Welcome to the Village of Barrington E-Newsletter!
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A Message from Karen Darch: Springtime Is a Great Time to Talk about Safety
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Happy Friday!
At this past Monday's Village Board meeting, we had an excellent presentation from our Barrington Fire Chief, John Christian, who talked with us about weather safety.
Spring brings the possibility of severe weather outbreaks in our area, and it's important that all our residents know what to do in case of an emergency due to thunderstorms, hail, floods, or tornadoes. Please see the article below for a brief overview of the information that Chief Christian provided; you will also find a link to his entire presentation in the article.
Additionally, our Police Chief David Dorn would like to remind all our residents that warmer weather also brings out those who may want to take advantage of our unlocked homes or cars. Please remember to lock your cars when they are in your driveway - it is quite common for thieves to break into homes by accessing garage door openers in an unlocked car. Chief Dorn likes to call these "crimes of opportunity" - keep your cars and doors locked and don't be a victim!
On the rail safety front (always an important topic in Barrington!), this year marks the 50th anniversary of Operation Lifesaver, a program that aims to increase safety at railroad crossings. According to the organization's web site, every three hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train. But the good news is that since Operation Lifesaver’s inception in 1972, collisions at railroad crossings have dropped by 84%. Please continue to be aware each time you cross the tracks in Barrington - your life may depend on it!
On another note, I would like to offer some shout-outs this week. First, I would like to recognize David Van Vooren, who is retiring as executive director of SWANCC (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County). Over the past 10 years, Dave has made many important contributions to the agency, which assists in our waste and recycling services and provides a host of recycling and educational programs to residents in 23 North and Northwest suburban communities. Thank you for your service, Dave!
Second, I would like to send out congratulations to BHS Girls Basketball player Sophie Swanson, who was recently named Ms. Basketball of Illinois for her efforts in helping the team reach the state finals this year. Read the Chicago Tribune article here. Way to go, Sophie!
I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend.
Karen Darch
Village President
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The Chipper Is Coming Your Way Starting Monday, May 2 |
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Have branches from spring cleanup? Put them out at the curb for the Chipper! The Chipper will be coming through the Village on the following schedule:
MONDAY, MAY 2 - NORTH OF MAIN STREET
MONDAY, MAY 9 - SOUTH OF MAIN STREET
Please have all your branches and material out to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated Monday morning.
The Chipper will make only ONE pass through your neighborhood sometime during your specified week. Branches may be up to 10” in diameter and at least 4’ in length. Stack branches neatly in a long, low pile on the parkway, with the cut end facing the curb. Public Works crews cannot pick up material on private property. The following items cannot be picked up: root balls and stumps; building materials; anything with nails, wire or bolts; any materials placed in a box or garbage can; grass; leaves; or any materials other than wooded branch materials. Remember to utilize your Groot yard waste tote throughout the season
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Today, April 29, is Arbor Day! In celebration of this important holiday that recognizes the importance of trees to our environment as well as to the beautification of our community, Public Works provides tree saplings that are distributed to all 4th grade students in District 220. The Council of Garden Clubs also gives a presentation to students where they will learn how trees produce food and energy for people and wildlife, how properly selected and planted trees conserve energy, and more!
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TRAFFIC ALERT: Main Street Resurfacing Work to Begin May 9 |
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The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be resurfacing Main Street throughout the Village from just west of Hart Road to just east of Ela Road starting on Monday, May 9th. This work includes reconstruction of sidewalk at intersections, some curb improvements, and removal and replacement of the asphalt pavement.
While there may be intermittent lane closures which will be facilitated with flaggers during paving operations, two-way traffic will be maintained throughout the work zone during the project. The Village will continue to provide updates from IDOT as this work progresses.
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Meet Your Village Board of Trustees:
Clerk Tony Ciganek
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Village Clerk Tony Ciganek has lived in the Village of Barrington for 37 years. He retired in 2016 from Baxter Healthcare after a 40-year career. He left Baxter as a Senior Director in the Manufacturing group. Tony’s job roles included manufacturing, process automation and engineering for IV solution products. Tony has one adult son, Adam, who lives in Wheeling.
Tony holds the following degrees: an M.S. in Physics from DePaul University, and an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management. His volunteer activities include the following: currently a lector at St. Anne’s Parish (for 25 years); a member of the Sharing Board at St. Anne’s; and a former assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 29 sponsored by St. Anne’s.
To learn more about your Village Board of Trustees, click here.
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Quick Take: Recent Village Board Actions
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The Village of Barrington Board of Trustees has discussed and/or approved a number of noteworthy items during the past month:
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The Village sold a small piece of property along Klingenberg Lane and Wool Street to Moretti's in order to expand their outdoor dining area. In addition, a special use planned development was also approved for Moretti's.
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Alternate Revenue Source General Obligation bonds in the amount of $2 million were issued for the water meter replacement project.
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Several summer events have been approved, including Farmers Market (relocating to the BMO/Harris lot), Memorial Day, and Cynthia Rowley Brings the Beach to Barrington.
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In-car video systems and body-worn cameras have been approved for purchase by the Police Department.
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Planned developments have been approved for several school district properties and Wickstrom, among others.
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The 2022 road maintenance program was awarded to Arrow Construction and includes portions of Lageschulte Street, Cook Street, Prairie Avenue, and Fox Hunt Trail.
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A liquor code amendment was approved which allows for liquor to be sold at a new Mexican restaurant, Arriba Grill, located in Barrington Commons.
If you are interested in learning more about what the Village Trustees are working on, you can attend Village Board meetings (generally held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month), or view them here in their entirety: www.barrington-il.gov/meetings.
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Barrington Fire Department Hosts
Blood Drive May 6
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Because of you, life doesn't stop.
The Barrington Fire Department will host a blood drive in partnership with Vitalant next Friday, May 6, from 2:00-7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Building at 400 N. Northwest Highway.
Be a silent HERO and help save lives by donating blood.
Schedule your appointment today by visiting vitalant.org and use group code ORD0024H.
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Springtime Severe Weather Information |
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Springtime in Barrington means an increased risk of severe weather. At the recent Board of Trustees meeting on April 25, Barrington Fire Chief John Christian gave a presentation about severe weather in our area and how you can be prepared. View the entire presentation here.
His key points included:
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Preparation is key. Thunderstorms can produce rapidly changing and life-threatening conditions, including lightning, tornadoes, and flash floods.
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Flash flooding is a major killer; just six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet, and two feet of water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks.
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Barrington has 10 lightning detection devices in the Village, which are located at all parks and schools.
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Barrington also has 7 outdoor warning sirens, which are tested on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m.
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When a tornado is approaching, you will hear a steady tone. This tone will last three to five minutes.
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When the steady tone is heard during severe weather, you should immediately seek a place of shelter. There is no all clear siren - please tune into local news or radio to monitor conditions.
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Please sign up for Village of Barrington Emergency Alerts by going to www.barrington-il.gov.
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Metra Schedules Have Changed |
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As riders return to the weekday commute and construction activity ramps up, Metra has significantly expanded its weekday schedule on its UP Northwest (UP-NW) Line. The changes went into effect April 25.
**Of particular note for Barrington residents is that some trains that previously departed for Chicago at 18 minutes past the hour will now depart at 5 minutes past the hour.
The new UP-NW schedule increases weekday service by 21 trains, to 66 trains from 45. The schedule offers more consistent service patterns and departure times, making the schedule easier for customers to understand and memorize.
Most midday trains will now arrive in Chicago on the 10s, allowing better connections with other UP lines. The new schedule also divides rush-period service into a three-zone pattern that will better balance passenger loads and allow Metra to improve express service to stations farthest from Chicago
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Congratulations, Character Counts Winners! |
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At its regular Board meeting on Monday, April 24, the Village of Barrington celebrated the annual Character Counts winners (in alphabetical order):
Jim Bartlett - Citizenship
Stephanie Brudvik - Citizenship
Tom Burns - Citizenship
William "Mr. Bill" Gross - Caring
Mary Howard - Citizenship
Liz Kirchhoff - Citizenship
Kathy Knuth - Responsibility
Ty Lagoni - Citizenship
Dr. Juliana Parry - Caring
Fabiola Pena - Responsibility
George Peirce - Caring
Dawn Unger - Caring
Betsy Wintringer - Caring
Since 2001, the Barrington Junior’s Women’s Club has proudly supported the Character Counts! program in the Barrington Area. The goal of this program is to recognize outstanding individuals in the Barrington Community. Each year, it is our mission to highlight those who exemplify the “Six Pillars” of Character: Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Trustworthiness, and Citizenship.
These awards have been offered to people who are not often in the limelight. A unique act of kindness, a track record of dedication, a history of responsibility, equitability, thoughtfulness and/or respect may exemplify their character. Past recipients of the Character Counts! Awards have ranged from students and coaches to owners and employees of local businesses, community volunteers, and friends and neighbors.
Congratulations to this year's winners!
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Free White Sox Tickets for Veterans |
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Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough is Teaming Up with the Chicago White Sox to offer a game ticket to Veterans, Active-Duty Military, National Guard & Reserves.
Three Steps and you’re out to the ballgame!
Step 1: You Must Sign up for the free Military and Veterans Discount Card with the Cook County Clerk’s Office by going to cookcountyclerk.com/veterans
or by visiting 118 N. Clark, Room 120, Chicago, IL, 60602.
Step 2: Present your new or existing Military and Veterans Discount Card at the
Gate 4 Box Office window at Guaranteed Rate Field within two hours of game time.
Step 3: Claim your complimentary ticket (outside the bases) and cheer on your Chicago White Sox this 2022 season!
For more information, call the Cook County Clerk’s Veterans Services Office at (312) 603-5788.
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We're Hiring at the Village of Barrington |
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The Village of Barrington is currently hiring for the following positions. To learn more go to www.barrington-il.gov.
- Development Services Intern
- Records/Office Assistant
- Crew Lead (Streets Division)
- Public Works Water/Wastewater Maintenance Worker
- Part-Time Police Records Clerk/Public Service Officer
- Part-Time Technology Services Technician
- Public Works Water Maintenance Worker
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Summer Events Kick Off with Barrington Art Festival on Memorial Day Weekend |
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The Village's summer event season officially kicks off with the Barrington Art Festival over Memorial Day weekend on May 28 and 29. Cook and Station Streets will be lined with award-winning local and regional artists, musicians and more.
The Memorial Day Parade returns this year and steps off at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30. The parade begins on Park Avenue, heads to Dundee Avenue, and concludes for a ceremony in Evergreen Cemetery.
Also this summer, join us for Cruise Night, Summer Fun Thursdays, Fourth of July Festivities, Metra Lot Concerts, Farmers Market and more! Stay tuned for this summer's full event calendar and sign up to receive information at barrington-il.gov/updates. You won't want to miss summer in Barrington!
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Welcome, New Businesses!
Scratch Pastificio Restaurant
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Welcome to Scratch Pastificio, which now open at 133 Park Avenue. The restaurant features pasta dishes and hand-crafted cocktails.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT BARRINGTON'S WHITE HOUSE
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Tickets Now on Sale for Barrington's White House Spring Season Events! |
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Barrington's White House Cultural Director Rollin Potter has assembled an inspiring season of spring events and we can't wait to see all of you at the House!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday, April 30
Jazz All-Stars with Saxophonist Victor Goines
Wednesday, May 4
An Afternoon Tea with Bertha Honore Palmer, Presented by Leslie Goddard
Wednesday, May 11
Courageous Conversations: Gathering for the People's Supper
Thursday, May 12
2nd Thursdays Jazz Cabaret
Sunday, May 15
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro: Surprising Facts About Higher Education
Thursday, May 19
3rd Thursdays Art Night Out: Al Buschauer: A Passionate Life in Photography
Sunday, May 22
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, Classical Piano
Saturday, May 28
The Bright Side of Bluegrass & Ice Cream Social
Each event currently has an in-person viewing opportunity and various events have the option to be viewed virtually. For more information on all events, go to barringtonswhitehouse.com/events.
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Yard Waste & Food Scrap Recycling Has Resumed for the Season
Bring out your "Green Monster" once again! Residents place yard waste in their "Green Monster" recycling containers for curbside recycling.
Please have recyclables, compostable yard waste and refuse at the curb before 6:30 a.m., but no more than 24 hours before pickup. Please do not place any containers in the street. Also, please remember to promptly remove your empty bins from the curb after pickup.
Recycle Corks at Public Works
Save your corks and dispose of them in the receptacle at the Public Works facility, 300 N. Raymond Avenue. This cork is sent to industries that make new products with it. Because cork is such a durable material, it can be recycled into anything from craft supplies to flooring.
Sanitary Sewer Backup?
If you experience a sanitary sewer backup due to an extreme rain event, please contact the Public Works Department as soon as possible: we are available Monday through Friday at (847) 381-7903 or after hours at (847) 270-9111.
Permits and Inspections
The Village of Barrington will continue electronic permit review and issuance procedures until further notice. Village staff will continue to evaluate permit procedures and how to safely and efficiently serve the community moving forward. We strongly encourage you to visit the electronic permit submittals page to review permitting requirements and submittal procedures.
The Village is conducting permit inspections on limited days of the week, and certain limitations are still in place for inspections of occupied buildings. Please contact (847) 304-3400 and select “3” for Development Services to schedule inspections and visit the website to learn more!
Register Your Pets, But Dog Tags No Longer Required
Registering your pets with the Barrington Police Department is a great way to recover your pet if they become lost. You are no longer required to purchase dog tags; instead, please register your pet at www.frontlinepss.com/barrington.
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**Sign Up for Emergency Alerts**
To sign up to receive Reverse-911 Emergency Alerts in the event of an emergency in Barrington, click here.
Call JULIE Before You Dig
Across the country, every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without calling a one-call center such as JULIE first. For your convenience, you can enter a self- service, locate request anytime (24/7/365) by going to www.illinois1call.com or by simply calling 8-1-1.
Commuters: Quarterly Hang Tag Renewals
New quarterly hang tags may be purchased at any time for a prorated cost using the Passport website.
If you have purchased a hang tag during the quarter and realize you no longer need it, you have the option to return the tag for a prorated refund. The refund will be prorated based on the day the tag is received at Village Hall.
Battery Drop-Off at Public Works
Residents can drop off batteries at Public Works ONLY during business hours of 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. There are no outside collection boxes - please bring them into the Public Works front office.
Please Read Before Battery Drop-Off:
Primary/Single-Use batteries cannot be recharged and must be disposed of or recycled once they wear out: Alkaline, lithium, silver oxide, zinc-air, zinc-carbon, zinc-chloride and CR/SR/LR (button batteries).
Alkaline Batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and 12V* (*12V should be taped on terminal ends) Rechargeable and Lithium Batteries: Lithium (Li-ion), Nickel (NiCd, NiMh, Ni-Zn) Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb) and button batteries all need to be taped. The reason for this is because battery terminals that touch metal surfaces or other batteries can spark causing a fire or explosion during shipping.
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Rental Assistance in Both Lake and Cook Counties |
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LAKE COUNTY
Renters who face financial hardship related to COVID-19 may apply for the new Lake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program, which provides help for individuals paying rent and/or utility bills. Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of past due rent and up to three months of assistance with future rent, but no more than 12 months of assistance total. Payments from the program will be made directly to landlords and/or utility companies. To learn more about who is eligible, and for a link to the application, visit lakecountyil.gov/renthelp.
COOK COUNTY
If you live in suburban Cook County and need help paying rent and utilities due to COVID-19, the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program pays up to 12 months of missed rent and utilities payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies.
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Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt |
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As many of you know, the federal and state moratoriums on evictions ended on July 31. That means landlords have likely begun to start filing eviction papers. In Cook County, all aspects of evictions can go forward on September 1 which means judges can order evictions and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office can start enforcing the orders.
However, we also know that renters in financial crisis who are unable to pay their rent today will not be able to pay rent, security deposits, and move-in fees for a new home tomorrow. Housing insecurity and homelessness have been shown to lead to food insecurity, domestic violence, mental illness, exacerbated and unattended preventable health conditions, and substance abuse. Uprooting families, especially now as we inch toward recovery, would be destructive.
CCLAHD can help provide free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance for tenants and landlords. And as the moratoriums lift, we are hoping we can steer landlords to look at alternatives to eviction.
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Monday, May 2
Committee of the Whole, 6 p.m.
Monday, May 9
Committee of the Whole, 6 p.m.
Board of Trustees, 7:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, May 10
Plan Commission/ZBA, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11
Cultural Commission, 12 p.m.
Thursday, May 12
Architectural Review, 6:30 p.m.
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200 S. Hough Street | Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 304-3400 | barrington-il.gov
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