| From the Editor
The Village had its annual Christmas Party and Tree Lighting on December 8, amidst a snowstorm and some bone chilling cold. Yet lots of residents turned out to see Santa and his reindeer, visit with the beautiful and talented queens of Wadsworth, and enjoy some homemade cookies.
Mayor Ryback entertained the youngsters with his reading of "Twas the Night before Christmas". Santa warmed the hearts of the kids while hot chocolate warmed their insides.
Click here to see images of the fun night.
Below, Administrator Amidei brings you up-to-date on the status of the Village's Comprehensive Plan and other items of possible interest.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at the Village of Wadsworth.
Jim Zegar
Editor and photographer
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| Comprehensive Plan Update
As advertised in previous editions of our e-newsletter, the Village is currently updating its Comprehensive Plan. The last major update to our Comprehensive Plan had occurred back in the Year 2000.
For over a year, the Comprehensive Plan Committee had met and worked on developing an updated DRAFT plan that provides us with a long-range vision for our Village. As part of this process, the Committee's planning efforts also included the development of a plan for the improvement of our Downtown Area.
The updated DRAFT Comprehensive Plan is now ready for your input and feedback.
Over the course of the next few months, the Village will host a series of meetings on the updated DRAFT Comprehensive Plan. Your feedback, input and participation in this plan review process is requested, encouraged and essential in developing a updated plan that will guide the Village's planning and development efforts in the years to come.
The updated DRAFT Comprehensive Plan will be posted on the Village's Comprehensive Plan Website; please take some time to review this DRAFT plan and provide us with your feedback on it. Meeting dates, times and locations will be posted on our website as soon as they are established. Further, all Wadsworth property owners will soon receive a post card mailer advising them of this plan update and review process and will direct them to review the plan on our website. Again, your feedback on the DRAFT plan is requested and encouraged; we are looking forward to working with you throughout this plan review process.
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| Snow/Ice Removal Operations
It's that time of the year again; snowplowing season is now upon us. The Village would like to remind residents that parking is not permitted on Village roadways when our streets are being plowed or salted. Additionally, homeowners may not deposit snow upon our roadways that originate from your driveways. In the event that you utilize a private snowplow contractor, please advise them to clean up the road after they are through with plowing your driveway. Please contact Village Hall at 847.336.7771 to report damaged mailboxes and the Lake County Sheriff's Office (only when Village Hall is closed) to report hazardous road conditions at 847.549.5200.
This year, the Village has partnered with the Newport Township Road District to plow a number of Village roadways as well as with the Village of Beach Park regarding snow routes that would be more efficient if we traded plowing responsibility of certain roads. The Village continues to utilize a private snowplow contractor to plow a majority of the Village's roadways.
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| New FEMA Floodplain Maps
FEMA recently updated the floodplain maps for the Lake County area. This update may or may not have an effect on the flood insurance policies that you have. Please take a moment to view the updated map superimposed on your property on Lake County's GIS Mapping website. Enter your address on the left hand side of the page; after your property appears, click the "Legend" tab, then under "Layers," click "Drainage" then "FEMA." If it appears that your property has been reclassified, please review this handout and then contact your insurance and mortgage companies to determine if there will be changes to your annual premiums.
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| Road Construction
Now that winter weather has set in and is here to stay until the end of March, the major road projects taking place throughout our Village are on winter break.
These projects include IDOT's expansion of I-94 from IL-173 to the State Line. Work will restart on the IL-173 bridge on April 1; work along I-94 will begin as soon as the asphalt plants open in the spring (sometime between mid-April and early May). Additional berm work is also planned for both sides of Russell Road, westerly of I-94. IDOT expects that all remaining work will be completed by the end of June.
Lake County's road projects made significant progress in the final months of 2013 but the winter weather prevented these projects from being closed out this year. The links below will provide you with an update of where each of their projects now stand and what remains to be done.
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