The December newsletter is also available as a .pdf
Dear Resident:
On behalf of the Village Board and all the Village employees, I would like to wish each of you a Holiday Season filled with peace, health, and safety. We also wish that each of you will be surrounded by people who love and support you. The holidays hold a special place in my heart as it is such a festive time of year, almost making me feel like a kid again. I always look forward to the many events and activities around the Village that celebrate the season. We have had our Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Park District, the Holiday Train will be here December 8th to entertain us and collect food donations for the less fortunate, and I hope to see many of you at the Menorah Lighting held at Gurnee Mills. No matter what religion we celebrate, this is a very special time of year and I hope everyone has a great time with friends and family.
Please keep in mind our dedicated men and women who are devoted to the mission of peace and freedom in our Country. May we all work together in 2008 to raise our families in a safe and supportive environment and may our family members overseas come home safely.
Finally, as we look toward a new year, watch for the Village’s 2007 Annual Report and 2008 Calendar. It spotlights many of Gurnee’s achievements during 2007, while containing a wealth of information on all our valuable public services available to residents and businesses. The New Year’s beginning offers us the opportunity to reflect on the past and look to the future.
Best wishes for a joyous Holiday season and a fruitful new year!
Sincerely,
Mayor Kristina M. Kovarik
For a vacation escape that’s a million miles from everyday, yet just a few short smiles away, Capt’n Dave cordially invites you to KeyLime Cove Water Resort. KeyLime Cove is a water resort paradise inspired by warm tropical breezes and the laid-back island lifestyle and is located right here in Gurnee!
Take advantage of a special Gurnee Resident rate and check out the resort for yourself! Receive a 20% discount off the best available rate when you book a stay Sunday-Thursday, April 1st - May 31st.
Escape to Paradise now and visit www.KeyLimeCove.com for more information. To book your reservation, and take advantage of this offer, please call 847-406-3993 today! KeyLime Cove Water Resort opens February 29, 2008 and is located north of Grand Avenue just off Dilley Road on Nations Drive.
In observance of the upcoming holiday, the Village of Gurnee business offices will be closed on Monday, December 24th and Tuesday, December 25th .
In addition, Village offices will also be closed on Tuesday, January 1, 2008, in observation of New Year’s Day. Normal business hours will resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.
Shoppers today have an endless array of choices, both in terms of what to buy, and where to buy it. While the price of goods usually plays a substantial role in considering how or where to purchase a particular product or service, don’t forget that your shopping decisions also directly impact Gurnee! A percentage of each dollar spent in Gurnee goes directly to the Village’s general revenue fund, which helps fund Village services, such as police and fire protection, and infrastructure projects, such as street maintenance.
Sales tax revenue makes up about 80% of the Village’s General Fund budget. The Village of Gurnee eliminated its share of the property tax in exchange for a 1/2% home rule sales tax in September 2000. This means that the Village does not directly receive any portion of your property tax dollar. With over 26 million visitors to the community each year, non-residents make significant contributions of sales tax revenue used to fund Village operations, therefore reducing the tax burden on our residents.
So, as the holiday shopping season draws closer, remember that a portion of every dollar spent in Gurnee assists the Village in maintaining a healthy balance of revenues, and helps to mitigate the need for increases in other forms of revenue.
In an effort to better inform the public during both emergency and non-emergency situations, the Village of Gurnee has implemented a village-to-resident automated telephone service. This service allows the Village to alert residents to a variety of matters including evacuations, weather events, hazmat spills, water-main breaks, lost child notices, crime watches, and more. This service allows the Village to create and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive messages to every telephone number stored in the notification database. With the automated service, the Village can attempt to contact every home and business in Gurnee within a short period of time.
Primary residential and business phones in Gurnee will be automatically included in the system. Residents must opt-in to have their e-mail address, cell phone, or private phone numbers included for emergency notifications. Resident may add this additional contact information at the Village of Gurnee website at www.gurnee.il.us or by completing an application form available at Village Hall. Residents may also choose to opt-out of the service using the same options listed above.
Residents are reminded that security and privacy concerns have been taken very seriously and information will not be sold, traded, leased, or loaned to any third party. Data is protected by physical and virtual layers to maintain data security.
The Village has plans to test the system and make an introductory call to all residents and businesses during the first half of December. For more information, please visit
www.gurnee.il.us.
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), along with the Village of Gurnee, is sponsoring a one-day event to collect outdated, broken, or unwanted household electronics. The event will be held at the Public Works building (1151 Kilbourne Road) from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on January 24, 2008.
The following are examples of items that will be accepted at this event: personal computers, monitors, keyboards, laptops, printers, TVs, VCRs, camcorders, radios, speakers, blenders, vacuums, microwave ovens, power tools, typewriters, copy & fax machines, scanners, calculators, paper shredders, telephones, answering machines, cellular phones, etc...
This event is for residents only. For a complete list of what items will and will not be accepted, please contact Public Works at 847-599-6800 or visit www.co.lake.il.us/swalco.
The Village of Gurnee will repair or reimburse residents for damages caused to private mailboxes by municipal plows during the snow removal season. However, the Village cannot reimburse homeowners for municipal plow damage if the mailboxes are improperly placed.
In order to avoid damage to your mailbox, the following placement procedures should be followed (46” tall and 6” to 8” from the curb line - see diagram). The maximum reimbursement is $75. For further information regarding snow removal, please contact the Gurnee Public Works Department at 847-599-6800.
The Village of Gurnee invites all residents and local businesses to participate in the Winter Holiday Decorating Contest. The contest is judged by an impartial panel in three separate categories, which include:
• Commercial/Retail
• Neighborhood/HOA
• Residential
Entries are evaluated based upon creativity, technical execution, relationship of materials, thematic elements, and design distinction. Applications are available now and are due December 12, 2007. Winners will be announced at the December 17, 2007, Village Board meeting.
In order to get residents better acquainted with their locally elected representatives, the Village has started the “Meet Your Trustee” series. Each edition of the Keeping Posted will highlight a different member of the Gurnee Village Board.
Michael Jacobs
Village Trustee Michael Jacobs has lived in Gurnee for 17 years and was elected to the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2007. In addition to serving as a Trustee, Michael also serves as Chairman of the Village’s Finance Committee. Michael has been employed by the Cook County States Attorneys Office for over twenty-one years. During the last four years, he has specialized in the labor and employment areas. When not serving in these capacities, Michael enjoys participating in team sports with friends. In addition, he takes every opportunity to coach youth sports from baseball in the spring and summer, football in the fall and floor hockey in the winter. “My true passion is the administration of youth sports programming.” He currently serves as the President of Gurnee Youth Baseball. During his tenure as President the program has expanded from approximately 700 to nearly 900 players. In addition, they now offer opportunities to players as old as eighteen.
When asked what motivated him to become involved in municipal government, Michael responded, “Having grown up in Lake County, I have seen the Village of Gurnee become one the County’s treasures. Gurnee is a wonderful place to live, shop, and visit. It was my desire to become a Trustee to offer perspectives to the Mayor and other Trustees that will help ensure that our community will be looked upon as a model community, not only by our residents, but our neighbors and other communities for years to come.”
Michael was also asked of what accomplishment he is most proud. He responded, “While I am proud of many things that I have accomplished throughout my life, nothing has been as thrilling as seeing the election returns from last April when I learned that the citizens of Gurnee had the confidence and trust in me to elect me one of their leaders.”
Residents interested in contacting Michael, or any other member of the Gurnee Village Board, can send an email to: Villageboard@village.gurnee.il.us
The holiday season rolls into Gurnee on Saturday, December 8th on the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Holiday Train! Lake County residents are invited to join the fun when this luminous 13-car train rolls into town. Decked out with a thousand lights and topped with a lighted tree, the train hosts live musical shows from a custom entertainment stage car.
The holiday train will arrive in Gurnee on Saturday, December 8th, at 4:50 p.m. at the north side of Old Grand Avenue underpass, on the east side of Depot Road across from Viking Park. People are encouraged to arrive early to drop off their food or monetary donations at Viking Park and enjoy the entertainment, which begins at 3:30 p.m., and then proceed to the viewing site on Depot Road for the train’s arrival.
For more information, or if you would like to contribute but will not be able to attend the event, please contact the Northern Illinois Food Bank at 847-336-3663.
Click here to view the event flyer.
Waste Management will collect Christmas trees on the following dates:
• Wednesday, January 2, 2008
• Tuesday, January 8, 2008
• Tuesday, January 15, 2008
• Tuesday, January 22, 2008
In order for a tree to be collected, it must be placed at the curb or the edge of the street by 7:00 a.m. on the pick-up day. All lights and decorations must be removed. In addition, the tree should not be placed in a plastic bag. Failure to remove decorations, or placing the tree in a plastic bag, will result in the tree not being collected that week and, consequently, the resident will have to wait until the following week for the tree to be collected. Trees placed out after January 24th will not be collected.
Does Gurnee Plow Every Street in the Village?
No, the Village plows only municipally-owned streets. Streets such as Grand Avenue, Hunt Club Road, Washington Street, Milwaukee Avenue, O’Plaine Road, etc... are plowed by either the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or Lake County Department of Transportation (LCDOT), depending on who has jurisdiction of the street.
When Will My Street be Plowed?
Plowing generally begins when the snow becomes one inch deep and when freezing temperatures indicate that no melting will occur. The Village has a priority system to plowing the roadways, this is why you may see the plow go down the street of the next block and not see it on your street right away. The main line or “collector” streets are plowed first. Examples of these streets are Almond Road, First Street, Lawson Boulevard, and Greenleaf Street. The secondary streets are the next to be done. These are the through side streets that connect to the main line streets. The dead ends and cul-de-sacs are then done after the secondary streets.
Why Did the Plow Redeposit Snow at the End of My Driveway?
While it’s frustrating to shovel your driveway and then have the plow come by and push snow back at the base, there is no way to plow the street so that your driveway remains completely “snow free.” It’s a good idea to learn from which direction the Village plow will generally come. While facing the roadway from your drive, the plows generally come from the left, therefore, put your snow on the right side so the plow doesn’t redeposit it back into the driveway. If possible, wait until the plow has passed before clearing your drive entrance.
What Can I Do to Help?
One major problem that works against snow removal operations is people shoveling, plowing or blowing snow back into the street after it has been plowed and salted. Village ordinance prohibits placing snow back onto the roadway once it has been plowed. Please place the snow that you shovel off of your driveway and sidewalk onto the adjacent parkway and not back onto the street. The following are a few tips that, when followed, help ensure plowing operations proceed smoothly:
If you have any questions regarding our snow removal efforts, please call the Gurnee Public Works Department at 847-599-6800. If a snow-related emergency occurs after 3:30 p.m., you can call the non-emergency number at the Gurnee Police Department at 847-599-7000.
Please remember that garbage will not be collected on Tuesday, December 25th and Tuesday, January 1st. During these weeks, residents will receive collection service one day later than usual. For more information, please call Waste Management at 800-796-9696.
In February 2008, the Village will kick-off its first formalized strategic planning process. The goal of the initiative is to develop a plan that will guide Gurnee as it moves into the future. As a part of this initiative, the Village will be hosting Community Focus Groups aimed at collecting residents’ input to help shape Gurnee’s future. Information regarding the Community Focus Groups will be posted on the Village’s website, included in future editions of the Keeping Posted Newsletter, and highlighted in the Village Announcements Weekly Emails. Individuals interested in being included on a list to receive information directly can contact Pat Muetz, Assistant to the Administrator, at PatM@village.gurnee.il.us or 847-599-7513.
This program allows residents an informal and comfortable forum in which to meet with the Mayor to talk about issues, ask questions, discuss concerns, and offer comments or suggestions. The January event will be held:
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Starbucks
1500 Nations Drive
10 a.m. - Noon
December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. The campaign, You Drink & Drive, You Lose., was created to address the public health and traffic safety problems that arise from impaired drivers.
Impaired driving is one of America’s most-often-committed and deadliest crimes. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.4 million people nationwide were arrested in 2004 for driving under the influence. Statistics recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that nearly 13,000 people died in highway crashes involving a driver with an illegal blood-alcohol concentration level of 0.08 or higher. Always follow these tips for a safer outing:
The Gurnee Police Department will conduct extra DUI patrols during the holiday season to remove impaired drivers from our roadways. Please celebrate this holiday season safely. Have a designated driver or call a taxi. If you drink & drive, you could lose more than your drivers license.
More than one third of all home fires occur during winter months. Fires are more frequent during cold winter months is due to the use of heating sources such as fireplaces, wood burning stoves, and space heaters. It is important to follow these heating safety tips to prevent fires in your home:
For more information, please contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 847-599-6650.
At the end of July, the State passed the Smoke Free Illinois Act. This act states that on January 1, 2008, all indoor workplaces and public places in Illinois must be smoke-free. Any building with employees must be 100% smoke-free, regardless of ventilation systems or whether the space is open to the public. This includes all workplaces: offices, warehouses, factories, transportation facilities/garages, as well as restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and casinos. In addition, smoking is not allowed within 15 feet of entrances/exits, windows that open, or ventilation intakes. Furthermore, ashtrays must be removed from non-smoking areas and “No Smoking” signage must be posted in areas where smoking is not allowed.
As a result of this legislation, visitors to any of the Village facilities will not be permitted to smoke within 15 feet of all entrances, vents, or windows. Signage indicating such will be posted at all Village facilities.
Fines for those found violating the Smoke Free Illinois Act range from $100 to $250 for individuals and $250 to $2,500 for business owners/operators. The regulations will be enforced by the Illinois Department of Public Health, local state-certified public health departments, and the Gurnee Police Department. Any of these agencies may assess fines for smoking violations.
Residents with questions should contact Tobacco Free Lake County at 847-377-8090 or tflc@co.lake.il.us. Tobacco Free Lake County can provide information about second-hand smoke, smoke-free laws in general, as well as programs to help people quit smoking.
OCTOBER 15 , 2007 VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
NOVEMBER 5, 2007 VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
DECEMBER 2007
JANUARY 2008
Schedules are tentative - please confirm by calling the Village Hall or checking the website at www.gurnee.il.us
