Village Bulletins
- Rain Garden Workshops - Flint Creek Watershed Partnership has scheduled rain garden workshops for March 6 and 13 and a construction demonstration April 24. Learn why rain gardens are important for cleaning stormwater and controlling flooding and how to build one on your property at the workshops; observe one under construction at the demonstration. Iva McRoberts and Kevin Rische of Trillium Native Landscapes, Barrington will teach the workshops March 6 at Barrington Village Hall and March 13 at Ela Area Public Library. The workshops start at 9:30 and run until 11:30. The construction demonstration is April 24 from 11:00 to 12:30 at a site near the Barrington Area Library. Kevin Rische is a member of Flint Creek Watershed Partnership's Rain Garden Initiative and has volunteered to visit residences this spring to verify proper siting of rain gardens. This service is available only to landowners in the Flint Creek Watershed who attend on of the workshops. Check the map at www.flintcreekwatershed.org to see if you live in the watershed and for more information. All the programs are free. RSVP to Patsy Mortimer at pmortimer@earthlink.net, 847-381-8663. To view the full press release please click here. If you would like to view the flyer detailing information for these workshops please click here.
- Citizens for Conservation hosts Community Education Programs at the Barrington Area Library. Program dates are Saturday, February 13th - One Drop at a Time: Water, Sustainability and Your Garden, Saturday, March 20th - Back Yard Gardening for Birds and Butterflies, and Saturday April 24th - Rain Gardens. Programs run from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Programs are free. For more information, see the informational flier found here or contact Citizens for Conservation at 847-382-7283.
- Snow Plowing - If residents have any questions or concerns regarding snow plowing please contact the Village or Cuba Township Highway Department at (847) 381-7793.
- Coyotes - The coyote is a medium-sized member of the dog family that includes wolves and foxes. They have pointed ears, slender muzzle, drooping bushy tail, and are grayish brown with striking yellow eyes. Most adult coyotes weigh between 25-35 pounds. Coyotes breed during January through March and typically produce five to six pups 60 to 63 days later. The entire family unit, including the mother, father, and other non-breeding family members help raise the young by providing food. Litters are typically larger when food is abundant or the population is low. Coyotes are chiefly nocturnal, but may be active during the day. In urban areas where coyotes live relatively free of harm, they may lose their fear of humans. Coyote attacks are, however, extremely rare. The vast majority of coyote attacks in the United States are the result of a coyote attacking a small dog or cat and the pet's owner trying to stop the attack by getting between the animals. Other attacks occur when coyotes become comfortable around humans, often as a result of people intentionally or unintentionally feeding them. Conflicts with coyotes can be avoided by taking simple precautions or by altering behavior to avoid confrontation. Here are five simple tips to keep you and your animals safe: Do not feed the coyotes (this includes unintentionally feeding them by leaving pet food or garbage outside at night as well as having large bird feeders), Do not let pets run loose, Do not run from a coyote, Repellents of fencing may help, and Report aggressive, fearless coyotes immediately. For more information on coyotes please visit www.urbancoyoteresearch.com and/or http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/directory_show.cfm?species=coyote.
- Heritage Tree Ordinance. A Heritage Tree Ordinance was adopted on 10/28/09 for the purpose of preserving the Village's many heritage trees. A "Heritage Tree" is defined as any tree having a Diameter Breast Height of twenty inches (20") or larger. The preservation of these trees offers numerous benefits to the Village such as enhancing the Village's scenic beauty and preserving property values among others. Removal of any Heritage Tree is prohibited and subject to violation penalties. To view the ordinance in its entirety, you may come to the Village Hall or click here
- SWALCO. SWALCO hosts mobile events held from spring through fall at locations throughout Lake County, residents can drop-off their household chemical waste, quickly and easily, year-round (on selected dates and by appointment only), at the Gurnee facility, 1311 N. Estes Street. Visit the SWALCO website found here or call 847-336-9340 for more information about upcoming HCW collections and for a list of items that are accepted at these collections.
- Census 2010. The U.S. Constitution requires a national census be conducted once every 10 years. The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. This includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, both citizens and non-citizens. The 2010 Census questionnaire, which will be mailed out in March of 2010, asks only a few simple questions of each person-name, relationship, gender, age and date of birth, race and whether the respondent owns or rents his or her home. This simple, short questionnaire takes just a few minutes to complete and return by mail (the questionnaire can be found here). The Census Bureau does not release or share information that identifies individual respondents or their household for 72 years. Your responses are strictly confidential and protected by law. The Census directly affects how more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and more. The Census affects your voice in Congress, as well as your representation in state and local governments. 2010 Census: It's in our Hands! Be counted! For more information, consult their website found here.
- Lake County Health Department Animal Care and Control Lends a Hand to the Pooch Pantry. The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center’s Animal Care and Control program continues to accept donations for the Pooch Pantry, a food pantry for dogs and cats. Recently, requests for assistance from the Pantry have increased while don
ations have decreased. As many as 30 families visit the pantry each week to seek assistance in meeting the nutritional and care needs of their dogs and cats. Fewer donations mean these families do not always leave the Pantry with enough supplies to keep their pets happy and healthy. Donations of dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, biscuits, pet treats, cat littler and gift cards from area pet supply stores can be dropped off at the Health Department's Animal Care and Control facility, 29278 N. Highway 83 in Mundelein, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please note that cash and check donations cannot be accepted at this time. The Pooch Pantry is open for families in need from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays at Animal Care and Control. For additional information or if your family or a family you know is in need of food for their pet(s) please contact Cathy Sabin at 847-828-1521. - Flint Creek Watershed Partnership. The Village of North Barrington has joined the Flint Creek Watershed Partnership, which is comprised of watershed stakeholders dedicated to the preservation, protection and improvement of the Flint Creek sub-watershed of the Fox River. North Barrington started last fall to restore 10 acres adjacent to the Flint Creek. Chicago Wilderness Magazine highlighted the Partnership's work in their summer issue just released. The article can be found here. For more information about the restoration efferts, contact either the Village of North Barrington or the watershed coordinator, Patsy Mortimer at 847-381-8663, or via e-mail at pmortimer@earthlink.net or access their website found here. The partnership meets on the last Tuesday of odd numbered months. Flint Creek Watershed Partnership's next meeting is Tuesday, March 30th at 10 am at the Barrington Area Library.
- Proposed Ordinance for Maintenance of Private Sewage Disposal Systems. The Environmental & Health Commission is proposing an ordinance requiring periodic maintenance of private sewage disposal systems. The goal is to educate homeowners, prevent and detect failing systems, and reduce contamination risks to water sources within the Village. Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available at the Village Hall or can be viewed here.
- Canadian National Proposed Acquisition of EJ&E. Barrington Communities Against CN Rail Congestion Coalition Fact Sheet can be found here. For news updates, consult the Coalition's website found here. Information submitted from BACOG on behalf of North Barrington and other local governments can be found here.
- Leave No Child Inside Initiative. Leave No Child Inside is an initiative created by The Chicago Wilderness Alliance that "promotes a culture in which children enjoy and are encouraged to be outside in nature, and as a result are healthier, have a sense of connection to their place, and become supporters and stewards of local nature." Also implemented through this plan is the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. Further information regarding the Leave No Child Inside initiative or the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights can be found here.
- Barrington Area Community Calendar. To find out what is going on in your neighborhood as well as surrounding area, consult the online Barrington Area Community Calendar found here. You can even sign up for email notification! A great tool!
- Conservation@Home. Conservation@Home is a partnership between Barrington Area Conservation Trust and Citizens for Conservation to encourage homeowners to maintain their properties using conservation practices that benefit the environment. Conservation@Home volunteer consultants provide simple, easy-to-implement steps to encourage conservation-friendly practices on private land. There is no fee for the consultation. If you would like to learn more about how to implement environmentally friendly practices on your property, please schedule a Conservation@Home consultation with one of their representatives. More information can be found on the website found here.
- New Handbook Provides Information for Private Well Owners. To help private water system owners develop and maintain a safe, adequate and dependable water system, the MidWest Plan Service has published a booklet "Private Water Systems Handbook" and is available through local University of Illinois Extension offices or on-line www.mwps.org. Some of the topics in the publication include planning for water usage, well construction, care and location; cisterns, ponds and springs; water testing and treatment; maintenance of the system and other related topics. Lake County Health Department also has informative information on their website found here.
- Culverts and Storm Sewers. Please keep culverts and storm sewer areas free from debris to aid with water conveyance from the recent rains. If there is a storm sewer near your property, kindly check to make sure the cover is free from debris in order to aid with drainage.
- Culvert 50/50 Cost Share Program. The Village has a 50/50 cost share program for under driveway stormwater culvert replacement. The Village will pay half of the cost of the replacement, with the homeowner paying the remaining half. The work is performed by Cuba Township's Road Department. It is important for all property owners to maintain their culverts for proper stormwater conveyance. A clogged or collapsed culvert can cause flooding problems on the homeowner's property as well as neighboring properties, and in some cases force water to spill over roads causing washout situations. Keeping ditch lines clear of all obstructions is equally important. If you have questions about this replacement program contact the Village Hall. The program has ended for this year. Replacements will start up again in the spring. Sign up now to get in early.
- Rain Gardens. A rain garden is simply a shallow depression in your yard that is planted with native wetland or wet prairie wildflowers and grasses. It is designed to naturally collect water that runs off from your roof or is discharged from your sump pump. Rain gardens make good use of stormwater runoff; conserving precious water supplies and helping protect water quality in downstream lakes and streams. Rain gardens provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and beneficial insects, such as mosquito eating dragonflies. More information can be found at Lake County's website found here. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also has an informational website found here. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and th U.S. Botanic Garden produced an online video "Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In" that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. Click here to see the video.
- Hospice of Northeastern Illinois plans to build a new Hospice Home and Center for Care located on Lake Zurich Road in Barrington. $15 million has been raised and strong support continues for the Building a Legacy of Care Capital Campaign to raise money for the construction. The entire press release can be found here. For further information, visit the website found here.
- RECYCLING. Did you know that the Village has an Agreement with the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) to receive revenue from SWALCO based on the tonnage of recyclables that are collected by Waste Management? While the tonnage price will be increasing, they will start to deduct funds for items contained in the recycling bin that are not recyclable. Items that SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED in the recycling bin include: juice boxes and wax coated cartons, plastic bags, polystyrene products (#6 plastic , which can be in the form of either a hard plastic or Styrofoam) and caps or lids from any container. A recycling guide from SWALCO can be found here.
- COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS (CFL) RECYCLING. The Village of Barrington is one of several communities participating in a recycling program for CFL bulbs. The program is designed to help residential consumers property dispose of burnt-out CFLs because of the small amounts of mercury they contain. Drop off locations include the Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough Street, (847) 304-3400; Barrington Public Works Building, 300 N. Raymond Avenue, (847) 381-7903 and Barrington Public Safety Building, 400 N. Northwest Highway, (847) 304-3300. More information about recycling bulbs and proper cleanup if a bulb should break can be found here.
- Nature Trail. A reminder: MOTORIZED VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE NATURE TRAIL. The Nature Trail through Leonard Park (East Oxford Road to Shady Lane) is for pedestrian and bicycle traffic only. The same rules apply to the walking trail along Honey Lake. Anyone in violation will be ticketed by the Lake County Sheriff.
- Emerald Ash Borer. The northern portion of the State of Illinois is under a State imposed quarantine relating to ash trees and the Emerald Ash Borer. While there have been no reports of Emerald Ash Borers being found in the Village of North Barrington, the State of Illinois advised that in order to prevent the importation and spread of the Emerald Ash Borer, there should be regulations which prohibit the removal of ash trees or even limbs and bark thereof . On August 22, 2007 the Village of North Barrington passed an Ordinance which restricts the movement of potentially infested wood products and encourages residents to purchase only locally-grown nursery stock and locally-cut firewood. The entire Ordinance can be found here.
- Vehicle Stickers. Residents are reminded that vehicle stickers are required for all vehicles in the Village. Every owner of a motor vehicle or motorcycle that is registered to a North Barrington address is required to have a vehicle sticker. These vehicle stickers are not only mandatory, but also provide an important source of village revenue, and the fees from these stickers are used towards road improvements on the Village roadways. Applications for the 2009/2010 stickers were sent out in late fall, if you have misplaced yours or need an additional one, please use the PDF version found here. If you need a schedule of fees it can be found here. A Penalty Rate will apply to stickers purchased after March 31, 2009.
- Living With Wildlife. The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center and the Lake County Forest Preserves have some wildlife tips for you for this late winter and early spring breeding season. Their informative newsletter can be found here.
- Garbage Pick Up If your service day falls on or after a holiday, your service will be one day late that week. Regular service resumes the next week. Observed Holidays Include: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Pick up after the Memorial Day as well as Independence Day holidays will be one day late (Wednesday instead of Tuesday). For customer service call (800) 796-9696 or visit their website found here.
- Residential Addresses. It has come to our attention that the fire department recently had difficulty responding to a fire call because the home did not have the address prominently posted on the mailbox or residence. For your safety, please make sure your residential address is visible from the roadside.
- Overnight Parking. Residents are reminded that there is no overnight parking allowed in the Village between the hours of 2 a.m and 6 a.m. Tickets for parking violations will be issued by the Lake County Sheriff's Department. This is especially important during the winter snowplowing season. If a vehicle impedes snowplow equipment, the vehicle may be towed in order for proper street clearance.
- DOGS. Residents are reminded that every person who owns a dog and allows the dog to run at large, other than on the premises of the owner, shall be guilty of a violation of Village Code and the offending dog will be declared a public nuisance and shall be apprehended and impounded. Also, any dog owner who fails to remove excrement deposited by his dog upon any premises, public or private, other than on the premises of the owner, shall be guilty of a violation of Village Code. Both violations are subject to fines.
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II. The Village of North Barrington is authorized to discharge stormwater under IEPA General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. ILR40. As part of the Permit, The Village is required to set goals over a five year period to reduce pollution to its receiving waters. These goals are described in the Notice of Intent (NOI) found here. After each year (March - March) the Village must document status of compliance with the NOI and any changes to the NOI in an Annual Report found here. If you have any questions, please contact the Village Hall.
- Potential Stormwater Ordinance Violations Please contact the Village Hall (847) 381-6000 to report potential stormwater ordinance violations, construction site erosion and sediment control problems, suspected illicit discharges to the stormwater system, and maintenance issues.
- A Citizen's Guide to Riparian Area Management From the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. A Riparian area is the shoreline and immediate adjacent area to a lake, stream or creek. This guides gives steps for stabilizing shorelines and streambanks, as well as outlines successful stream management practices. This guide can be found here.
- A Citizen's Guide to Maintaining Stormwater Best Management Practices - For Homeowners and Property Owners. Published by Lake County Stormwater Management Commission can be found here.
- Living with Wetlands. Published by the Wetlands Initiative, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to provide environmental and economic benefits to both society and the landowner. Through research, education, public policy analysts, and large scale wetland restoration demonstration projects, TWI aims to restore one million acres - 2 percent of the wetlands lost in the Midwest - by the year 2010. This handbook for homeowners in Northeastern Illinois can be found here. The informative handbook explains the purpose of wetlands, ways to protect and manage wetlands, as well as how to seek help in maintaining the quality of the wetland area.
