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Village Newsletter - May 2021

Greetings!

On April 9, 2013 the fine people of Round Lake put their trust in me by voting me in as Mayor of Round Lake. The late Don Newby, Sue Triphan, Henry Frye Jr., Patty Blauvelt and myself made up the Citizens First Party. I was sworn into office on May 4, 2013. The people believed in our changes and new policies because they elected me again 4 years later.

The promise I made was simple. That promise was to never act politically, never act selfishly, always act for the people and the businesses of Round Lake and I promised to build a team that would work cohesively to improve the services of the village. By doing so, we improved the life styles of our residents.

I assumed the role as a full time working Mayor and put in long hours those first few years. The experience and the result were both tremendous. I started working with Administration to hear their needs. Basic elementary needs like police training that was denied by previous administrations. How can you not have your police officers trained and educated? We got them the training and equipment they needed. I did the same with Public Works. There are now programs and policies in place to keep Round Lake vibrant. We also updated our communication and IT systems. I listened to our staffs needs and gained Trustee support. We began building a better Round Lake. Trust was being built, a team was being built.

I can go on and on about accomplishments but there are too many to mention and prioritize. There is no doubt that Round Lake is in a better position than it was 8 years ago. I believe that I am leaving it in good hands with Mayor Russ Kraly.

Most of all I thank the People of Round Lake for supporting me and putting your trust in me. God Bless Round Lake, God Bless us all.

Sincerely,

Mayor Dan MacGillis

Keep Up To Date With What's Going On!

Village Officials Sworn Into Office

The Honorable Judge Albert L. Wysocki swore in Village Officials at the Regular Board Meeting on Monday, May 3rd.

Russell S. Kraly was sworn in as Village President. Patrick Duby and Paul Law were sworn in as new trustees. Also sworn in to continue serving Round Lake were Trustee Frye and Clerk Perlini.

The Village would like to thank former Mayor Dan MacGillis for his service and dedication to the Village. Mayor MacGillis served our residents for eight years and did not run for reelection. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.

As pictured above (Top Left): Trustee Law, Trustee Patel, Trustee Foy, Trustee Duby (Bottom Left): Trustee Frye, Clerk Perlini, Mayor Kraly, Village Attorney Erik Peck (Not Pictured, Trustee Mandelman)

Late Fee Penalties

The Village recognizes the economic impact that the pandemic has put on many. Penalties on past due utility accounts have been waived since April 2020.

The Village will reinstate penalties for non-payment of utility bills beginning with the May billing. For payments received after the 20th of the month, a late fee of 10% will be assessed on the past due balance.

Residents who are unable to pay their utility bill are encouraged to contact the Village at 847-546-5400 to set up a payment plan.

Support Our Local Restaurants

Many Round Lake restaurants have been offering outside dining, delivery, or takeout orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out the list below to find options for all taste buds and multiple options for outdoor dining, take-out, curbside and/or delivery. Please contact the restaurant directly to inquire about indoor dining availability.

2021 Street Resurfacing Program

With the weather warming up, it’s time for road construction season to begin. The Village will once again be resurfacing streets utilizing the funds received from our portion of the Illinois Motor Fuel Tax.

This year Abington Lane, Denise Drive, Bayport Drive, Janice Lane and Wildmeadow Road will be milled and repaved. Construction is expected to start in May. The streets are selected based on the 2019 Village Pavement Management Report.

If you have any questions about the project, please reach out to the Public Works Department at 847-546-0962 or pwdept@roundlakeil.gov.

Contact J.U.L.I.E Before You Dig

Spring has sprung and that means many residents will be starting landscaping projects around their homes. You may be surprised by what's buried in your yard. That's because most electric, gas, water, sewer and telecommunications companies are delivering utility services underground. To avoid personal injury and damage to those underground lines, state law requires you to contact JULIE before any digging project, regardless of the project size or depth. JULIE services are free.

You can prevent injury and avoid damage by following these four important steps:

Call 811 or Click before you dig
Wait the required amount of time (two working days after your phone call)
Respect the marks
Dig with care

Notify JULIE if you are doing any of the following projects:

Decks & Patios
Fountains
Fences
Gardens
Landscaping
Mailbox posts
Room Additions
Signs
Swimming Pools
Swing Sets
Tents
Trees or Shrubs

Lake County Federal Emergency Assistance Program

Earlier this month, Lake County government launched a new program called the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program, which provides residents in need with help paying rent and/or utility bills.

Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of past due rent and up to three months assistance with future rent, with a maximum of 12 months of assistance total. Payments from the program are made directly to the landlords and/or utility companies.

To learn more about the FERA program, including who is eligible, click here. If you have questions or need help filling out the online application, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211.

Illinois Work Zone Laws

With warmer weather, road construction crews get to work improving the pavement for safer streets. It’s also a reminder for drivers to take extra precautions in work zones. Before you encounter and drive through another work zone in Illinois, there are some facts you should know that were released from the Illinois Department of Transportation :

Distracted driving laws. Using your phone for texting, e-mailing, or being on the internet are all illegal in our state. Phones are only allowed to be used in a hands-free way, which can still be distracting, but less distracting than any hand-held uses. Other than using your cell phone, doing tasks like eating, putting on makeup, and reaching for something inside the car can all be considered distracting driving. Stay alert while driving, especially in highway work zones because they require even more attention.
Scott’s Law. According to Scott’s Law, or the Move Over Law, you are legally required to slow down and move over when you see emergency or maintenance vehicles that are stopped and flashing their emergency lights. In work zones, if you see a construction vehicle parked, you should move over to the farthest lane you are able to and proceed with caution.
Fines. In 2020, some fines in construction zones were updated through law changes. You could face fines between $100 and $1,000 if you disobey traffic-control devices in highway construction or maintenance zones. If you hit a worker in a construction zone, the maximum penalty you could be issued has been increased to $25,000. Scott’s Law fines were also increased, and your first offense now costs you $250, and a second offense could cost as much as $10,000.

Your best course of action to avoid crashes, tickets, and fines in work zones is to be cautious. Drive safely through the areas by slowing down and paying attention to other drivers, workers, and anything else happening in the work zone.

Code Enforcement FAQ's

Q) How tall can the grass grow before it has to be cut?

A) The 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (with Village amendments) prohibits weed or plant growth in excess of 8 inches. This includes grass and weeds, so if the yard is full of dandelions over 8 inches tall they must be cut even if the grass is less than 8 inches tall.

Q) Do I need a permit to put up a little kiddie pool?

A) It depends on the depth of the pool (depth of water the pool is designed to hold) and nothing else. Any pool having a maximum depth 24 inches or more requires a building permi t which includes among other items a fence. The safety issues are exactly the same for a temporary pool (while it is being used) as they are for a permanent pool which is why permits are required.

Q) Are farm animals allowed in Round Lake?

A) No, the Village has strict prohibitions on the keeping of ‘farm’ animals within the Village limits. The Round Lake Municipal Code 6.08.010 states:

No person shall keep within the village any horse, pony, cattle, cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, chicken, goose, duck, turkey, pigeon, and other livestock or swine.
No person shall keep within the village any wild animal, including but not limited to any monkey, ape, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous or venomous snake or other reptile, snake over six feet in length, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other animal or bird which can normally be found in the wild state.

News And Announcements

Summer Camp 2021 Registration is Open! It's not too early to start thinking about summer camp. The Round Lake Park District 2021 Summer Camp Program strives to provide a safe and fun environment for all children. Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis. Learn more.