The holidays are a special time of celebration, reflection, and looking forward. Despite the challenges we face and occasional differences we have with one another, during the holiday season we come together to help one another and to give thanks for our many blessings. This time of year is also a time for sharing and caring for each other. Please take the time to share a smile and say hi to your neighbors as you are out and about.
In the spirit of the season, please join us on Friday December 6
th
for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony! Festivities kick off at 5:00 pm with hayrides, hot chocolate, and cookies! Caroling with the Village Elementary School Choir will begin around 5:45 pm, followed by a visit from Santa!
As 2019 comes to a close, I wish each of you a happy and prosperous holiday season.
If 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
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Enter Your Home in the House Decorating Contest!
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Think you've got the best holiday display in Round Lake? Sign up for the annual Holiday House Decorating Contest and you could be a winner.
Judging will take place from December 16th thru December 20th and registrants must have their lights turned on for judging. Winners will be awarded prizes at the Village Board meeting on January 20th.
To sign up, please complete the
sign up form
or contact the Village Hall at (847) 546-5400. The deadline to sign up is Friday December 13th at 5:00 pm.
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Round Lake Snow Operations
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Winter weather has arrived!
During the snow season, our Public Works Department works hard to balance public safety with preserving personal property.
Snow Removal Reminders
Please remember to remove basketball hoops, planters and any other items away from the edge of the roadway or cul-de-sacs. Occasionally, Public Works will need to push snow up into the parkway a few feet.
Garbage cans should be placed on the parkway or driveway apron; they cannot be placed in the road.
When clearing your driveway, please do not blow snow into the road. This can cause localized icing and can be very dangerous for motorists. Please push the snow to the right side of the driveway whenever possible so snowplows don’t drag large piles back across your driveway apron.
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Protect Your Water Meter
Public Works receives periodic requests to shut off the water at homes every winter because the water pipes freeze and then burst. This costly rupture can cause serious damage especially in vacant homes where it may go unnoticed for days. If your water meter is in a crawl space, check to make sure it’s insulated and heated.
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Snow Operations: Important FAQ's
My street wasn't plowed or salted, who do I contact?
Most streets in the Village are plowed and salted by the Public Works Department; however, there are some that are maintained by the State, County, Township or Homeowners Association. You can call the Public Works Department at 847-546-0962 and they will direct you to the appropriate agency.
What are the rules for parking on the street during snow removal?
According to Village code section 10.16.120 “It is unlawful to park any vehicle on any public street or alley in the village at any time within twelve (12) hours after a snowfall of two inches or more has occurred, or until the snow has been removed.” This includes parallel parking your vehicle in front of your driveway.
Do I have to shovel the snow off my sidewalk in front of my house?
Village residents are required to remove any snow and ice on public sidewalks adjacent to their properties within 24 hours after the storm event. If snow or ice cannot be removed, the surface should be treated to lessen the hazard for pedestrians.
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Lake County Passage
Lake County
PASSAGE
allows you to view major intersections and road conditions from your computer or mobile device before leaving home. PASSAGE cameras provide real-time snapshots from major intersections. Visit
LakeCountyPASSAGE.com
, turn on camera images in “Layer Options” at the top right, find intersections along your route, and check road conditions in each direction.
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Reporting ComEd Outages
During a large snow event, power outages may occur. Having the correct phone number and other information during a power outage may be useful. Find out how to stay up to date on power outages or report an outage at:
www.comed.com
.
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Nicor Gas Meter Modernization -
Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood
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Nicor Gas has announced the company will begin deployment of the Meter Modernization project in our community. As part of Meter Modernization deployment, Nicor will be installing small, two-way communication devices on existing natural gas meters throughout the community - meters will not be replaced. These two-way communication devices feature state-of-the-art technology that will automate the meter reading process by collecting natural gas usage information and securely sending it to Nicor.
Meter Modernization will enable Nicor to ensure timely and accurate billing for customers, as the devices will automatically send meter readings to Nicor. Bills will be based on actual usage each month, helping to eliminate estimated bills. Meter Modernization will also allow customers to gain greater insight into energy usage. In the future, this automation will allow customers to access more granular data about their energy usage to help them manage their costs.
Within the next few months, Nicor Gas, along with their qualified contractor Grid One Solutions, will begin deployment of the Meter Modernization project in our community. They will be working in several communities so providing exact dates may not be possible as their schedule is fluid and can be weather dependent. Grid One Solutions will have appropriate identification. The device installation will take 10-15 minutes for most residential or regular sized meters, and may take up to 30 minutes on large commercial or rotary meters. If installers can safely access a customer's natural gas meter, residents do not need to be present for the installation. If a customer has an indoor meter, they will be contacted to schedule an appointment.
The following is three pictures highlighting what the devices look like.
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2019 Pavement Management Report
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The Village’s engineering firm Baxter & Woodman along with Village staff recently completed an update of the pavement management report. The report was adopted by the Village Board on December 2nd.
The report is a very important tool that assess the current condition of all the roadways in the Village. The report allows staff to see how roads are aging and better plan for their maintenance. The report lays out a 5 year plan for resurfacing streets as well as patching and crack sealing schedules and recommended funding levels. One of the key takeaways from the report is that money spent on maintaining roads while they’re still in good condition will go much further than money spent fixing roads that have already failed. This is shown in the graph below. This principal helps guide the Village in selecting which streets to resurface and when.
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United States 2020 Census
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The 2020 Census is right around the corner and ultimately the success of the census depends on everyone's participation. The census affects your voice in government, how much funding your community receives and how your community plans for the future.
What Is the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online.
Why We Conduct This Count
The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
It's also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.
Counting Everyone
Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau. A complete and accurate count is critical for you and your community, because the results of the 2020 Census will affect community funding, congressional representation, and more.
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Metra Parking Permits Available Online
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Parking permits for the Metra Commuter Parking lots are available for purchase online. To purchase parking permits for 2020, please visit
Metra Commuter Parking Permit.
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2019 Round Lake Citizens Police Academy
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Congratulations to the 2019 Round Lake Citizens Police Academy Graduates! Great work throughout the 10 week academy course.
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Waste Management Holiday Schedule
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All solid waste and recycling collection will be delayed by one day from your normal pickup day following the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
Holidays will be observed on December 25 and January 1, therefore there will be no solid waste or recycling collection on both Wednesday's.
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Additional News and Updates
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New Businesses!
Village Officials would like to welcome the following businesses to the Village!
- Illusions Salon, Co. located at 1813 S. Fairfield Rd.
- Friendly Food, Liquor and Tobacco located at 1821 S. Cedar Lake Rd.
Please stop in and welcome them to the community.
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Overnight Parking -
Although the Village has a no parking ordinance on Village streets from 2:00 am to 6:00 am, we do allow overnight parking on a special request basis. To request overnight street parking, please contact Police Dispatch at (847) 270-9111. Please be sure to have the vehicle information and emergency contact information available.
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Enjoy the Holiday Bustle - But Be Aware
With all the distractions and activity, we sometimes forget the basics about safety on the streets and at home.
Always be aware of your surroundings and remember to lock your vehicle and home doors. Don’t leave packages and /or valuables in your vehicle in plain sight. Please also be aware in parking lots, banks, and ATMs.
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The Village Hall will be closed on
Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday December 25th and will close at 12:30 pm on Tuesday December 31st.
From all of us at the Village of Round Lake, we wish you and your family a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!
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Village Officials
Dan MacGillis, Mayor
Debbie Perlini, Clerk
Trustees
Charlie Foy, Henry Frye Jr., Russell Kraly,
Don Newby, Jake Mandelman, Sanjay Patel
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