee Renee Sprogis-MarohnVillage Clerk Beryl HermanVillage Treasurer Charles GreensteinVillage Manager Timothy Wiberg
Almighty Home Health6677 N. Lincoln Ave., Suite 330Home Healthcare773-463-4040
Car Lease.com7100 N. Ridgeway Ave. Vehicle Dealership(847) 714-1414
Tenant Advisor LLC7303 N. Cicero, Suite BCommercial Real Estate Brokerage(847) 763-9695
Grapevine Telesystms7337 N. Lincoln, Suite 290Sales and Service of Telephoneand Voicemail Systems(847) 317-0700
Heavenly Infinity LightLincolnwood Town CenterLight Sales Aria L Salon And Spa3916 W. Touhy Ave. Hair and Skin Services(847) 676-1833
Skintology Spa6449 N. Lincoln Ave. Spa and Skin Care(847) 983-0530
Black Lab ManagementManagement Services6600 N. Lincoln Ave. #210(847) 682-9713
New Businesses: Welcome to Lincolnwood!
Recent Board Actions• Approved the application for the 2014 Lincolnwood Festival,
which will be held from July 24 to 27. Additional information on the Lincolnwood Festival will appear in future edition of the Village’s newsletter.
• Approved a recommendation by the Plan Commission Concerning a Preliminary Plat of Consolidation, Zoning Map Amendment, and Preliminary Planned Unit Development for the Construction of a Mix Use Development at 4500 and 4560 Touhy Avenue and 7350, 7358, and 7366 Lincoln Avenue.
Village Hall ClosureVillage Hall will be closed on Friday, April 18, Good Friday.
