Village Staff and I made a recommendation to recognize Halloween on October 31 and suggested Trick or Treating from 4-7 pm.  At the October 2 nd Board meeting, the Village Board unanimously decided to have Halloween observed on the Sunday prior to, and to allow Trick or Treating from 1-5 pm.  Public safety was the number one consideration.

A brief history of Halloween tells that it straddles the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death. Thousands of years ago, winter was often frightening and uncertain. It often brought famine and death. Samhain was an ancient Celtic practice where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts that brought about such blight. All Saints Day would be celebrated on November 1 st . The day before was All Hallows Eve which celebrate the spirits of the dead as they returned to this earthly world. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so ghosts would mistake them as a fellow roaming spirit. They also left food outside so ghosts would not enter their homes.
Then the Church encouraged citizens to give treats of food called “Soul Cakes” to the poor people instead of leaving food for roaming ghosts. This practice was eventually taken up by children visiting houses in their neighborhood to receive these treats, which has evolved into modern day Trick or Treating.
So embrace your children put on your masks to dodge all those ghosts, ghouls and goblins and have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I f you have any comments, questions or ideas you would like to see included in the e-newsletter, please email me at  dmacgillis@eroundlake.com.


                      Sincerely, 
                                                  Mayor Dan MacGillis
 
Sidewalk Repairs
The Village will be contracting with a company to raise sidewalk panels that have settled and created uneven walking surfaces. The work will likely begin at the end of October into early November. The work will be performed throughout the Village. Sidewalk panels that are cracked and broken will not be raised. They will have to be removed and replaced as a part of a separate contract in the future.
ICSC Chicago Deal Making
In an effort to promote additional economic development, enhance the local tax base, and create new jobs, Mayor Dan MacGillis and staff attended Chicago Deal Making, an annual conference sponsored by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The Village of Round Lake‘s booth featured information about development opportunities and other community amenities.

The shopping center industry is essential to economic development and opportunity. They are a significant and critical revenue source for the communities they serve through the collection of sales taxes and the payment of property taxes. These taxes fund important municipal services like public safety and infrastructure improvements such as roadways.
Parkway Tree Planting
The Village has contracted with a landscape company and nursery to begin replanting trees that were cut down due to the Emerald Ash Borer. The Village has opted to replant trees in the order of which the subdivisions had the most trees removed. Parkview and Valley Lakes (south of Nippersink) will be focused on this fall. 
LED Street Light Replacements
The Village is excited to begin work on upgrading approximately 200 street lights to new energy efficient LED fixtures. The Village has received grant funding through the State of Illinois energy efficiency program to offset some of the cost of the retrofit fixtures. The Lakewood Grove and Lakewood Orchard subdivisions will be upgraded first with other subdivisions to follow in coming years. The new LED fixtures will produce more light, reduce energy costs and require less maintenance than the conventional fixtures.


Open Burning Rules
Autumn is here and as a reminder, the burning of leaves, twigs, and vegetation is allowed between 8:00 am and sunset with these conditions:
  • Is limited to leaves and twigs generated from vegetation on the property. 
  • Is conducted so as not to cause a hazard to structures or neighboring property. 
  • Shall not be done in conditions of high winds, drought, or other conditions creating a hazardous environment.
  • Such burning must be attended by a person at least 16 years of age. 
  • Shall not be allowed on any public right-of-way. 
Tips for ATM Safety & Security
The Round Lake Police Department would like to remind you to be safe when using an ATM. Here are few quick reminders
  • Don't use an access code that's the same as other words or numbers in your wallet.
  • If you get cash - put it away right away; don't stand at the ATM and count it.
  • If you lose your ATM card, notify your bank or credit union immediately.
  • If you must use an ATM after dark:
  • Park close to the ATM in a well-lighted area; lock your car.
  • Take a companion if possible.
Baxter International
Approximately a year ago, Baxter International Inc., Lakes Region Sanitary District and the Village of Round Lake started meeting to discuss options for Baxter International to have a sanitary sewer system connection. The joint effort between the parties above and the Village of Fox Lake and Lake County, resulted in a sewage disposal agreement recently approved by the Village Board.

Baxter’s connection to the Village sanitary sewer system will generate connection and user fees for multiple parties, including the Village. The wastewater from Baxter International will be transported from their property to the Village’s municipal sanitary sewer system and eventually to the Fox Lake treatment plant.

It is estimated that on average 167,000 gallons of sewage per day will now be sent to the treatment plant versus treatment on site. Approval by each entity involved with the sewer connection is still pending as each has different meeting dates.
Distracted Driving, Talking, & Texting
A Illinois state law prohibiting driving while using handheld cell phones and similar electronic communications devices went into effect Jan. 1, 2014. Here are 11 statistics emphasizing why you should not use electronic devices while driving. 

  1. 5 seconds is the minimal amount of attention that a driver who texts takes away from the road. If traveling at 55 mph, this equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road.
  2. Texting makes a crash up to 23 times more likely.
  3. Teens who text while driving spend 10% of the time outside their lane.
  4. According to AT&T's Teen Driver Survey, 97% of teens agree that texting while driving is dangerous, yet 43% do it anyway.
  5. 19% of drivers of all ages admit to surfing the web while driving.
  6. 43 states, plus D.C., prohibit all drivers from texting.
  7. According to CTIA.org, in the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the United States, up almost 50% from June 2009.
  8. 40% of teens say that they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone.
  9. The most recent National Occupant Protection Use Survey finds that women are more likely than men to reach for their cell phones while driving.
  10. According to 77% of teens, adults tell them not to text or email while driving, yet adults do it themselves “all the time.”
  11. 9 in 10 teens expect a reply to a text or email within five minutes or less, which puts pressure on them to respond while driving.
National Coffee With a Cop Day
National Coffee With a Cop Day is an agenda-free, no barriers, problem solving collaboration between citizens and cops. It brings citizens and police to a common ground to help build a stronger community. Get detached from the hustle bustle of everyday life and start “building relationships one cup at a time.” Join us for some great conversations and even better coffee on Wednesday, October 4 th from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at Round Lake Police Department (741. W. Town Line Rd. Round Lake, IL).
Additional News & Updates
happy-halloween2.jpg
Triple A “The Auto Group” has donated Halloween trick or treat bags and book marks to the Police Department. The Police Department uses these materials to assist in raising awareness regarding visibility, safe pedestrian practices for children, and driver attentiveness around the Halloween season in Round Lake.
 
Our participation in this awareness campaign is important because children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year.

Trick or treat bags can be obtained for free at the Police Department Monday thru Friday, 8:30 am to 6:00 pm while supplies last.
The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District is hosting their Annual Open House Saturday October 21 th from Noon -4:00 pm at the Round Lake Fire Station #1. For more information visit their website at www.roundlakefire.org
Congratulations!
Mayor Dan MacGillis and Village Clerk Debbie Perlini recognized the following employees for their years of service:

10 Years of Service  
Craig Harrison, Maintenance Worker II

5 Years of Service  
Ricky Tinsley, Detective
Brian Simonsen, Maintenance Worker II
Keith Miller, Crew Leader

Congratulations and thank you for your service and dedication!
Great Pumpkin Celebration.... Enjoy free family fun including a costume contest, indoor trick-or-treating, fantasy maze, corn maze & hayrides, kids entertainment, carnival games & prizes, and more on October 21, from 2:00-5:00 pm. For more information visit  www.rlapd.org
Village Officials Dan MacGillis, Mayor
 Debbie Perlini, Village Clerk
Trustees
Charlie Foy, Henry Frye Jr., Russell Kraly,
Don Newby, Sanjay Patel, Jake Mandelman