Village Newsletter - Summer 2022 |
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Greetings!
This is the end of my first year as Mayor, and it has been nothing like I envisioned when I ran for the position. I promoted from within for the new Police Chief and Deputy Chief, allowing for growth in our Police Department. I appointed a new Clerk, along with three new Trustees, and now another Trustee has informed me he is resigning to move to Arizona to take care of his aging parents! It keeps me jumping, but thanks to our Village Administrator and talented staff we’ve made seamless transitions, conducted business as usual and retained and attracted additional staff.
We continue to move forward with 9-1-1 consolidation, working with Lake County for a Cedar Lake Road realignment, and are always reaching out to attract businesses, such as a Dunkin Donuts that recently broke ground and a proposed new ski hill that will be presented to the Village Board on August 1, 2022. As such opportunities arise, Public Hearings have been held, which I have attended, to be sure the Public is informed of the details of such projects.
As the Mayor, I need to stay well informed on these important projects to understand the implications for the Village. The Village has been stagnant over the past number of years with new business development and attractions that could encourage people to come to Round Lake. Such opportunities also bring naysayers, no matter the value that the development may bring to the Village. As concerns arise, the Village does its due diligence to be sure we have gathered any data necessary and have addressed all questions. We disregard the gossip and rumors and stick to the facts for transparency and meaningful dialog.
Such is the case with the Public Hearing comments for both the Cedar Lake Road realignment and the proposed ski hill for year-round skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. I will admit that both projects caused me to hesitate, wavering between all the advantages and disadvantages. However, both projects will change the look of Round Lake, and I could visualize the long-term benefits to our Village. The ski hill could become a destination for people to enjoy year-round and incentivize other development projects in that area. The Cedar Lake Road realignment project, when done, will expand our downtown business opportunities and growth, adding to the Village’s revenue diversification.
I am always looking for ways to boost our financial footing to continue to provide the services our residents expect. We have been voted as one of the top 100 safest communities to live in, which is great, but it didn’t bring in new businesses or tourists. It takes a lot of capital resources to have a great police force and a public works facility to supply water and sewer, along with keeping our roads repaired and plowed.
To that end, my goal is to attract as many businesses as possible while in office, as I want to see this Village prosper and ensure our residents are safe and comfortable. I have no desire to do anything else, be anywhere else, or run for any other offices. I will put all my time and effort into making our Village a GREAT and safe place to live!!
If you have any comments, questions, or ideas you would like to see included in the e-newsletter, please email me at rskraly@roundlakeil.gov.
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Sincerely,
Mayor Russ Kraly
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Keep Up To Date With What's Going On! |
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National Night Out is Back |
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Join the Round Lake Police Department for a Night of Family Fun! Connect with your neighbors and join millions of others throughout the nation as they come together with their local police departments to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.
This free community event will take place on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 741 W. Townline Road, Round Lake. Hotdogs, Bouncy House, Snow Cones, Music, Hay Rides, Petting Zoo, Magic Show at 6:30 pm, Prizes, and More!
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Curbside Collection Reminder |
Residents are provided with one (1) 95-gallon refuse cart and one (1) 65-gallon recycling cart at no charge. All refuse must be placed in the garbage cart. Additional refuse and recycling containers are available for an additional fee billed directly by Groot. Please contact Groot's office at 847-693-2700 for details.
In addition to your weekly garbage and recycling pick-up, one bulk item (example: mattress, couch, etc.) per week is permitted, at no additional cost. Learn more about Groot service.
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Planning Commission Vacancy |
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The Village is seeking applicants to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is a group of appointed citizens who guide the orderly development of the Village. The Commission prepares and amends the Village's Comprehensive Plan (which guides future land use and transportation decisions), advises on amendments to and administration of the Village's zoning ordinance, and reviews proposals for new development against the Plan and ordinances. The Commission is involved in the approval of requests for rezoning, special use permits, site plans, subdivisions, and other development proposals. The Commission meets at 7:00 pm on the last Tuesday of each month, as needed.
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Cedar Lake Road Realignment Project Update |
On May 18, 2022, Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) held a public hearing at Magee Middle School. The purpose of the meeting was to share with the public the progress made on the realignment plans and to obtain public comment. Approximately 100 people were in attendance to view the plans, ask questions to LCDOT staff and consultant engineers, and provide comments.
Lake County and their consulting engineers are wrapping up Phase 1 of the engineering plans this year. Phase 1 plans will be sent to IDOT for their review and approval. Phase 2 engineering will begin in 2023. Phase 2 includes the final details of the plans and prepares all the construction documents. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in 2025.
The Village has been working closely with LCDOT to make sure the road realignment benefits the Downtown area as well as serves the larger community. The Village is looking forward to setting the stage for future development in the Downtown area.
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2022 New Developments and
Businesses Going Strong
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The Village would like to welcome the following new businesses to Round Lake:
- Dollar Tree, 657 Railroad Ave, Unit B
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Nova Luna Banquet Hall, 1797 S Cedar Lake Road (under new ownership)
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Dollar Tree Ribbon Cutting
Ace Hardware right-sized their store which freed up 12,000 square feet of retail space for a new tenant. Dollar Tree remodeled the space for their new store and opened in April.
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Dunkin Breaks Ground!
The Village Board approved annexation, zoning, and PUD approval for Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins at their December 21, 2020 meeting. After much anticipation, the construction team is assembled and ready to begin. The new building will be located at 751 N Fairfield Road (south of the Marathon Gas Station). The tentative opening is December 2022.
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Justen Funeral Home to Build Modern Facility
Justen Funeral Home has submitted plans for a new funeral home adjacent to their existing building at 222 N Rosedale Court. Once the new 10,500 square-foot building is open the old building will be demolished and additional parking will be added. The current funeral home has a basement that is not handicap accessible and includes an area for business operations that are no longer done at this location. The new building will be completely handicap accessible, be designed to accommodate multiple funeral services at one time or larger services, and accommodate only the business operations necessary for this facility.
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Round Lake Ski Hill Proposed
CHDS, LLC has submitted a petition for annexation, zoning, planned unit development, plat of subdivision, and preliminary approval to develop a year-round ski hill and commercial lot for future development. The property is located at the southwest corner of Route 120 and Fairfield Road, extending south to Townline Road and west to the ComEd right-of-way.
This is a unique opportunity to create a destination for recreational use that will draw in visitors from near and far. The petitioner wishes to annex approximately 104 acres into Round Lake and utilize 83 acres to construct a year-round, family-oriented skiing facility. The other 11 acres will be reserved for future commercial development. The ski hill facility will include a manmade ski hill approximately 200 feet tall at the peak, averaging 120 feet tall, with the ski runs covered in a synthetic material, Snowflex. The Snowflex will be misted with water to allow for use all year round. The facility will include skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. The site will also include a parking lot, stormwater retention, and a visitor’s lodge comprised of retail space, a restaurant, and locker rooms.
The Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on June 28th. After review of the petition and hearing comments from neighbors, the Commission voted 3 to 2 to recommend the ski hill project to the Village Board. To stay informed about this project, visit the meeting agendas on the Village website to see when the Village Board will consider the development petition.
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Downtown Streetscape Plan Proposed
Village staff brought a proposal to hire Teska Associates before the Village Board this month. Teska Associates is the Village’s Planning Consultant and they have experience in creating streetscape plans. Streetscape is all the design elements that help create and define a Downtown, such as streetlights, landscape planters, benches, bicycle racks, wayfinding signage, artwork, and so much more. With the realignment of Cedar Lake Road, the timing to better define the look and feel the community wants for Downtown is now. The Village will be looking for volunteers to serve on a steering committee. If interested, please contact Katie Parkhurst, Director of Economic and Community Development at 847-546-5400 x 3008.
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Village Improvement Projects |
The Village has committed over $3.6 million in funding to improve our infrastructure this year and more improvements are on the way. These projects are meant to keep the vital systems that many of us take for granted in our everyday routines functional and robust.
2022 Street Resurfacing Program - $500,000
It’s July and that means road construction season is in full swing. The Village will once again be resurfacing streets utilizing the funds received from our portion of the Illinois Motor Fuel Tax.
This year Parkside Drive, Rosehall Lane, Providence Lane (west of Wildspring Rd.), and Highpoint Road will be milled and repaved. Construction is expected to start in July. The streets are selected based on the 2019 Village Pavement Management Report.
Capri/Avilon Water Main Replacement & Road Resurfacing - $1.7 M
The Village will be replacing the water main in the Capri – Avilon area. This section of water main has had the most water main breaks over the past several years. This improvement will not only provide a more robust and reliable water distribution system to the residents and businesses but it will also be the first time the Village will be installing a PVC water main. PVC piping has been used for years as an alternative to ductile iron pipe.
Panther Water Tower Repainting – $630,000
The need for this project can easily be seen without having to get too close. The work was bid and awarded in early spring but due to paint shortages, it has not started yet. The Village is still optimistic that it will get completed this year but unfortunately we’re at the mercy of the paint manufacturers. The paint systems used on water towers are a special blend of paint that resists UV breakdown and forms a thick protective film on the metal shell to prevent rust.
Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation - $200,000
The Village continually cleans and televises all the sanitary sewer mains throughout the Village. During the review of the televised tapes, staff and our consulting engineers compile a list of locations that require repairs. This year, those repairs included several sections of sewer main that will be lined. The lining creates a new inner shell inside the existing sewer pipe. This liner prevents ground water infiltration, reduces friction and blockages, and helps strengthen the pipe.
Cedar Lake Road Sanitary Sewer Pump Station - $560,000
One of the busiest sanitary sewer pump stations in town is getting a rehab. This pump station upgrade will include new controls, new pumps, and a new emergency backup generator. The sanitary sewer pump stations keep sewage flowing on its way to the treatment plant.
LED Street Light Conversions - $60,000
The Village currently owns and maintains a little over 1,200 streetlights. Of those, approximately 950 streetlights have been retrofitted with LED fixtures. Those retrofits provide a reduction in power consumption and have proved to be easier to maintain. Between the energy savings and maintenance savings, staff predicts the LED fixtures will pay for themselves in about 4 years. Work is expected to begin in early July.
If you have any questions about improvement projects, please reach out to the Public Works Department at 847-546-0962 or pwdept@roundlakeil.gov.
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Fight the Bite! Protect Yourself Against Mosquitoes |
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Mosquitoes are not only annoying but they can be carriers of the West Nile Virus as well. To help combat mosquitoes, Clarke Environmental will be treating Village areas for mosquitoes again this year. Residents can sign up to be notified when spraying will occur by calling the Mosquito Hotline at (800) 942-2555. Learn more at Mosquito Abatement.
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Remember to practice the “4 Ds of Defense” to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes this summer:
- Drain items that collect standing water, such as bird baths, gutters, plant containers, and buckets from around your yard and business.
- Defend yourself by wearing insect repellent containing DEET.
- Dawn to Dusk: Be extra cautious during these peak hours of mosquito activity.
- Dress with long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes to cover skin.
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Solicitors Need a License to go Door to Door |
Solicitor: Any person who solicits or attempts to solicit, from house to house or upon public streets, orders for commercial goods, wares, subscriptions, publications, periodicals, merchandise, or services to be delivered or fulfilled at a future date. A solicitor does not include a person who contacts another person at his or her residence without prior invitation to enlist support for or against, or solicit funds for patriotic, philanthropic, charitable, political, or religious purposes, whether or not there is an incidental purpose involving the sale of some goods or service.
Each solicitor shall at all times while doing business in the Village have the license provided by the Village with them and shall upon the request of the customers, exhibit the license as evidence that he or she has complied with all requirements of the Village. For more information on how to obtain a license, visit www.roundlakeil.gov.
Please call the police department at 847-546-8112 if a solicitor is working without a Village issued license.
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Ace Hardware Celebrates 60 Years |
The Village of Round Lake would like to send congratulations and appreciation to Ace Hardware, at 659 Railroad, for 60 years of family-run service! The anniversary was celebrated on Friday, July 1. Ace Hardware was opened in 1962 as a 4,000-square-foot building and through the years has grown to a 46,000-square-foot store staying within the same plaza. |
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The Ace is now run by the second generation of the Laskowski Family! Richard and Joanne Laskowski opened this Ace as the youngest owners within Ace Hardware cooperative. They ran the store for many successful years and were committed to the citizens of Round Lake. Richard was also active as a Village Trustee in the 1970s and as an Ace Corporation Board Member from 1987-1998. Currently, the store is owned and operated by some of their children, Rich Laskowski, Debbie Laskowski Meyer, and Kathy Laskowski.
The Laskowski Family has been dedicated to the community for many years and will continue their family legacy for years to come. Their service to the community is shown not only through the annual fundraisers but through their commitment to excellent service. They show exemplary teamwork and provide helpful, knowledgeable service about their products. Many employees have been around for decades and continue to provide for the residents of Round Lake and beyond. The Village would like to take this time to applaud them on their achievements.
We honor and congratulate the Laskowski Family on their 60th anniversary and you can too by visiting them at the Round Lake Ace Hardware. We wish them well in the continued growth of their business.
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Fish Lake Drain and Manitou Creek Watershed Detention Basin Inventory Notification |
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) is conducting a detention basin inventory for the Fish Lake Drain and Manitou Creek watersheds in Lake County. As part of this process, SMC will be completing a detailed detention basin inventory throughout the watersheds between June and August 2022. One intern, under the guidance of SMC staff, will be walking along the banks assessing conditions. The detention basin inventory will assess current basin conditions, note maintenance, and retrofit needs, and identify opportunities to improve the water quality, flood mitigation, and habitat functions of the basins.
The information collected in the field assessments will be used in the development of the update to the watershed-based plans for the Fish Lake Drain and Manitou Creek watersheds. This plan will address water quality impairments, flooding problems, and natural resource protection along with other problems and opportunities identified by watershed stakeholders.
If you would like additional information on the detention basin inventory, please contact Jacob Jozefowski, Water Resource Professional at (847) 377-7717 or jjozefowski@lakecountyil.gov.
If you are interested in participating in the watershed planning process as a stakeholder, please contact Mike Prusila, Planning Supervisor at (847) 377-7713 or mprusila@lakecountyil.gov.
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Distinguished Community Service Commendation |
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On June 6, 2022, the Police Department presented two local heroes with the Department’s Civilian Distinguished Community Service Commendation award at the Regular Board Meeting.
Shekinah and Sandra were recognized for stepping in to stop a brutal attack on a fellow student by three other male subjects in April this year. They also stayed with the victim after the attack was stopped and made sure he got home safely. Their bravery is an inspiration to all and the entire community can be proud of their actions that day.
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New Officer Sworn In - In June, the Round Lake Police Department welcomed a new lateral officer to our community. Officer Ragoza has prior experience at her former agency and is currently completing the Field Training Program.
We couldn't be happier to have Officer Raygoza join our law enforcement family!
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Service Award - The Village would like to thank Police Officer Michael Schmidt for 15 years of service! Congratulations and thank you for your service and dedication!
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Cop On A Rooftop - Join RLPD at the Dunkin’ in Volo for Cop on a Rooftop on August 19th from 5am-12pm to help raise money for Special Olympics Illinois! This event is always a fun time for a great cause!
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Village Offices will be closed on Monday, September 5th in observation of Labor Day. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
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Village Officials
Russ Kraly, Mayor
Lisa Govzdev, Clerk
Trustees
Charlie Foy, Sanjay Patel, Jake Mandelman,
Paul Law, Patrick Duby, Carolina Schottland
442 N. Cedar Lake Road Round Lake, IL 60073 · 847-546-5400
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