Dear Neighbors,
On Oct. 1, Aimee and I had the honor of attending the Geneva Center for the Arts “Founders Event,” and we were joined by the many people who helped bring this important and special space in our community to life at 321 Stevens St., Suite Q.
The Geneva Center for the Arts boasts being where the arts and community come together while also promising to experiment, take risks and feed our souls. A lofty goal you say? I don’t think so. For if we are true to ourselves and unafraid to speak the truth to others, we can in synchronicity state the very nature of art is about connections. Certain art connects us to each other and our community while inspiring, provoking, motivating, and moving us toward a richer and more pronounced understanding of the world we share.
Suffice it to say, the 2,000 square feet of space the Geneva Center for the Arts calls home, like our own homes, is warmed by the visitors it welcomes, the activity it hosts, and the beautiful sounds that emanate from the facility. It is my fervent hope the Geneva Center for the Arts helps spill out into every corner of Geneva the value, importance, and impact of art – in every form – so that we as proud residents of this community become awash with its benefits.
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Contact Us
Geneva City Hall
22 S. First St.
Ph: 630-232-7494
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Geneva Announces Curbside Leaf Collection Schedule
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When the City's curbside leaf collection program begins later this fall, Geneva residents will once again be able to track the contractor's progress with an enhanced online map.
The curbside program is scheduled to start the last week of October and the first week of November. The collection schedule, which is posted on the City's website, is subject to change in case of inclement weather or equipment failure.
The City's curbside leaf pickup is divided into three geographical zones, with each zone collected three times using vacuum truck equipment. Every street will be targeted once during each of the three separate leaf pickups. Each zone takes several days to complete.
Zone breakdowns, proposed start dates for all three collection rounds, and full program details can be found online.
The City's curbside collection map details the collection zones and tracks the progress crews are making through each neighborhood. The map will be updated on weekday mornings, and residents are encouraged to visit the City's website often to check for any potential schedule changes.
Residents are required to rake their leaves to the parkway parallel to the street and about 12 inches behind the curb or edge of the pavement by 7 a.m. on the Monday of their scheduled pickup week. Raking leaves into the street or curb/gutter can clog storm sewers, which can later result in street flooding.
Leaves placed on the parkway after the crews have passed will not be picked up until the next scheduled date.
Leaf Bag Program
After the curbside pickup concludes, residents who are still looking to dispose of leaves in December can participate in the City's leaf bag collection program. Leaves should be placed in brown yard waste bags. Refuse stickers are not required, but bags must only contain leaves. Yard waste, mulch or grass clippings mixed with leaves will not be accepted.
Bags should be set outside with the garbage on residents' regular refuse collection day. The final pickup will be the week of Dec. 27.
Full details about both the curbside and leaf bag programs can be found on the City's website. Questions can be directed to the City's Public Works Department by calling 630-232-1501.
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Masks Required Inside City Of Geneva Buildings
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Illinois reinstituted a statewide indoor mask mandate to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. The mandate applies to businesses, grocery stores, health clubs, restaurants, and other indoor venues.
The City continues to follow state guidelines, and masks are required in Geneva's municipal buildings.
The public is encouraged to conduct City business virtually, over the phone, email, or U.S. Mail when possible. Residents can pay utility bills online, call the Finance Department at 630-232-0854, use the mail, or utilize one of the City's dropboxes (please no cash). People also can report non-emergency concerns and find a City staff directory online.
Face masks are required for everyone over age 2 regardless of vaccination status who enter a City building to conduct business or attend a public meeting.
The Kane County Health Department has the latest information regarding local COVID-19 vaccination efforts, including a mass vaccination site in Batavia.
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New Downtown Bike Rack Art Installation Unveiled
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Bicyclists have a new spot to hitch their ride as Geneva’s latest art sculpture combines a functional bike rack with a new downtown public art project.
Located at the northwest corner of Third and Franklin streets, the “Skyward” is the fourth installation of the Geneva Cultural Art Commission’s Bike + Rack = Art program, which was created to bring more sculptures throughout the downtown. City leaders and the commission held a dedication ceremony Aug. 30.
The “Skyward” bike rack consists of three similar, but slightly different circular forms elevated by a single post. The three racks are made from hot forged steel and held together with rivets, banding, and modern welding techniques. The center bar of each piece creates a visual slanted line that points above the horizon. Each piece can accommodate two to three bicycles.
The installation is the creation of Chicago artist Christopher Leslie, the owner of Metal Heart Forge that specializes in decorative ironwork using traditional blacksmithing techniques.
The $5,500 sculptures were funded by the City’s Cultural Arts Commission, which included a generous contribution of $2,500 from Geneva residents Katherine & James Hepp in support of public art.
“When I first saw the 'Skyward' bike rack, it reminded me of something a ship’s captain would use to view the stars to help find their way home,” Cultural Arts Commission Chair Tim Vetang said.
The commission’s Bike + Rack = Art program began in 2014 with the creation of the “Welcome Rounds” at the northeast corner of Third and Campbell streets. Subsequent projects have included “A Unique Cycle” in 2016 at State and Fourth streets and the “Dala Hitching Post” in 2018 located south of the Geneva Post Office, 26 S. Third St.
For more information about the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, visit the City's website or find the group on Facebook.
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East State Street Reconstruction Slated For Next Spring
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Subscribe For Road Work Alerts
Stay a step ahead of road construction taking place in Geneva by subscribing to Notify Me alerts. We also will share project info from Kane County and IDOT.
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Starting next spring, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is planning to reconstruct East State Street (Route 38) from Kirk Road to the Fox River.
The overall project includes roadway widening, streetscape work, traffic signal, and street lighting upgrades. The City of Geneva will be relocating and upgrading underground electric and water utility infrastructure as part of the construction.
The proposed improvements do not require home or business relocations but will necessitate right-of-way and easement purchases.
Work is tentatively scheduled to start in spring 2022. The project is expected to be substantially completed in 2024 with punch list items to be finished the following year.
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Events On Tap This Fall In Geneva
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Geneva French Market
Runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 14.
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Downtown Trick-Or-Treat
Participating merchants hand out candy from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 28.
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Steeple Walk
Ring in the holidays with seasonal music from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 5.
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*With more events likely to be added this fall and the changing nature of the pandemic, stay tuned to the City's Events web page for the latest information.
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Commuter Parking Fees Resume In October
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Geneva’s daily and quarterly permit parking fees were reinstituted in October as more commuters head back to the office.
Commuter parking fees were suspended after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Daily fee parking in the City’s Third Street Commuter Parking Deck and the Route 31 overflow lot were free until Oct. 1.
The Geneva Police Department mailed out letters in August informing quarterly permit holders that their current placard expired Sept. 30. Commuters who opted not to renew their permit before October were returned to the City’s commuter parking waiting list.
All parking fees remain the same.
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Renew Permit
Parking Online
The City has created an online payment portal to facilitate the permit renewal process. Commuters can use the invoice included in their August letter to create an account. After the payment is made, the City will mail the new permit.
For more information about commuter parking, visit the City’s website, call the Geneva Police Department at 630-232-4736 or send Police an an email.
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Randall Road Bus Stops Get An Artistic Makeover
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"Creative Energy" by Scout C.R. Fortun
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"Peach" by Kassidy Keenehan.
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The Geneva Cultural Arts Commission has added two more Gimmie Shelter bus stop art installations along Randall Road.
The Pace bus shelters are located on the west side of Randall in front of McDonald's and on the east side of Randall in front of Home Depot.
In 2020, Geneva High School students, who were attending classes remotely, were invited to submit artwork to be considered for the program. After considering a number of eye-catching entries, the Cultural Arts Commission and Public Art Advisory Committee selected the artwork of Scout C.R. Fortun and Kassidy Keenehan.
All nine of the Randall Road bus shelters in Geneva are now enhanced with public art.
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Strategic Plan Update: Parkway Trees
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Place Your 2022 Parkway Tree Order Today
The City is able to purchase trees at discount prices. Under the program, the resident pays $150, and the City pays the remainder of the cost to purchase and plant a new tree.
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A key component of the City's strategic plan is the performance indicators. City leaders and City staff look to these indicators to aid in decision making and planning for the future.
This quarter, we highlight the number of parkway trees planted in Geneva and why they are such a vital part of our community.
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ComEd Tree Trimming Scheduled For November
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Commonwealth Edison will be trimming trees this fall on Geneva's west side.
Beginning in November, ComEd crews will be trimming trees away from electric lines in the following areas:
- In between Western Avenue and Dunstan Road from Allen Drive to South Street; and
- Along South Street - Kaneville Road - Keslinger Road from Western Avenue to Peck Road.
While the City of Geneva owns and operates its own electric utility, ComEd runs power lines through the community to our substations as well as neighboring municipalities. The company states its vegetation management program helps ensure electrical reliability since tree branch contact with power lines is a leading cause of outages.
ComEd will notify affected residents about tree trimming taking place in their neighborhood.
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Economic Dev. News: Check Out Geneva's Newest Businesses
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Police News: Make Halloween A Fun & Safe Experience
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Geneva's recommended trick-or-treating hours will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31.
As a reminder, Halloween is not a City of Geneva holiday. The City does not provide guidance as to the cancellation of Halloween events due to weather. While Halloween weather can be very unpredictable, the decision to trick-or-treat is left to the discretion of individual families.
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Pending any additional guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health or the CDC, the City of Geneva would like to highlight the following Halloween safety measures:
- If you choose to hand out candy, please consider options for contact-free distribution. Also, remember to turn on your porch light.
- If you choose to not participate, please turn your porch lights off.
- Refrain from participating in trick-or-treating if you do not feel well, are awaiting COVID-19 test results, have recently returned from a COVID-19 travel hotspot, or if you know that you have been exposed to coronavirus.
- If you decide to take your child/children trick-or-treating, incorporate a face mask into your costume to help prevent the spread of germs.
- Trick-or-treat as a household and maintain social distancing from other groups.
- Make sure trick-or-treaters have a clear field of vision; wear light-colored costumes or incorporate reflective tape into their costume.
- Use caution when crossing streets and check all directions for cars.
- Do not enter into any homes.
- Check all treats once you arrive back home. Only eat unopened candy that is in its original packaging.
- Respect others and their property.
We hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable Halloween. If you should have any questions please contact the Geneva Police Department at 630-232-4736.
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Be Aware Of COVID-19 Pandemic Scams
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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Geneva Police Department, and law enforcement agencies throughout the country have seen an increase in financial scams. The victims of these scams are typically elderly residents in our community.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers some helpful tips to avoid falling victim to these scams.
- Scammers pretend to be from an organization that you know or contact you on behalf of the government.
- Scammers say there is a problem or a prize.
- Scammers pressure you to act immediately.
- Scammers will tell you to pay in a specific manner.
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The Geneva Police Department provided some additional advice, including:
- Block unwanted calls and text messages.
- Don’t give your personal financial information in a response to a request that you were not expecting. Legitimate organizations will not call, email or text to ask for your personal information. Do not click on any links that you are unable to verify.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately. Legitimate businesses will give you the time to make a decision.
- Never pay someone who insists you pay with a gift card or by using a money transfer service. Never deposit a check and send money back to someone you do not know.
- Stop and talk to someone that you trust. Before you do anything else, tell a friend, a family member, or a neighbor what happened. Talking about it could help you realize that it is a scam.
For more detailed information, visit the City's Safety First blog. If you have been scammed, or have become aware of a scam please do not hesitate to report the incident to the Geneva Police Department.
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Community Dev. News: Our Project Map Keeps You Connected
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Geneva residents can follow development projects from application submission to City Council approval - and everything in between - by visiting the City's Development Projects Map.
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People also can subscribe to receive updates every time the City modifies the map.
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Public Works News: Brush Collection & Yard Waste Pickup
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Full brush program details, including a collection progress map that will be updated weekday mornings during the first two full weeks of the month, can be found on the City's website. Geneva's monthly brush pickup concludes for the year in November.
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Yard waste is picked up on people’s scheduled garbage day through Nov. 30.
Yard waste should be placed in a Kraft brown paper bag, which may not weigh more than 50 pounds. Geneva refuse stickers are required.
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Geneva's Fall Hydrant Flushing Program Completed
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The Geneva Public Works Department has finished flushing fire hydrants throughout the community this fall as part of an ongoing maintenance program.
The City flushes fire hydrants to improve the overall quality of the water by cleaning the water mains of rust and corrosion and ensuring that all hydrants are working properly.
For more information, call the Public Works Water Division at 630-232-1551.
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Underground Cable Replacement Program Underway
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The City's next round of replacing underground electric cable started in September generally along East Side Drive and Division Street. The second project area, located on Lark Street and Keslinger Road, begins in October.
Replacing underground cable enhances the City’s electric service reliability.
Utility Dynamics, the City's contractor, will be installing conduit through utility easements and public right-of-way for the next several months. Electrical transformers, pedestals and street lights also will be replaced. This winter, the contractor will energize and connect homes to the new equipment. Scheduled power outages are required as part of the Lark Street project.
Final landscape restoration will begin in spring 2022, weather permitting.
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Storm, Sanitary & Manhole Improvements Slated For This Fall
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The City of Geneva will be making sanitary and storm sewer improvements starting in fall 2021 in various sections of Geneva.
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Located 40 miles west of Chicago along the Fox River, Geneva is home to 21,393 residents and serves as the seat of Kane County government. The City's character is found in its distinct architecture, historic buildings and picturesque natural areas. With festivals and events year-round, Geneva is a special destination for unique and award-winning shopping, restaurants, galleries, and more. Home to excellent schools, library, parks, and a vibrant cultural arts scene, Geneva continues to be one of the premier cities in the Chicago area to live, work, play and raise a family.
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