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FALL 2023 Mayor’s Message ......... Page 3 Handling Leaves ........... Page 5 Alternatives to Salt Use this Winter ....... Page 8
insideDG VILLAGE HALL HOURS Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MAYOR Robert T. Barnett COMMISSIONERS Greg Hosé Leslie Sadowski-Fugitt Chris Gilmartin Danny Glover Martin T. Tully Mike Davenport MAYORCOUNCIL@DOWNERS.US
VILLAGE MANAGER David Fieldman Council meetings are held on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Coffee with the Council is held on the second Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m. IMPORTANT NUMBERS Village Hall 630.434.5500 Emergency 9-1-1 Non-Emergency Police 630.434.5600 Non-Emergency Fire 630.434.5980 Public Works 630.434.5460 PUBLISHED BY: VILLAGE OF DOWNERS GROVE 801 Burlington Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515 630.434.5500 downers.us
VoDG Residents,
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am pleased to let you know that the Proposed 2024 Budget is available for review. As is our practice, the proposed budget is being discussed among the Village Council, staff and community members at a series of public meetings.You’ll find the remaining schedule of meetings in the introduction section of the Proposed Budget at downers.us.
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ere are some headlines:
• No change in the property tax levy for the third year in a row. The proposed 2024 tax levy is the same as the 2023 and 2022 levies.
Mayor Robert T. Barnett
• The budget maintains fund balances consistent with S&P’s guidelines to help maintain our AAA bond rating. • A continued commitment to infrastructure with a total investment of $21.3 million for the improvement and maintenance of streets, stormwater, water, sidewalk and traffic safety systems. • Successfully closes out the Civic Center Project without the need to levy a property tax to service the debt on the bonds issued in 2022 to fund the project.
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here’s a lot more to the budget and I encourage everyone to take some time with it online. This budget continues to align everyday operations and Village resources with community priorities outlined in the Long-Range Plan and the Comprehensive Plan. It serves as the implementation plan of the Village’s mission and strategic goals, specifically the goal to be a Steward of Financial, Environmental and Neighborhood Sustainability.
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or over 30 years, the Village’s financial work has been recognized for its accuracy, transparency and consistency by the Government Finance Officers Association.
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he bottom line is municipal government in Downers Grove continues to practice solid stewardship of our shared resources by maintaining strong finances and continuous improvement of the services provided, while doing our best to be mindful of the diverse community that provides the resources to do so.
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Civic Center Progress Construction continues on the Downers Grove Civic Center Project. When complete, this will be the new home of Village Hall, the Police Department and the administrative offices of Downers Grove Grade School District 58. Aerial view, looking north, on October 24, 2023.
Located on the west side of the current Civic Center property, this combined facility will provide modern work spaces that will allow for efficient and effective interactions between employees and with customers. Plans include shared spaces for a variety of public meetings and community activities, including a multipurpose Council Chambers.
Improvements at the Washington St. crossing.
The new facility is expected to be substantially complete by early 2024. More details and updates are available at downers.us.
Brickwork on the south elevation of the Police Station.
Care for Caregivers November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor family caregivers across the country and raise awareness of family caregiver issues. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, more than 53 million family caregivers in America today provide unpaid care. They work tirelessly around the clock providing hands-on care to keep older loved ones in their homes for as long as possible. Oftentimes, out of selflessness, caregivers neglect their own health and struggle with extreme fatigue or feelings of isolation. If you or someone you know is a caregiver in need of assistance, the Village of Downers Grove Social Services Referrals program can help connect you with resources for respite care and mental health support. Whether you’re a person caring for a loved one or you’re on the receiving end, contact Heather today at 630.434.6894 or hlippe@downers.us for referrals to local experts that can help.
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Preserving History
Handling Leaves
Patton House
The Village maintains over 23,000 trees on public property. In addition, tree planting on private property is encouraged due to the many environmental benefits they provide, as well personal enjoyment. However, one thing we may not enjoy is cleaning up after them, especially in the fall. Here are some choices to handle your leaves:
With its distinguished architecture, the home at 5 Jacqueline Drive, just west of downtown Downers Grove, has long made an impression on the community. On February 5, 2019, it was granted local landmark status. Built in 1927, the architectural style of the home can best be characterized as English Cottage (or Cotswold), a variant of English Country Revival. This style incorporates characteristics used in English medieval design such as asymmetry, “catslide” roofs, reverse dormers, steep/multi-gabled roofs, and over-scaled chimneys and decorative chimney pots. English Country Revival houses tend to be cozy and have irregularly shaped rooms.
MULCH OR COMPOST • •
Mulch. If you have a mulching lawnmower, use it to recycle leaves and their nutrients into your lawn. Consider composting. Composting is the biological decomposition of organic material into a humus-like substance called compost. Leaves and other types of yard waste can be a source of materials used in a compost pile.
PUT THEM OUT FOR PICKUP ON GARBAGE COLLECTION DAY • •
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Leaves must be in a 33-gallon biodegradable paper bag; OR a 33-gallon unlined, reusable can. Place a garbage sticker on each bag or can. If you rent a yard waste cart from Republic Services, leaves can be combined with other yard waste. However, if you put out additional items of leaves/yard waste for the week, they will require a sticker. Mow over leaves before bagging them. This reduces the ratio of bags to leaves by seven to one, thereby saving money on sticker costs.
PLEASE REMEMBER: •
Do not rake or blow leaves or grass clippings into the street.
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The burning of leaves and other yard waste is prohibited by ordinance.
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If you are able, please clear leaves from any inlets or storm drains along the curb near your property. Clogged drains can overflow in heavy rain and cause excess standing water on the roadways.
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All drains lead to local waterways. As leaves break down they release phosphorus, which at high levels is not healthy for the water ecosystem.
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This two-story gem has an asymmetrical roofline with a reverse dormer window on the east facade. The exterior building material is mainly brick with some sections of stone. While the brick is mainly flush to the wall, some bricks are haphazardly laid to create texture. Multi-paned windows adorn the first and second floors surrounding the east, north, and west facades. An over-scaled chimney with decorative chimney pots is located on the west side of the home. Both entrances include wood entry doors. Earlier this year, the Historic Preservation and Design Review Board granted approval to replace all of the windows with new multipaned casement windows. The proposed windows were a like-for-like replacement in terms of color, style, and functionality. Additionally, the current owners received approval to convert the existing attached garage into additional living space. Both modifications are consistent with the requirements of the Village’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. If you are interested in landmarking your home or would like to share information about the history of your home, please contact the Community Development Department at 630-434-5515.
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Keep the Wreaths Red Wreaths with red bulbs are displayed at each of the Village’s fire stations through January 1. If a holiday-related fire occurs during this time, one of the red lights in each station’s wreath will be changed to white. The Downers Grove Fire Department asks that residents do their part to practice fire safety during the holiday months with the following tips:
Around the Home • Make sure you have a working smoke and carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the home, especially outside the sleeping areas.
Trees and Lights • Do not allow trees to block any exit paths in the home.
• Electrical cords should not be run under rugs or past doorways.
• Live trees should be kept at least three feet from any heat source.
• Use power strips in place of extension cords. • Never leave candles unattended. If you are having a party, candles should only be lit in the attended rooms.
• Check the water level daily on live trees. All live trees and boughs should be disposed of immediately after the holiday, before they dry out.
• Fireplaces should be cleaned annually, if used on a regular basis. Do not burn any foreign objects in fireplaces. A fireplace screen should always be in use.
• No more than three strings of lights should be connected together for use on trees. • Make sure outdoor decorations and lights are approved for outdoor use.
Don’t Let a Grinch Steal Your Holiday Criminals look for easy opportunity when deciding to commit a crime. Whether you are shopping in stores or online, don’t give them a chance to spoil your holiday season. Be smart and informed when it comes to your personal safety. Shopping Online
Shopping Safety
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Stick to retailers you know and have shopped with before.
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Research a business you haven’t purchased from before by checking customer reviews or complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
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Don’t fight or argue with another customer over an item.
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Keep your purse close to your body and your wallet in an inside or front pocket.
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Never commit to a deal that seems too good to be true.
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Avoid using a debit card since dispute reimbursement may be less than credit cards.
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Refrain from using public Wi-Fi to make purchases. Instead, use a VPN to avoid hackers intercepting your information.
Use a single credit card for all purchases. This lessens the chance of multiple cards becoming compromised, should a retailer data breach occur.
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Save your receipts and monitor your credit card activity often, checking for fraudulent purchases.
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Read the site’s URL address. Sites that begin with https vs “http” are more likely to be secure, though not foolproof. Also, look for the lock icon before the address.
Parking Safety
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Park in a well-lit area and remember where you parked.
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Lock your vehicle and don’t leave anything valuable inside.
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Store purchases out of plain sight, in your trunk if possible.
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When returning to your vehicle, be aware of the surroundings. and have your keys in hand.
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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DOWNERS GROVE, IL PERMIT NO 321
801 Burlington Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515
ECRWSS Resident Occupant Downers Grove, IL 60515-16
SNIPPETS YARD WASTE COLLECTION ENDS FOR THE YEAR
COAT DRIVE
Through December 29, 2023, the Village will be collecting GENTLY USED coats and winter accessories for all ages. Drop boxes are located at Public Works, 5101 Walnut Ave. and Fire Station 2, 5420 Main St.
The week of December 4, 2023, will be the final week of yard waste collection. Please remember that leaves may not be raked into the curb/street and must be bagged and stickered.
HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
LIVE CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION
Most Village offices will be closed on November 23 and 24, 2023, December 25 and 26, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
Free collection of live Christmas trees, only, will be offered by Republic Services from January 2 - 12, 2024. Trees must be free of tinsel, ornaments and hooks and should not be placed in bags. Wreaths are not included in this pickup.
HOLIDAY GARBAGE COLLECTION
The following dates are holidays for our garbage collector, Republic Services: Thursday, November 23, 2023, Monday, December 25, 2023, and Monday, January 1. Service will be delayed by one day if your collection day falls on the holiday.
HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING
Recycle unwanted or broken holiday lights instead of throwing them away. Residents may drop off lights at Public Works, 5101 Walnut Ave. or Fire Station 2, 5420 Main St., during business hours from November 20, 2023, through February 9, 2024.
Salt Alternatives The arrival of winter means cold weather, snow and ice. You may be • aware of the effects of sodium on your health, but do you know the effects of sodium on the environment? When treating ice, please keep in mind that salt eventually ends up in our waterways as a pollutant and adversely affects plants, animals and fish. Here are some facts to consider: • Sodium Chloride (table or rock salt) lowers the freezing point of water, forcing ice to melt. It is inexpensive and effective in temperatures to around 15 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also highly corrosive and will damage metals and concrete with repeated exposure. • Calcium Chloride generates heat while melting ice, making it effective down to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It works faster, but is more expensive than sodium chloride.
Chemicals claiming to be environmentally, pet, and family friendly include Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA), Potassium Chloride, Potassium Acetate, and beet juice. Some of these act as a salt substitute while others amplify salt’s effect, reducing the amount of salt needed to do the job. These products also tend to be the most expensive options. • While sand does not melt ice, it can provide traction for vehicles and pedestrians.
Tips for Application • Apply a thin layer of de-icer just before a storm. This keeps ice and snow from bonding to surfaces, allowing for easier removal. This method is used by the Village to reduce the amount of salt used. • Sweep up any excess de-icer to use it for the next storm. • Whatever de-icer you choose, use as little as possible.