PUBLIC WORKS

NEW FOREMAN: SCOTT HICKEY

Scott Hickey, a 23-year old veteran of the Public Works Department, was promoted to Foreman in December 2022. “He’s as fantastic as we thought he would be,” said PW Director Ranieri. Born and raised in North Riverside, a graduate of Mater Christi and R-B High School, Hickey is a “perfect fit” for the Department. “He’s a hands-on working foreman, always ready to give 110%.”

Mwrd Awards Largest Paver Project To The Village

The Village of North Riverside’s application to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago (MWRD) to fund and support green infrastructure projects that mitigate flooding, protect area water quality and enhance public spaces was not only accepted but “they loved our ideas,” said Public Works Director Vince Ranieri, who partnered with Village Engineer John Fitzgerald of Novotny Engineering in submitting the proposal.

inconvenience. “Green infrastructure is an excellent community investment that can help reduce flooding and urban runoff, improve water quality and decrease the stress on our sewer systems,” said MWRD Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos. “With more intense rain events on the horizon this summer, now is the time to plan for these green improvements.”

Meet Richard Thompson

Recently hired as a laborer, Richard Thompson is loving his new position in the Public Works Department. Since starting in March, he’s been cross-training to serve in every capacity for every season.

Pictured in front of the street sweeper, give “RJ” a wave if you see him on your block!

To be tackled in several phases, permeable paver blocks will completely replace all asphalt parking lots around the Village campus. Commons parking lot will also be redesigned to create a designated pick-up/drop-off lane for preschoolers, day campers and other groups. The reconfiguration will replace the existing planters with benches and raised planter beds and provide opportunities for the Garden Club to beautify the new gathering areas. A new sidewalk will also be installed along the gym to improve safety and create better access to the bike path.

Construction on the $2.2 million project will begin in July. While some events may be relocated, the benefits far outweigh the temporary

Mayor Joseph Mengoni added that the life span of this type of project is as long as 25 years. “This is a smart investment for North Riverside and it will help address long-term flooding issues in our entire community. It’s not merely a cosmetic improvement, though it will be beautiful. These permeable pavers will soak up more than 210,000 gallons of water per rain event, alleviating flooding and runoff into area waterways. After completion of this and other MWRD projects, more than 6.6 million gallons of stormwater will be retained per rain event. We thank the MWRD for approving our application and we will continue to search out every opportunity to improve the quality of life for everyone in and around North Riverside.” All work is expected to be completed just in time for the Village’s Autumn Fest in September.

PW Seasonal reminders and project updates from your Public Works Department

1st Curbside Pickup for electronics is Weds., May 24

The PW drop-off is now closed and the Village’s waste hauler LRS will begin picking up electronics at your home twice each year. Items accepted include: cable receivers, cell phones, computers, computer cables, computer monitors, computer mouse, DVD players and recorders, digital converter boxes, electronic keyboards, fax machines, PDAs, MP3s, printers, satellite receivers, scanners, video game consoles, VCRs, old TVs and zip drives. Limit is 7 items per household and no more than two TVs or monitors. To participate in the curbside pickup, residents must register online by May 22, 2023 at LRSRecycles.com/NorthRiverside (click Schedule E-waste Pickup) or call 844-633-3577.

Water TOWER Project Extensive work planned for August

Work to restore our standpipe (water tower) will soon begin but residents will see no significant changes to water service during the restoration period. The 2.5 million gallon tank will be drained while the entire structure is blast cleaned. All steel connections will be inspected for integrity and refurbished, bringing it up to code. A mixing system to prevent freezing (not available when the standpipe was built in 2000) will be installed, cathodic protection will be applied and the tower will be painted. The Village saved approximately $75,000 by scheduling the work in the fall instead of the busy spring season.

Here for YOU: the Handyman

If you are a senior or disabled resident who needs some help getting minor repairs done around the house, just call 708/762-5885 for more information. Stay safe!

branch collection, tree service, street sweeping, and sprinkling guidelines n Early Hydrant Flushing. Watch for markers around the neighborhood in early June as Public Works (PW) will expedite the 2023 flushing to accommodate the standpipe (water tower) project. If you experience discoloration in your water, flush the faucet without restricted flow closest to the meter (basement). n Branch Collection. Runs every Tuesday from the second Tuesday through November 15th. Place your minor cuttings at the curbside on Monday. Public Works goes down every street picking up the clippings but does not pick up debris left from contractors. n Tree Service. All parkway trees are owned and maintained by PW. If a tree is dead or diseased, PW will assess it and have it removed. If the tree is not dead or diseased, it will not be removed. Tree trimming happens on an as-needed basis. n Street Sweeping. Monday through Friday until the first snowfall. Every curb is swept once a week with alleys cleaned once a month. n Sprinkling Ordinances. Please note that it is unlawful to use water for sprinkling between 11am-7pm any day after May 1 through September 30; when the temperature reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit; at any time when the Mayor/Board determine an emergency exists.