Village Bulletins
- Flood Damage Assessment Process Underway.
Residents are urged to report any property damage caused by the recent floods. The Lake County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) continues to coordinate with municipalities and townships to compile damage assessment information, and EMA will work with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on potential assistance. It is too soon to determine if state or federal assistance will become available.
If your property has been impacted by the recent floods, you need to report it to your local government agency, as follows:
* If you live in a municipality, contact your city or village.
* If you live in unincorporated area, or a township, contact the Lake County Planning Building and Development Department at 847-377-2081. - Lake County Advises Caution During Flooding. The recent rains in Lake County have brought about incidents of flooding and possible sewer back-ups in a number of areas. The Lake County Health Department/ Community Health Center recommends steps to minimize health hazards for residents who have experienced flooding in or around their homes. Those steps can be found by clicking here.
- April 9th Official Election Results. Official Canvass results show Jackie Andrew (running on the ballot as an Independent), Todd Smith (Write-in), and Martin Pais (Write-in) as the elected candidates for the three Trustee positions. They will be sworn into office at the regularly scheduled Board Meeting on May 22. Congratulations to all of the candidates.
- Notice of the Closing of a Portion of Oxford Road. The Village Board recently approved an Ordinance authorizing the closing of a portion of Oxford Road. Oxford Road will be closed beginning Friday, May 3rd. It is in the public interest that a portion of the road be closed as it is subject to periodic flooding and constitutes a danger to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. For a copy of the Notice, click here
- Miller Road Construction. Work to correct a chronic road flooding problem will take place this year with Lake County DOT elevating Miller Road and constructing a three span bridge just east of IL Route 59. Residents that live in the area and regularly travel Miller Road are familiar with the "low spot" and the the "Water on Pavement" signs that sprout up during wet weather. This project is expected to begin this summer with construction of the new bridge, which will require a 90 day closure of the road to all traffic from Route 59 to Biltmore Drive. The entire project is expected to take about one year to construct and will be completed in early 2014.
- Citizens For Conservation. Spring Volunteer Restoration Workdays. CFC restoration volunteers have launched another ambitious Spring workday schedule, working every Thursday and Saturday from 9:00-11:00am. Experienced and new volunteers are always welcome. Meet at CFC Headquarters at 459 West Highway 22 in Lake Barrington. Bring work gloves, dress for the weather, and CFC will provide the tools. For more information, call CFC at 847-382-SAVE (7283) or visit www.CitizensforConservation.org.
- Flint Creek Watershed Partnership. Rain Garden Workshop. North Barrington started last fall to restore 10 acres adjacent to the Flint Creek. Chicago Wilderness Magazine highlighted the Partnership's work in their summer issue just released. The article can be found here. For more information about the restoration efforts, contact either the Village of North Barrington or the watershed coordinator, Patsy Mortimer at 847-381-8663, or via e-mail at pmortimer@earthlink.net or access their website found here. The partnership meets on the last Wednesday of odd numbered months. The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 19th, 11:00am at North Barrington Village Hall (111 Old Barrington Road).
- SWALCO. Household Chemical Waste Event. Saturday, May 11th is the next household chemical waste event. To make an appointment please contact SWALCO. Appointments are required. Future dates include Tuesday, May 28th and Saturday, June 8th. Electronics Recycling. SWALCO provides residents with a variety of ways to recycle and reduce waste. There is NO cost to drop off accepted household electronic items at many locations. For your convenience, Cuba Township Road District (28070 W. Cuba Road, Barrington) accepts household electronic items on Fridays from 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) as well as these locations: Lake Barrington (Prairieland Disposal & Recycling Services) 27W966 Commercial Avenue - Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 3:00pm (excluding holidays) and Saturday 7:30am - 12:00pm. and the Village of Wauconda (Public Works Facility) 505 W. Bonner Road 1st Saturday of each month 9:00am - 12:00pm (fluorescent light bulbs also accepted at the Wauconda Township Highway Department). Lake County Officials Launch Recycling Initiative. A new education campaign has been launched by SWALCO. To learn more please visit the website. Mobile HCW Event. The next mobile event is scheduled for Saturday, May 18th at the Metra Train Station in Vernon Hills (Route 45 & Ranney Road). The event will take place from 8:00am - 2:30pm and appointments are not required. For more information, and accepted items, please visit www.swalco.org. Spring Event. On Saturday, May 11th from 9:00am - 3:00pm purchase compost bins, rain barrels, and native plants. This event will take place at Independence Grove Forest Preserve Libertyville, IL. For more information on the rain barrels and compost bins click here. For information on the native plants and a listing of available native plants, click here.
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Lake County Stormwater Management Commission awards North Barrington as the "Community of the Year" for the Village's ongoing efforts to improve drainage and water quality in the Village and the Flint Creek Watershed. The press release can be found here. During the award ceremony, Lake County Stormwater Commission Chairman Stevenson Mountsier was honored with a special recognition as an outgoing member of the Commission.
- Private Well Class. A free online course that helps homeowners understand and care for their water well is being provided. Sign up for the ten weekly email lessons and monthly webinar events to learn the basics of protecting your source of drinking water. This training is a free service funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Sign up for your free class at www.privatewellclass.org. The lesson will arrive by email in an easy to follow format.
- Cuba Township Mulch Program. Beginning at the end of March the mulch program is available for free pickup at the Township's wood yard from 7am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday. Private personal vehicles only, no commercial vehicles, no landscapers under any circumstances or landscaper vehicles. We also deliver free mulch charging $85.00 (2012) for the delivery, per truckload.
- Electrical Aggregation. Our first full six months have been successful! On average, each participating household has saved $350 and collectively the participating households have saved more than $325,000 during the first full six months! North Barrington's ability to pursue an electricity aggregation program was approved by Village voters on March 20th. For information on the program, go to the Integrys site found here, or phone their customer service line dedicated to North Barrington residents at 1-855-776-5597. Or you may contact the Village for further information. Please keep in mind that other electrical companies still have the right to call in an attempt to gain your business. It has been reported that some of these companies are calling and asking residents to verify their electrical company and plan with them. Integrys will NOT be asking you to do this. If you have not opted-out of the program, you are already registered and do not have do anything further.
- ComEd Two-Way Alert Outage Messaging. ComEd has instituted a two-way text messaging capability that allows customers to text their outage to ComEd and enables ComEd to text restoration information back to customers. The expanded outage alert text message program allows customers to text the company to report an outage, offer real-time information on outages, allow customers to text ComEd to opt into the program, and more. To sign up please visit: www.comed.com/customer-service/outage-information/Pages/outage-alerts.aspx Standard Templates. Standard templates with detailed information for communicating outage information to municipalities will be use and information will be sent twice each day during restoration. Communication. ComEd has doubled the amount of lines into their call center to take more calls in the event of an emergency. ComEd also has a new $1 million state-of-the-art mobile command center (MOC) which can house 25 ComEd engineers to be dispatched in the event of severe localized damage. Downed Power Lines. To report a downed power line please call 1-800-EDISON-1.
- New Electronic Recycling Guidelines. On January 1, 2012 a new State Law will take effect banning certain electronic items from being sent to landfills. The following items must be recycled beginning January 1st: TVS, Computer monitors, Printers, Computers (including tablets), Electronic keyboards, Electronic mice, Fax machines, VCRs, Portable digital music players, DVD players, DVD recorders, Video game consoles, Small-scale servers, Scanners, Digital converter boxes, Cable receivers, Satellite receivers. For your convenience Cuba Township offers electronic recycling programs as does SWALCO, with a drop off location in Wauconda. Please visit their websites for more information.
- Septic Maintenance Ordinance. One of the goals of the Comprehensive Plan for the Village of North Barrington is to manage, conserve and protect the water resources of the Village in order to provide high quality surface and subsurface waters to serve the community needs. As you know, the Village has adopted a Septic Maintenance Ordinance to help educate homeowners regarding their septic system, prevent or detect failing systems and reduce the risk of contamination to the water resources within our Village. To view a copy of this Ordinance, please click here. The Ordinance is meant to be phased in over time in order for homeowners to be able to comply without undue hardship or cost. Homeowners will be notified when they are requested to provide information regarding the maintenance of their system via a letter from the Village. If you're planning on conducting maintenance to your system prior to receiving your notice please keep a copy of your receipt and any results as this will provide beneficial.
- Water Well News. This season is known for thorough cleaning around the home and yard. Use caution before you dump those old products left on the shelves down the drain, especially if you have a septic system. Avoid dumping old paints, harsh chemicals, medicine or any other products that will kill the bacteria in the septic tank. These products may also end up in your groundwater! For more information on protecting your septic system, well inspections, and well water testing please click here. BACOG has put together a brochure to help homeowners understand how their wells and septic systems work and how to properly maintain them. This guide is available for download by clicking here. Water Conservation. A family of four uses approximately 400 gallons of water every day, indoor use only. Click here to see tips on saving water and the life of your well.
- NACo Rx Drug Discount Program. For several years the NACo Drug Card Program has been available in Lake County and is available for all county residents. Residents of Lake County have an average price savings of $11.18 or about 20% per prescription. Please visit www.lakecountyil.gov and click on the Prescription Drug Program button on the left for more information. You can print a card from the website, or visit Village Hall to pick yours up today.
- Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program. Nicor Gas launched a new Energy Efficiency Program targeted at helping customers save energy and money. Please click here for a detailed description of plans associated with the program that are available through May 2011 or until funding is exhausted. These plans include both residential and business programs. For more information regarding the Nicor Gas Efficiency Program please visit their website at http://www.nicorgasrebates.com or call the customer rebate center at 877-886-4239.
- Lake County Curbside Recycling Guidelines. SWALCO advocated for one set of recycling guidelines for all of Lake County. The first set of new comprehensive Lake County Curbside Recycling Guidelines can be found by clicking here. Show your trash can that you love your recycling more. To get a list of everything you can now recycle, visit: recyclefirsttrashlast.org.
- Regional Water Plan. The Lake County Board endorsed a landmark water supply/demand plan meant to ensure the availability of clean water for the future. For more information on the report and the primary strategies please go to water-2050. To learn more about what you can do to save water please click here.
- Disposal of Old/Unused Medication. In Illinois, a pilot program with the IEPA provides local law enforcement with assistance in setting up a medication disposal program by providing barrels for collection, and free pick up and disposal of unused and expired non-controlled pharmaceuticals. The two closest police departments currently participating in this program are the Fox River Grove Police Department and the Johnsburg Police Deparment, both located in McHenry County. For more information on the McHenry County Medication Waste Disposal Program contact Cassandra McKinney, McHenry County Water Resource Manager at clmckinner@co.mchenry.il.us.
- Heritage Tree Ordinance. A Heritage Tree Ordinance was adopted on 10/28/09 for the purpose of preserving the Village's many heritage trees. A "Heritage Tree" is defined as any tree having a Diameter Breast Height of twenty inches (20") or larger. The preservation of these trees offers numerous benefits to the Village such as enhancing the Village's scenic beauty and preserving property values among others. Removal of any Heritage Tree is prohibited and subject to violation penalties. To view the ordinance in its entirety, you may come to the Village Hall or click here
- Village of North Barrington, Illinois Watershed BMP Handbook. The development of the Watershed BMP Handbook was facilitated by the Barrington Area Conservation Trust. It was funded as a cooperative effort between the Village of North Barrington, the Barrington Area Conservation Trust, the Barrington Area Council of Governments and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. The project was funded by a grant from the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. The Handbook can be found here.
- Barrington Area Community Calendar. To find out what is going on in your neighborhood as well as surrounding area, consult the online Barrington Area Community Calendar found here. You can even sign up for email notification! A great tool!
- Conservation@Home. Conservation@Home is a partnership between Barrington Area Conservation Trust and Citizens for Conservation to encourage homeowners to maintain their properties using conservation practices that benefit the environment. Conservation@Home volunteer consultants provide simple, easy-to-implement steps to encourage conservation-friendly practices on private land. There is no fee for the consultation. If you would like to learn more about how to implement environmentally friendly practices on your property, please schedule a Conservation@Home consultation with one of their representatives. More information can be found by visiting Citizen's For Conservation's Website or Barrington Area Conservation Trust's Website.
- New Handbook Provides Information for Private Well Owners. To help private water system owners develop and maintain a safe, adequate and dependable water system, the MidWest Plan Service has published a booklet "Private Water Systems Handbook" and is available through local University of Illinois Extension offices or on-line www.mwps.org. Some of the topics in the publication include planning for water usage, well construction, care and location; cisterns, ponds and springs; water testing and treatment; maintenance of the system and other related topics. Lake County Health Department also has informative information on their website found here.
- Culvert 50/50 Cost Share Program. The Village has a 50/50 cost share program for under driveway stormwater culvert replacement. The Village will pay half of the cost of the replacement, with the homeowner paying the remaining half. The work is performed by Cuba Township's Road Department. It is important for all property owners to maintain their culverts for proper stormwater conveyance. A clogged or collapsed culvert can cause flooding problems on the homeowner's property as well as neighboring properties, and in some cases force water to spill over roads causing washout situations. Keeping ditch lines clear of all obstructions is equally important. The replacement program is just starting for the season. Sign up now to get in early. If you have questions about this replacement program contact the Village Hall.
- Rain Gardens. A rain garden is simply a shallow depression in your yard that is planted with native wetland or wet prairie wildflowers and grasses. It is designed to naturally collect water that runs off from your roof or is discharged from your sump pump. Rain gardens make good use of stormwater runoff; conserving precious water supplies and helping protect water quality in downstream lakes and streams. Rain gardens provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and beneficial insects, such as mosquito eating dragonflies. More information can be found at Lake County's website found here. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also has an informational website found here. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and th U.S. Botanic Garden produced an online video "Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In" that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. Click here to see the video.
- COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFL) RECYCLING. Waste Management offers a Think Green From Home program in which many items, such as light bulbs and batteries, can be safely recycled. They are offering home recycling kits that provide streamlined mail-in solutions for these and other household materials. For more information, please visit their website at www.ThinkGreenFromHome.com. The Village of Barrington is one of several communities participating in a recycling program for CFL bulbs. The program is designed to help residential consumers property dispose of burnt-out CFLs because of the small amounts of mercury they contain. Drop off locations include the Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough Street, (847) 304-3400; Barrington Public Works Building, 300 N. Raymond Avenue, (847) 381-7903 and Barrington Public Safety Building, 400 N. Northwest Highway, (847) 304-3300. More information about recycling bulbs and proper cleanup if a bulb should break can be found here.
- Vehicle Stickers. Residents are reminded that vehicle stickers are required for all vehicles in the Village. Every owner of a motor vehicle or motorcycle that is registered to a North Barrington address is required to have a vehicle sticker. These vehicle stickers are not only mandatory, but also provide an important source of village revenue, and the fees from these stickers are used towards road improvements on the Village roadways. Applications for the 2013 stickers have been sent out. If you have misplaced yours or need an additional one, please use the PDF version found here. If you need a schedule of fees it can be found here. A Penalty Rate will apply to stickers purchased after March 31, 2013.
- Garbage Pick Up If your service day falls on or after a holiday, your service will be one day late that week. Regular service resumes the next week. Observed Holidays Include: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Pick up after the Memorial Day as well as Independence Day holidays will be one day late (Wednesday instead of Tuesday). For customer service call (800) 796-9696 or visit their website found here.
- Overnight Parking. Residents are reminded that there is no overnight parking allowed in the Village between the hours of 2 a.m and 6 a.m. Tickets for parking violations will be issued by the Lake County Sheriff's Department. This is especially important during the winter snowplowing season. If a vehicle impedes snowplow equipment, the vehicle may be towed in order for proper street clearance.
- DOGS. Residents are reminded that every person who owns a dog and allows the dog to run at large, other than on the premises of the owner, shall be guilty of a violation of Village Code and the offending dog will be declared a public nuisance and shall be apprehended and impounded. Also, any dog owner who fails to remove excrement deposited by his dog upon any premises, public or private, other than on the premises of the owner, shall be guilty of a violation of Village Code. Both violations are subject to fines.
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II. The Village of North Barrington is authorized to discharge stormwater under IEPA General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. ILR40. As part of the Permit, The Village is required to set goals over a five year period to reduce pollution to its receiving waters. These goals are described in the Notice of Intent (NOI) found here. After each year (March - March) the Village must document status of compliance with the NOI and any changes to the NOI in an Annual Report found here. If you have any questions, please contact the Village Hall.
- Potential Stormwater Ordinance Violations Please contact the Village Hall (847) 381-6000 to report potential stormwater ordinance violations, construction site erosion and sediment control problems, suspected illicit discharges to the stormwater system, and maintenance issues.
- A Citizen's Guide to Riparian Area Management From the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. A Riparian area is the shoreline and immediate adjacent area to a lake, stream or creek. This guides gives steps for stabilizing shorelines and streambanks, as well as outlines successful stream management practices. This guide can be found here.
- A Citizen's Guide to Maintaining Stormwater Best Management Practices - For Homeowners and Property Owners. Published by Lake County Stormwater Management Commission can be found here.
- Living with Wetlands. Published by the Wetlands Initiative, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to provide environmental and economic benefits to both society and the landowner. Through research, education, public policy analysts, and large scale wetland restoration demonstration projects, TWI aims to restore one million acres - 2 percent of the wetlands lost in the Midwest - by the year 2010. This handbook for homeowners in Northeastern Illinois can be found here. The informative handbook explains the purpose of wetlands, ways to protect and manage wetlands, as well as how to seek help in maintaining the quality of the wetland area.
