Martha Paschke - 459

Gabriel Kaven - 351

First Ward Anais Bowring

Second Ward Brad Kosirog

Third Ward Dean Kilburg

Fifth Ward Craig Maladra

Kane County Clerk's Office will certify the April 4 election results later this month. Terms start in May.

Geneva is one of 11 northern Illinois locations that will be organically treated by the U.S. Forest Service’s nationwide campaign to curtail the destructive spongy moth, according to an Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. Forest Service’s contractor will be using airplanes to spray at 7 a.m. Wednesday or Thursday, June 21 or 22, weather permitting, to target the Fabyan Forest Preserve and Settler’s Hill Golf Course area east of the Fox River. However, the treatment area and fly zone include residential portions on Geneva’s east side.

The low-flying, yellow airplanes will be loud as they deploy a natural application, comprised of vegetable oil and wax, which has been regulated by the EPA. The Department of Agriculture says no pesticides are being used, and there is no threat to residents. The process will take about one hour.

The application does not kill the spongy moth but acts as a deterrent for breeding. The substance, once landing, has the consistency of hand cream and can be washed off with soap and water.

Historically known as the gypsy moth, the non-native pest is known for stripping plants and trees bare, leaving them susceptible to disease and potential death. Unlike the emerald ash borer, the spongy moth is not a picky eater and will devour almost anything leafy and green.

The federal government's spongy moth suppression program starts in North Carolina this spring and moves northeast into Minnesota by summer. The U.S. Forest Service is coordinating efforts in Illinois with the Department of Agriculture.

Want to make a difference in your community but not sure where to start? The City of Geneva is looking for dedicated volunteers to fill vacancies on its Historic Preservation Commission and Strategic Plan Advisory Committee.

The Historic Preservation Commission is tasked with maintaining the authentic architectural character and historic integrity of properties within the Geneva Historic District as well as individual historic landmark properties throughout the City. The seven-member body makes recommendations and determinations based on the City’s historic preservation ordinance; the U.S. Secretary of Interior’s (SOI) Standards for Rehabilitation; design guidelines for historic properties; and other policies adopted by the City Council. Typically, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.

The Strategic Plan Advisory Committee is charged with prioritizing community goals outlined in the City’s strategic plan, encouraging citizen input and assisting with goal implementation. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.

Residents interested in serving on these advisory boards should submit an application along with a letter of interest to Mayor Kevin Burns, Geneva City Hall, 22 S. First St., Geneva, IL 60134. The envelope should include a reference to either the Historic Preservation Commission or the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee. The application deadlines are 4:30 p.m. on the following dates:

Candidates must be residents living within the City's corporate boundary limits (see the City's Ward Map).

Mayor Burns will review all the applications and bring forward nominations to the City Council this spring.

Questions about the Historic Preservation Commission can be directed to Preservation Planner Michael Lambert by calling 630-938-4541 or sending him an email. For more information about the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee, contact Assistant City Administrator/Director of Administrative Services Ben McCready at 630-938-4540 or via email.

The Kane County Division of Transportation began working on an embankment and bridge project underneath the Fabyan Parkway Bridge crossing the Fox River the week of April 3.

Construction hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Earthwork on portions of the north and south side of Fabyan Parkway from the Fox River Trail to Route 25 involves cutting the ditch, stabilizing the ground with an erosion control blanket, and seeding.

This project will improve drainage and eliminate soil erosion adjacent to the Fox River Trail. Daily temporary lane closures and the use of flaggers or cones to control traffic for construction vehicles entering and leaving the work zone will be required. Residents living near or using facilities near the work zone are asked to avoid the area during construction and exercise caution if in the area during this work.

Weather permitting, the improvement is anticipated to be completed in the next two months. Visit Kane County's Traffic Advisories webpage for more information.

The Geneva City Council unanimously approved a $128 million 2023-24 fiscal year budget in February.

The City's budget is a combination of 36 individual budgets, all having different purposes and different legal restrictions. Geneva’s fiscal year runs from May 1 to April 30.

Development of the annual budget is more than number crunching; the City’s budget reflects our vision, strategies and priorities. Highlights include the following:

The City continues to maintain a strong credit rating of Aa2, which was reaffirmed last fall.

Elected officials and City staff are committed to a balanced and fiscally sound budget plan that will continue to provide high-quality public services, support the vision outlined in the strategic plan, and manage challenges that each new year brings.

The budget, strategic plan and other financial documents are available to view on the City’s website.

With warm weather finally arriving, there will be a noted increase in the number of vehicles and pedestrians out and about. This is a good time to remind everyone that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

While texting behind the wheel tops the list of distractions, other actions can prove to be just as unsafe. These actions include setting your navigation system while driving, changing radio stations, drinking coffee, eating, applying makeup, dealing with children, and more. If you are driving distracted, you are depriving yourself of important seconds that may be needed to avoid a close call or a serious accident.

Some basic steps that you can take to avoid being distracted while you drive include:

We also have seen a noted increase in the number of speeding complaints on our roadways. It is important to remember the posted speed limit in most Geneva residential neighborhoods is 25 mph. Please assist us in keeping our neighborhoods safe by adhering to the posted speed limits.

Lastly, we have recently received some complaints about drivers disregarding the traffic control efforts of our school crossing guards. Please remember school zone speed limit is 20 mph on school days when children are present. You must stop for the crossing guards’ hand-held stop sign as well.

Officers will be out on patrol, focusing on distracted driving violations, speeding violations, and school zone safety. Our goal, with your cooperation, is to reduce the number of serious and fatal accidents caused by those driving distracted and at excessive speeds.

Thank you and please be safe.

Come join Team Geneva! The City is currently accepting applications for Paid On-Call firefighters.

The Paid On-Call Firefighter protects life and property by performing firefighting, emergency medical care, hazardous materials incident response, and fire prevention duties. The firefighter also maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities while also augmenting Geneva's full-time Fire Department staff.

Applications are due by Monday, May 1 to be considered for the Fall 2023 Fire Academy.

The City's 2023 monthly brush program got underway this week in Zone 1 and will transition to Zone 2 starting Monday, April 10.

Brush pickup is intended for the disposal of tree limbs and branches that are removed by the property owner for normal maintenance and upkeep, not for lot clearing. Kramer Tree Specialists will not collect material produced by a private contractor.

The brush program divides the City into two zones with each zone being collected one time per month April through November. A schedule, regulations and a collection progress map that will be updated weekday mornings can be found on the City's website. Residents living on any of the border streets detailed in the map are included in Zone 1.

Since collection days can vary, residents should place brush and limbs on the parkway by 7 a.m. Monday on their designated week. Crews will not return to a neighborhood until the next scheduled pickup.

Tree branches must be stacked with the cut ends facing in one direction toward the curb or edge of the pavement - not in the street. Branches and stumps cannot exceed 12 inches in diameter, and tree limbs should be less than 12 feet in length.

Residents should not tie bundles of branches with rope or wire. No foreign materials, such as construction debris, fencing, lumber, wire, grass, flowers, and garden waste will be collected.