More Ways to Connect with Village
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W h a t ’ s I n s i d e :
Mayor’s Message P. 2
Citizen Request P. 3 Form
Improving Storm P. 4 Water System
New Businesses P. 5 in 2017
Village Connections Ar l ing ton He ights , IL
The Village Connections e-newsletter is an easy way to stay connected to what’s going on in Arlington Heights. It will be produced quarterly and will be posted on the Village’s website, www.vah.com, under the Get Connected menu tab.
We look forward to providing information that interests you, and highlights of Village services, programs, events and projects.
Other ways to find information on local topics of interest include liking us on the
Village of Arlington Heights Facebook page, following us on Twitter @ArlHtsGov, or lik- ing us on the Discover Arlington Heights Facebook page.
If you would like to receive periodic emails on important updates and reminders from the Village, please subscribe by sending your email address to info@vah.com.
Send your email today and get started on being informed about Arlington Heights!
New Police Station Taking Shape
The Arlington
Heights Police
Station will
be completed in
late fall, 2018.
The steel beams of the new two-story Police Station at 200 E. Sigwalt are starting to define the shape and design of the 70,500-square-foot facility, which is being built on the site of the former facility between Village Hall and Fire Station #1. The new Station and its 10,000-square-foot-indoor gar- age for police squads is over 20 percent complete, with an expected completion date of late fall.
During the winter months the construction includes com- pletion of the steel framing, installation of elevated con- crete slabs, roof framing and sheeting, construction of the mechanical mezzanine and completion of underground storm water detention.
After years of feasibility studies that looked at possible ex- pansion or building a new police station, it was determined that a new facility would best accommodate current and future space needs for the Department of 139 staff mem- bers. An addition to the former Station was not feasible, and it was in need of significant and costly mechanical, electrical, structural and plumbing repairs – costing at least $9 million just to maintain it as a serviceable building.
Instead of investing millions into an aging structure that is outdated and inadequate for today’s policing needs, the Village Board moved to pay $27.9 million to construct a
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The Village celebrates the 20th an- nual Hearts of Gold on February 17th with a banquet that
recognizes people who live or work in the Village for their extraordinary con- tributions.
The Special Events Commission organ- izes the event, which honors 11 peo- ple chosen for a Heart of Gold Award.
Recipients are chosen annually based
on nominations submitted by the pub- lic. Those who are chosen for an award must live or work in Arlington Heights.
Congratulations to the 2018 Hearts of Gold honorees:
Mentor – Matthew Hahn
Heroic – Robert Extrom
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Kenneth Bonder Beautification – Kathy
Whisler
The 2019 nomination forms will be available on the website and the Vil- lage’s social media platforms in Sep- tember 2018. If you know of someone who has positively impacted your life or the lives of others, please consider nominating them for next year’s Hearts of Gold!
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Message from Mayor Hayes Dear Residents,
The Village is launching this online newsletter to enhance our outreach with residents and keep you informed and involved in Village news, projects and
events. The online newsletter will be posted quarterly under the “Get Connected” tab of the Village’s website. Later this year, the Village will assess the need and cost of printing the newsletter.
We redesigned our website, www.vah.com, in October 2017, with online tools that provide convenience to residents such as online payments, online forms and the Citizen Request Form (Arlington@Work).
This dynamic tool enables residents to easily post a service request for resolution whether you notice a pothole on a Village street, see a parkway tree that needs trimming or see a street light bulb that needs to be replaced.
Your service request is routed to the appropriate Village department for
immediate action, allowing the Village to respond quickly and efficiently. The person who submitted the issue can check its status throughout the process, receive comments, and receive notification the instant it is resolved. We also have the Arlington@Work app on both iOS and Android for additional, on-the-go access.
As 2018 gets underway, the Village will focus on the following projects:
Continued construction of the new Police Station, which is expected to be completed in late fall, 2018.
Maintaining the same, higher funding level as last year for road improvements to ensure our roads do not fall into costly disrepair.
Backyard Drainage Improvements in the public right-of-way.
Implementation of improvements to the Village’s storm water system.
Reducing occurrences of street flooding at Campbell and Sigwalt in our downtown.
Beautification plans to improve high-visibility corridors of Rand, Palatine, Arlington Heights Roads and Northwest Highway.
We look forward to a busy year of serving you, and we thank you in advance for your patience during upcoming road improvements and other construction projects, including the new Police Station. There will always be challenges that come with projects, but they are necessary in order to improve our roadways, area drainage, and provide much-needed work space for our Police force.
The Village also anticipates gaining more headway in 2018 in our redevelopment areas, including the Hickory/Kensington area, as well as the TIF IV area located northeast of Golf and Arlington Heights Roads. In addition, we look forward to continued growth in our business, retail and restaurant climate throughout the Village. Growth in the local economy positively effects the job market, tax base and creates other new opportunities in our community.
Sincerely,
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Get moving and “Walk Arlington” to improve your health and realize how walkable Arlington Heights’ neighbor- hoods and the Downtown are!
The Walk Arlington initiative, spear- headed by Village Trustee Thomas Glasgow, emphasizes the health, social
and ecological benefits of walking. The Village’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission has developed several short walking routes in the downtown area that are depict- ed on Walk Arlington Business Directories placed in down- town kiosks.
The directories include suggested walking routes of 3, 4 or 5 minutes to help people visualize how quickly they can walk to nearby entertainment venues, stores and restau- rants in the downtown area.
Throughout various neighborhoods, the suggested walking routes include blue signs depicting the Walk Arlington logo and calorie-counting information that shows walkers an example of how many calories can be burned by walking to certain locations. More suggested, safe walking routes and signage will be placed throughout the Village near parks, schools and in public areas later this spring.
Another important phase of the Walk Arlington program is to partner with other community entities such as the schools, hospital, Chamber and Park District to further pro- mote the project.
Check out the suggested walking routes throughout the community by visiting the “Living Green” section of the Vil- lage’s website, www.vah.com.
Take the Initiative, Walk Arlington!
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Potholes. Street light is out. Parkway tree needs trimming. Report neighborhood issues like these and more with the Village’s convenient, online Arlington@Work citizen request form that provides residents and businesses with a prompt response from the Village on routine maintenance issues in your neighborhood. This form can be found on the “Get Connected” tab of our website, vah.com.
This customer service request form, Arlington@Work, makes it easy for residents and businesses to report a concern using a smartphone, tablet or computer. Once you enter a service request online, it gets posted on a Village map, routed to the appropriate Village department for immediate action, and when an email is provided with the request you will be able to check the status of the request, receive comments from
Village staff, and get notification the instant a situation is resolved.
Having the requests posted on a map, lets others know who may have the same concern that the problem has been reported and the Village is at work for you resolving it!
Requests submitted online do not show the name of the person submitting the request nor an email address, etc. Arlington@Work is not to be used for emergencies nor for requests other than those listed on the online form.
Arlington@Work is downloadable as a mobile app and is available for Apple and Android devices by searching for See Click Fix (SCF) on your app store, and download the SCF app. Once downloaded, your phone’s
location will cause the app to automatically change to Arlington@Work when you are within the boundaries of Arlington Heights. See Click Fix is the service provider of the platform used for the Village’s citizen request form.
Report Things Needing Attention Through Arlington@Work
Arlington@Work map
New Fee Allows for Storm Water System Improvements
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As of October 2017 residents saw a new storm water utility fee included on their Village’s water and sewer bills. The new fee will help fund storm water control programs and infrastructure improvements.
Although there can be no guarantee against future flooding events, the Village’s storm water improvement projects will significantly address quality of life issues for many home- owners.
The fee is $6.25 per month for single- family homes, nonprofits, govern- ment entities and small businesses up to 40,000 square feet per billed meter. Larger businesses will be charged fees based on land size and number of meters.
The storm water utility fee enables the Village to move forward on mean- ingful storm water system improve- ments planned over the next several years. These projects have been iden- tified from an analysis of comprehen- sive flood studies done after an his- toric rain event in July 23, 2011 that resulted in significant flooding.
Here are some key storm water infra- structure improvements planned for 2018. These projects are part of 17 storm water improvement projects identified by the flood studies. The projects were prioritized based on
funding availability and what projects will impact the most residents.
2018 Key Projects:
The Cypress Street Detention basin:
These improvements will include an expansion of the Cypress Detention Basin and related storm sewers. Ac- cording to flood studies conducted, the lack of an adequate storm drain- age system in this area inhibits devel- opment and results in street and sur- face flooding problems.
Design work will be performed in
2018 with construction scheduled for the two-year project in 2019 and 2020.
Relief Sewers at Campbell Street/ Sigwalt Street/Vail Avenue
This project will benefit 250 homes, which makes this program one that will have the greatest impact of pro- jects studied. It will involve installa- tion of larger storm pipes to convey storm water. The lack of adequate storm drainage in this area results in street and surface flooding that
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The Village recently enhanced incentives to the overhead sewer rebate program by providing a 75 percent reim- bursement to qualifying homeowners who install an over- head sewer system or approved alternative flood control system in their homes. An overhead sewer installation, or an approved alternative, can help minimize basement backups during larger rain events.
Residents with homes built before the late 1970s that are located in a combined sewer neighborhood may qualify for this rebate program. Overhead sewers became a code requirement in 1975 and provide the only certain protec- tion against sewer backup, which can occur due to heavy rain flows into sewers or a blockage. For more information and an application, please call the Village’s Plumbing In-
spector at 847.368.5560 or find information on the Village’s website, vah.com.
So what are overhead sewers? The term refers to the rela- tive height of your sewer service line exiting your home when standing in your basement or lower level. In general, overhead sewers exit the home at eye level or above with- in the basement or lower level. If your lower level or base-
ment has floor drains, a utility sink or sump pump, these
flows are pumped up and into the building sewer service. If you do not have overhead sewers, the sewer service line generally exits your home at knee height or lower, often below the floor level. (Continued on page 7 )
Overhead Sewers Cost-Effective Way to Reduce Flooding
Public Works crew repairing a water main
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Arlington Heights’ reputation as a place for business helped attract a great variety of businesses that opened their doors in 2017. Over the past year, more than 70 new businesses including over 350 em- ployees invested in moving here. Their choice strengthens the local economy by adding to our eco- nomic tax base.
The Village has fostered a business -friendly environment and works closely with prospective business- es to attract them to premier loca- tions by assisting with various in- centive programs, helping provide site selection assistance, zoning verification assistance and any as- sistance needed to help new busi- nesses through the development and permit process.
Of the new businesses that opened in 2017, below are a few of
the new key businesses that were welcomed to the community.
New businesses are added to the Village’s Business Directory found on the Shop Dine Play tab of the Village’s website, vah.com.
25N Coworking Arlington Ale House Flutterfab Boutique Goldfish Swim School INSPYR Fitness Studio Jimmy John’s (Dundee & Ken-
nicott) Keefer’s Pharmacy Kirkland’s LA Fitness Passero Restaurant Pet Supplies Plus Shakou Restaurant Starbucks (Annex of Arlington) Thrill Vintage Ulta (relocation) Xfinity Store
New Businesses Call Arlington Heights Home
Village’s 2018 Financial Picture The Village’s 2018 Budget, which runs from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018, is $183.325 million.
Total expenditures for the Village’s operating, capital and other funds amounts to a decrease of 2.1% or $3.9 million over last year’s budget. The decrease is primarily attributable to the ending of the Emerald Ash Borer program in 2017 and other lower capital costs including park- ing garage renovations, water capital projects and fleet replace- ment costs.
Budgeted construction costs for the Police Station in 2018 are nearly $14 million of the total cost of $27.9 million to build the new station.
The 2017 property tax levy for the
Village and Library, which is incorporated in the 2018 Budget, shows a 2.61% increase. This tax levy is payable in 2018. For a homeowner with property valued at $300,000 it is estimated that there will be an approximate increase of $33 for the Village’s portion of the property tax bill.
However, Cook County’s homeowner’s exemption is increasing from $7,000 to $10,000. This will shift some of the property tax burden from residential to commercial properties. The Village’s 2018 property tax receipts will be used to offset lower sales, income, and telecommunication tax receipts. Sales and income tax receipts have historically represented the Village’s annual growth revenues.
The estimated $33 increase will be used to offset lower sales, income, and telecommunication tax receipts.
Since the 2011 levy year, four out of six of the previous Village property tax levies included 0% increases for operations.
The two most recent budgets decreased the portion of the levy attributable to operations, with 100% of the increases going towards funding higher levels of road improvements.
The Village will plan a number of initiatives this year to help stabilize its revenue base by exploring new revenue sources and updating existing revenues to help offset flattening sales and income tax revenues.
Shakou
What’s in Store at Arlington Heights Senior Center
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new facility, leaving $1.6 million set aside for possible cost overruns on the project.
The project is funded through a bond issue approved in January 2016 to cover demolition of the old facility, construc- tion of the new Police Station, renting of a temporary location, furniture, equip- ment, parking lot upgrades and architec- tural and engineering expenses. As planned, the costs of a new station fell within the Village’s existing debt service level, as the new bonds replaced matur- ing debt.
The new Police Station’s first floor will include an indoor garage, booking area, jail cells, and the patrol, records divisions, community meeting rooms, etc. The second floor will house investigations, community ser- vices, administration, a fitness center and locker rooms. The basement area will include a firing range, training room and evidence storage. During construction, the Police Department is temporarily located at 1500 W. Shure Drive near Dundee Road and Route 53.
Sustainable Design Elements of new Police Station
Environmentally sustainable and cost effective initiatives are being considered for the Village’s new facility:
Reusing ash trees: the best ash logs from trees removed throughout the Village will be used for the window trim and
other trim details throughout the building.
Installing permeable pavers: a grant from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) will be used for perme- able pavers to be installed behind the building and in the main driveway between the Village Hall and new Police Station.
Repurposing donated office furniture: the Police Depart- ment received lightly used furniture that includes 30 office suites of desks, chairs, filing credenzas and guest chairs.
Environmentally efficient features: Through a ComEd energy grant of $25,000, the new Police Station will include a sustainable heating and cooling system for the building that will reduce energy costs for the facility.
Police Station continued from Page 1
Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Road, is a hub of activity that offers services for seniors as well as a wide variety of recreational, educational and social programs, and volunteer opportunities for those 55 and over.
The Senior Center's unique organizational structure of eight senior service agencies located under one roof allows our patrons to take advantage of "one-stop shopping." Through these eight organizations, more than 12,000 senior citizens and their families are served each year.
Some of the programs you can participate in over the next several months include a Lincoln’s Birthday Celebration Show with Mark Dovrak on February 12, Barbershop Singers group,
Piano Revival class, the Catholic Charities Senior Meal Program, Coloring Club, Scrapbooking Club, and movies, trave- logues or book discussion groups. The Senior Center also features a wood working shop, pool tables, arcade games, gift shop, walking track, fitness room, lending closet of medical supplies and more.
The hours of the center are Monday & Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Check out the Senior Center on vah.com, or stop in for a tour, which is offered every Wednesday at 10 a.m. No appointment is necessary. Also, feel free to call the Senior Center at 847.253.5532.
Rendering of new Police Station
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Overhead Sewers continued from Page 4
Wellness Clinics Offered Through Health & Human Services The Health & Human Services Department, located on the first floor of Village Hall, provides services to help residents maintain optimum health and well-being. Below is a listing of health screening clinics offered in the department or at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Road. Health & Human Services can be contacted at 847.368.5760.
While supplies last, flu shots are offered during Wellness Clinics at Village Hall for a cost of $20 (cash or checks only). This Quadrivalent vaccine is injectable, free of any preservatives, and is approved for ages 3 years and older. Clinics are Mondays from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. or Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. No appointment is necessary. Blood Pressure Screenings Cost: Free Village Hall : Mondays 3 - 4:30 p.m. & Thursdays 8:30–10 a.m. Senior Center: Mondays 8:30 – 10 a.m. B-12 Injections Cost: $3 Village Hall: Mondays 3 - 4:30 p.m. & Thursdays 8:30–10 a.m. You must bring your own medication supply. Cholesterol Screenings Cost: $20 Cholesterol Screenings for total, HDL & LDL (12 hour fast required) will be done on an appointment basis the second Wednesday of each month alternating between Village Hall and the Senior Center. Diabetic/Blood Sugar Screenings Cost: $3 Village Hall: Mondays 3 - 4:30 p.m. & Thursdays 8:30 –10 a.m. Senior Center: Mondays 8:30 a.m. –10 a.m. INR/Anti-coagulation Testing Cost: $7 Village Hall: Mondays 3 - 4:30 p.m. & Thursdays 8:30 –10 a.m. You must bring your physician’s fax number. Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Testing Cost: $10 Village Hall: Mondays 3 - 4:30 p.m. You must return the following Thursday between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. for results.
Floor drains and sump pits flow by gravity into the sewer line and therein lies the exposure to basement sewer back- ups. The elevation of the building sewer makes the slope to the Village’s main sewer line flatter and when the Village sewer fills up, it is much more prone to backup through floor drains into your home.
With overhead plumbing, the sewer backup will spill onto the ground before it reaches the level of the pipe exiting your home. Even if it does back up into the building sewer pipes, a properly installed and sealed system should not leak into your home.
If you have ever experienced a basement backup, you know that the restoration and cleanup costs can be sub- stantial. The Village offers a reimbursement program to assist homeowners with the cost of an overhead sewer in- stallation by offering 75% reimbursement for eligible work up to $11,250.
The program is administered through the Building & Life Safety Department. Please review the guide and applica- tion found under the “Projects, Plans & Programs” tab of the Village’s website, vah.com to see if your home may be eligible to participate in this program.
threatens homes and businesses in the area.
A Request for Proposal will go out this spring and design work is ex- pected to
begin late spring and be completed by the end of 2018. Below is a list of ongoing projects for improvements to our storm water system. Backyard Drainage Improvements This ongoing program provides new or improved access for residents to Village storm sewers. This work, done in public right-of-way, will help alleviate chronic neighbor- hood drainage problems directly affecting residents’ homes. Early this year, a list of tentative locations will be evaluat-
ed for feasibility, surveyed and designed to produce an estimate of cost for each location. Construction is antici- pated this summer. Ongoing Sewer Condition Analysis The Village is doing an overall assessment of the storm sewer system by televising and analyzing the condition of over 200 miles of storm sewer. This work will be phased in over several years and will identify what areas of the sys- tem need rehabilitation and/or replacement work. Cured-In-Place Sewer Lining As part of the storm sewer assessment program, rehab and replacement of sewer lines consists of “cured in place” sewer lining. The process involves pulling a polyu- rethane/polyester lining through an existing sewer line that cures in place and behaves as a new sewer main. The process does not usually require excavation. Enhanced Sewer Back-up Rebate Program Village contributes 75%, up to $11,250 to qualifying home- owners who install an overhead sewer system or an ap- proved alternative flood control system. (More details of the rebate program on page 4.)
Storm Water System Improvements continued from Page 4
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The Village’s Public Works Department handles snow re- moval and ice control for approximately 241 center-line miles of Village streets.
When snow accumulations are two inches or less, crews apply a salt/liquid deicer mixture to soften the snow and prevent ice from bonding to the pavement. The salt is pre- wetted with a liquid blend consisting of salt brine, liquid calcium chloride and sugar beet juice. The use of this liquid blend allows us to use less rock salt while achieving im- proved snow-melting performance. This pre-wetting of the road salt allows us to save money by using less salt while also using a more eco-friendly material.
When snow accumulations exceed three inches, the front- mounted plows are used to move the snow off streets and onto parkways. Plows will first clear the arterial and collec- tor streets. Trucks will make two opening passes on all streets, then return later to plow the full-width of the street to the curb.
Not all streets are plowed by the Public Works Depart- ment. If you have concerns about the plowing conditions of certain roadways, please check the jurisdiction map on the Village’s website to see which agency clears the road- way before placing your call. Phone numbers are included on the map.
A few reminders for "Snow Season":
Parking Restrictions
Parking is not allowed on Village streets from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. daily. In addition, no parking is allowed on Village streets after two inches of snowfall, until the street is com- pletely cleared of snow.
Snow Deposits on Streets
Snow cleared from private areas may not be deposited on public walks or streets. Snow cleared from walks or drives may not be deposited in the streets. Besides being against Village ordinance, these practices may result in hazardous conditions.
How Public Works Handles Snow Removal
Drainage improvement project
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Village Hall 847.368.5000 Village Manager 847.368.5100 Building & Life Safety 847.368.5560 Engineering 847.368.5250 Fire 847.368.5450 Finance 847.368.5500 Health & Human Services 847.368.5760 Human Resources 847.368.5161 Legal 847.368.5700 Police 847.368.5300 Public Works 847.368.5800 Planning & Community 847.368.5200 Development Senior Center 847.253.5532 For Police and Fire services, please call 911.
VILLAGE CONTACTS
Village Trustees
Jim Tinaglia jtinaglia@vah.com
Village of Arlington Heights 33 S. Arlington Heights Road Arlington Heights, IL 60005 www.vah.com Village Hall Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Mark Your Calendars Be sure to plan ahead and mark these dates on your calendar! Check our website and social media for details of the events.
Arbor Day: Friday, April 27. Location TBD
Spring Sweep Recycling Event : Saturday, April 28, at Arlington Park Racetrack
Opening Day at Arlington Park Racetrack: Friday, May 4
SALUTE Run: Sunday, May 27. Start at Recreation Park.
Memorial Day Parade: Memorial Day, May 28. Step off at Sigwalt and Arlington Heights Road.
Sounds of Summer: Thursday & Friday nights starting in June, dates to be determined. Held in Harmony Park, Downtown.
Promenade of Art: Saturday and Sunday, June 9 & 10. Held on Vail and Campbell in the Downtown.
Frontier Days Festival: Friday, June 29 - Wednesday, July 4. Held at Recreation Park.
Fourth of July Parade: Wednesday, July 4. Steps off at Oakton and Dunton.
Irish Fest: Friday and Saturday, July 13 & 14. Held on the Muse- um grounds.
Mane Event: Friday, August 3. Held on Vail and Campbell in the Downtown.
Taste of Arlington Heights: Saturday, August 4. Held on Vail and Campbell in the Downtown.
National Night Out: Tuesday, August 7. Held at North School Park.
Arlington Million at Arlington Park Racetrack: Saturday, August 11.