Westchester Village Newsletter July 2015

Village of

Westchester July 2015 Newsletter

From the Desk of The President FIRE DEPARTMENT

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POLICE DEPARTMENT

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CALENDAR

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

LIBRARY NEWS

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PARK DISTRICT

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SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Mike O’Hagan was sworn in as the Deputy Chief of Police on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Joining in the celebration were (from left) Sgt. Rich Stieber, President Sam Pulia, Officer Kristina Tountas, Officer Jerry Dildine, Deputy Chief Mike O’Hagan, Sgt. Mark Borkovec, Retired Lt. Kevin Keag, Police Chief John Carpino, Retired Lt. Jeff Mersch and CSO Cody Padalik.

Where is Summer?? According to the experts, Summer Solstice begins on June 21st which coincidently is the longest day of the year as far as actual sunlight. For me, Summer has always begun when school let out; usually the first week of June. I may be in the minority but I like my summertime Hot, maybe not that Hot, but somewhere in the mid 80’s without rain for at least the majority of the month. I, like most of you, like to be outdoors attending Bar-B-Q’s, riding bikes without holding an umbrella while the water splashes up my backside. This June weather unfortunately seems like April. The worst rain day so far has to be Monday, June 15th. While sitting at my desk at the Village Hall reviewing data that day, the loud piercing tone and corresponding message at 4:52 pm alerted me that a tornado was approaching from Elmhurst at 25 mph. This did not provide a whole lot of time to react and to take cover and sent a panic message of what do

I do? And how am I going to get the information to residents who have not signed up for the alerts on their phone or electronic devices or more importantly how to alert the population that is as not so in tune with technology.

As I got up from the chair, the power to the Village Hall went off for several seconds before our newly installed building generator could kick on. This delayed the power up to our 2 tornado sirens for a brief period of time, which for me seemed like forever. Since the Village Hall was open, staff and residents conducting business were ushered into our inner lobby before being put in our police cell block area that has been deemed the safest place in the building, until the threat had passed. Chief John Carpino led the impromptu tour of our guests and staff to the cell block. With the deluge

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Fire Department 3

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Police Department July 2015

O’Hagan promoted to Deputy Chief On June 1, 2015, Lieutenant Mike O’Hagan was promoted to Deputy Chief.

Mike, started his career as a police dispatcher in 1986 in the Village of Broadview.

In 1990 he began as a patrolman here in the Village of Westchester and also went to the Police Training Institute at University of Illinois Champaign.

In 1998 Westchester Police Department had its very first K9 Unit that was spearheaded by O’Hagan.

He had the pleasure of working with K9 Horand and K9 Brix during his time as K9 officer until 2005.

In July of 2004 Deputy Chief O’Hagan was promoted to Sergeant and in 2007 he was promoted to Lieutenant.

In 2010 he completed the Graduate of the Management and Leadership Development Program at the College of DuPage Suburban Law Enforcement Academy.

Deputy Chief O’Hagan has been married to his wife, Sherry for 24 years and they have 20 year old twins, Mike Jr. and Jennifer.

He moved to Westchester in 1992 and currently resides here.

We are proud he is in Westchester to protect and serve!

Congrats to you, Deputy Chief Michael O’Hagan!

Police blotter 1) At 2:44pm on May 12, 2015 a Residential Burglary was reported on the 1400 block of Mannheim.

The resident reported that unknown person(s) gained entry into their apartment and removed various items.

2) At 7:40pm on May 13, 2015 a Burglary to Vehicle was reported on the 1200 block of Bristol. The owner of a trailer reported that unknown person(s) damaged a lock to gain entry to the trailer and removed yard tools and other equipment.

3) At 8:14pm on May 14, 2015 a Burglary to Vehicle was reported in the parking lot at 3020 Wolf Road. The vehicle owner reported that unknown person(s) removed a purse from the vehicle.

4) At 9:30pm on May 21, 2015 a Theft of Bicycle was reported on the 2100 block of Westchester Blvd. It was reported that a Murray bicycle was taken from the area.

5) At 10:30am on May 26, 2015 a Retail Theft was reported at the Walgreens located at 10345 Roosevelt Road. A subject was arrested after failing to pay for $73.95 in merchandise.

6) At 8:31am on May 28, 2015 a Burglary to Vehicle was reported on the 2100 block of Mayfair. It was reported that unknown person(s) gained entry to the trunk of a vehicle and removed various electronics.

7) At 8:30pm on June 7, 2015 a Stolen Auto was reported on the 700 block of Manchester. The owner of a 2015 Mazda reported unknown person(s) took their vehicle.

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 1 of rain, the only vision I had was the hanging posters in the center section of the Village Hall containing the poster size photographs of the flood event of 2010. The gut wrenching thought of “NOT AGAIN” hit me like a sledgehammer. Staff pointed out a huge waterfall leak in the building which was falling on top of filing cabinets full of old documents. We were able to move them into the dry hallway, contact Public Works for an emergency call out, and put a blurb about the severe weather on the web site all within a matter of minutes.

The tornado threat passed and the captives were released to return to their homes and properties as the rain continued to fall. Water bubbled from sewers right out in front of the Village Hall and the viaduct on Roosevelt Rd. started to fill.

Six PW employees braved the weather and their own potential water problems and came in to assist in monitoring the water damage, check sewers, monitor the Mayfair Reservoir site, and perform any job function required.

An additional 2 more employees were called in to travel to Oak Forest to the site of the Cook County Department of Homeland Security to pick up 2 six inch pumps in case of power loss or excessive water filling up the Mayfair Reservoir.

For those residing in the path of the Carlisle Street low points, this would be a test of whether the expansion of the Mayfair Reservoir would be a benefit or not. I am pleased to report that the amount of water that fell was able to be held and pumped to Salt Creek without overflowing onto Carlisle and into the adjoining homes.

Staff estimated the height of the water in the expanded retention pond was about 15 feet high. I have not been advised of any issues of household flooding in the area.

Unfortunately, that was not the case near Addison Creek in the Britten and Nixon School areas of the Village. The viaduct on Roosevelt Road began filling up and traffic increased significantly when the I290 was shut down due to being flooded out once again. There was a stream of cars and trucks coming off at Gardner Road and 25th Avenue and ending up on Roosevelt Road just to be blocked when cars started getting stuck under the viaduct which was open for quite some time with wheel high water.

Cars and trucks with nowhere to go turned off northbound onto the side streets and made their

way to Westchester Blvd which was still passable even though there was standing water under the viaduct near Faith Lutheran Church. Police and PW staff responded to many flooded street notifications throughout the Village. In many cases the standing water reached past curbs and onto front lawns.

The flood plain area of the north side of town had many backyards with standing water. In checking Addison Creek at Gladstone and Gardner Road, the high water was within a foot of reaching bridge level. Fortunately, the water did not crest onto the roadways to create river line flooding.

Many basements throughout the Village received water from seepage from wall and floor cracks due to hydrostatic pressure build up and from sanitary sewer back-ups.

The storm sewers in Westchester run to Addison or Salt Creek through inlets leading to the creeks depending on where you live. When the creeks rise higher than the inlets emptying into the creeks, the storm water has no place to go and backs up into the pipes and starts to fill the streets. Similarly, when the sanitary sewer pipes leading to the MWRD interceptors that lead to the DEEP TUNNEL fill up, sanitary back-ups occur.

Remember not all Villages have separate sewer systems like Westchester. Many Villages in our immediate area have Combined Storm and Sewer Systems where both storm and sanitary sewer water is going to the MWRD treatment plant in Stickney which can only hold so much water especially when Villages putting theoretically twice the amount of water in the system than Westchester, Bellwood, and Hillside do because our systems are separated.

A majority of the sanitary sewer water pipes end up under the Roosevelt Road Bridge at Gardner Road where it enters the MWRD restricted system. At that location, sanitary water from Westchester, Hillside, and Bellwood also enter the MWRD System. Broadview, which has both separate and combined water, enters the MWRD piping and it travels east picking up separate or combined water until it reaches the Stickney MWRD treatment plant.

Based on data found on the MWRD web site, the towns feeding into the MWRD system around Westchester are as follows: SEPARATED SYSTEMS: Westchester, Berkeley, Northlake, Stone Park, Hillside, and Bellwood.

COMBINED SYSTEMS: Forest Park,

Riverside, Stickney, Cicero, Berwyn, Maywood, Lyons, and Chicago.

SEPARATE AND COMBINED: Broadview, Brookfield, LaGrange Park, LaGrange, Melrose Park, and North Riverside.

RAINFALL TOTAL ON JUNE 15, 2015

I am well aware that the above information is meaningless to persons with sanitary basement back-ups that, once again, had their hands full pumping their basements out and disinfecting.

The National Weather Service measured the amount of rainfall at Chicago and O’Hare on Monday June 15, 2015. It was reported that 2.56 Inches fell in our area which broke the old record of 0.96 set in 1982. What does 2.56 inch rainfall mean?

The Village continues to be in contact with federal, state, and county officials and MWRD to secure sites where additional water storage can be constructed.

For several years now I, along with the Mayors along the Addison Creek, have been working with MWRD to acquire property to construct a reservoir in the Melrose Park/Bellwood area. I can tell you that negotiations between the land owners and MWRD is underway.

Funding a multi-million dollar project of this nature will be very costly and costs will continue to rise the longer the project takes to buy land, engineer and construct. MWRD, state, local and federal officials have all heard from me as well as other mayors that timing is everything. We all want construction to begin NOW not later. The longer it takes, the more severe rain events we face and the damage to the housing stock, reputation, assessed valuation, and Village reputation will suffer.

I am calling upon all residents to send letters, emails to the MWRD at 100 East Erie Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-3154 Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, President (312) 751-5650 Mariyana.Spyropoulos@mwrd.org Barbara J. McGowan, Vice President (312) 751-5640 Barbara.McGowan@mwrd.org Frank Avila, Chairman of Finance (312) 751-5620 Frank.Avila@mwrd.org Michael A. Alvarez, Commissioner (312) 751-5665 Michael.Alvarez@mwrd.org Timothy Bradford, Commissioner (312) 751-5465 Timothy.Bradford@mwrd.org Cynthia M. Santos, Commissioner (312) 751-5685 Cynthia.Santos@mwrd.org Debra Shore, Commissioner (312) 751-5690 Debra.Shore@mwrd.org

Kari K. Steele,Commissioner (312) 751-5694 Kari.Steele@mwrd.org

How many gallons of water fall when one inch of rain falls on one acre of land?

Best Answer: An acre of ground contains 43,560 square feet.

Consequently, a rainfall of 1 inch over 1 acre of ground could mean a total of 6,272,640 cubic inches of water. This is the equivalent of 3,630 cubic feet.

As a cubic foot of pure water weighs about 62.4 pounds, it follows that the weight of a uniform coating of 1 inch of rain over 1 acre of surface would be 226,512 pounds or about 113 short tons. The weight of 1 U.S. gallon of pure water is about 8.345 pounds.

Consequently, a rainfall of 1 inch over 1 acre of ground would mean 27,143 gallons of water.

Based on the above formula the 2.56 inches equate to 69,486 gallons of water for one acre.

If my math calculations are correct, with the Village of Westchester alone covering about 4 square miles or 2560 Acres. (1 Square Mile = 640 Acres.)

2560 acres x 27,143 gallons per acre = 69,486,080 gallons per 1 inch rain fall x 2.56 rain fall = 177,884,160 Million Gallons of Water. . . Add to that the amount of water falling on other Villages. . . OMG! MWRD treatS 1.2 Billion gallons of waste water at its Stickney facility each day.

During 2014, 467 Billion gallons were treated at MWRD facilities.

For more information see the website at https://water.usgs.giv/ edu/earthrain.html.

RESIDENTS GUIDE TO FLOODING Know Your Flood Terms Flood watch: Flooding is possible.

Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flash Flood Watch: Flash flooding is possible. Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 5 Flood Warning: Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

Before a Flood- Educate Yourself Safeguard your possessions Create a personal “flood file” containing information about all your possessions and keep it in a secure place, such as a safety deposit box or waterproof container. The file should have the following items: A copy of your insurance policies with your agents contact information.

Conduct a household inventory. For insurance purposes, be sure to keep a written record and a visual record (i.e. videotaped or photographed record of all major household items and valuables, even those stored in basements, attics or garages). Create files that include serial numbers and store receipts for major appliances and electronics. Have jewelry and artwork appraised. These documents are critically important when filing insurance claims. For more information visit www.knowyourstuff. org.

Copies of all critical documents, including finance records or receipts of major purchases.

Prepare your house First make sure your sump pump is working and then install a battery operated back-up, in case of power failure.

Installing a water alarm will also let you know id water is accumulating in your basement.

Clear debris from downspouts and gutters.

Raise your electrical components switches sockets, circuit breakers, and wiring) at least 12 inches above your home’s projected flood elevation.

Place the furnace, water heater, washer, dryer on cement blocks at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.

Move furniture, valuables, and important documents to a safe place.

Install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home Seal the walls in your basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage Develop a Family Emergency Plan Create a safety kit with drinking water, canned food, first aid, blankets, a radio, and a flashlight.

Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone and teach your children

how to dial 911.

Plan and practice a flood evacuation route with your family. Know safe routes from home, work, and school that are on higher ground.

Ask an out–of-state relative or friend to be your emergency family contact.

Have a plan to protect your pets.

MAYFAIR RETENTION PROJECT PHASE II V3 Engineers, the engineering firm that has been engineering the Mayfair Retention Reservoir Project, in conjunction with the Village of Westchester, held a public meeting on Wednesday June 24th at the Village Hall and explained what additional piping and improvements are being proposed in Phase II of the Project.

Approximately forty residents from the Project Area attended and asked questions and voiced their concerns.

An additional overflow pipe has been written into the design as well as some improvements on storm water conveyance along several of the streets leading into the main Carlisle Street storm sewer that leads into Salt Creek. The goal is to get underway sometime before August 1, 2015 and have the Project completed before Thanksgiving. If you have any questions about the Project, please contact Robert Lewis, Public Works Director at 708-345-0041.

WESTCHESTER’S SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM In doing some research, I came across a preliminary estimate of costs for replacing all of the sanitary sewer pipes in the Village. Back in April 2009, prior to the flood event of July 2010, our engineering firm at the time submitted a preliminary estimation in response to a question posed to the then Village Board on replacing all sewers in town. The document states that the sanitary sewer system includes about 300,000 feet of sanitary pipe, 850 manholes, and 7,200 sanitary sewer connections. The estimate is predicated on the replacement of all of the above. The magnitude of the estimate was $47,000,000.

We were reminded by the firm that the Village also has about the same amount of storm sewers and water mains to maintain and that these systems are similar in age to the sanitary sewer piping. The recommended approach which we have been following is to maintain the sanitary sewer pipes by cleaning and televising, evaluating their condition, and replacing the ones found structurally unsound. We have been doing this with the purchase of our vacuum machine and jetter to clean pipes, filming storm and sanitary piping in roadway reconstructions, and deploying leak detection service

to locate leaking drinking water pipes.

We have incurred several million dollars of debt to line several sanitary sewer basins. I have asked state and county officials for additional dollars to continue these efforts to, at least at this point, no avail.

REFUSE RATE STRUCTURE At our June 9th meeting, the topic of our refuse rate structure was offered for discussion. Staff recommended the implementation of a service charge of 5% be added to the contract rate charged to residents to fund administrative costs related to the administration and billing of refuse charges. The 5% increase will NOT be charged to those senior citizens now receiving the senior discount.

The ordinance was approved at our June 23, 2015 Board Meeting. The 5% administrative charge will be restricted for infrastructure improvement.

Effective July 1, 2015, there will be a scheduled 3.5% rate increase in refuse services based on our multi-year contract with Waste Management.

The new monthly rate, including the administrative fee, will be $26.93 ($80.79 quarterly) for the regular rate and $23.12 ($69.36 quarterly) for the senior rate. The senior rate is available for those senior citizens who are 65 years of age. Senior Rate applications are available on our web site or at the Village Hall.

VILLAGE GRANTS SUSPENDED The Village received notification by letter dated June 22, 2015, that the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has suspended a $700,000 grant awarded in October 2014 for the reconstruction of the Municipal Center drives and parking lots. We were informed that due to the State budget shortfall, the appropriation for the grant was not reappropriated into any enacted capital bill. We will continue to evaluate the project, scheduled for construction beginning August 2015, for funding from the Village’s general reserves.

Although we have not received official notification to date, we also believe that an Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant (IGIG) in the amount of $364,000 to reconstruct alleys with permeable pavers that was awarded in October 2014 will probably also be suspended.

VILLAGE HONORS FORMER VILLAGE TRUSTEE At our June 9, 2015 board meeting, the Village Board unanimously approved the designation of Nelson Square as the HONORARY BARBARA L. BAILEY WAY. For those of you who remember, Mrs. Bailey served as the Westchester Village Clerk from 1979 to 1983 and Village Trustee from 1983 to 1997. Signs honoring her service are installed on Nelson Square from

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Nelson Street to Kingston.

DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF SWORN IN At our June 9, 2015 board meeting, I had the distinct honor to swear in Police Lieutenant Michael O’Hagan as the Deputy Chief of Police. Earlier in the year, Police Chief John M. Carpino made the request to appoint Lt. O’Hagan as the department’s Deputy Police Chief. Mike has been serving the Village since being appointed as a patrol officer in June of 1990. Mike, as you may recall, was the police department’s K-9 officer with the hiring of German Shepherds Horand von Meerblik and Brix, who both served the police department with distinction in drug apprehensions and identification, as well as the departments DARE and Community Policing Strategy.

Mike served as a Squad Leader in the Multi-Jurisdictional Mobile Field Force before being promoted to Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Deputy Chief O’Hagan has been married to his wife, Sherry for 24 years and they have 20 year old twins, Mike Jr. and Jennifer. He has resided in Westchester since 1992.

Present at his swearing in ceremony were retired Westchester Police Lieutenants Kevin Keag and Jeffrey Mersch (both 30 year veterans) as well as several current members of the Westchester Police Department.

Congratulations, D.C. Mike!

FREE MWRD RAIN BARREL PROGRAM The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Cook County has modified their Rain Barrel Program to provide free rain barrels for Villages like Westchester which has separated storm and sanitary sewer systems. On May 21st, the MWRD Board approved the inclusion. For several months while Westchester was hosting regional flood meetings, I spoke to MWRD President Mariyana Spyropolous and asked how our Village could be included in the program. Mrs. Spyropolous forwarded the request to their board and the request was approved. An intergovernmental agreement was approved by the Westchester Village Board at our June 9th meeting and has been forwarded to MWRD. We are told that due to the high demand delivery may take 4-6 weeks.

If you are interested in receiving a FREE Rain Barrel, please contact Ms. Gayle Golz at the Westchester Public Works Department at TX 708-3450041. You will be mailed the MWRD form with signature line that must

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 6 be returned to the Village Hall. The form asks you to provide your name, address, telephone number and email address. Forms are available online or at the Westchester Village Hall. Residents may request up to 4 Rain Barrels per household. MWRD is offering 4 colors of Rain Barrels; Terra Cotta; Blue; Black or Gray.

In order to participate in the program the Village has agreed, on behalf of the residents, to perform the following requirements: Place the order with the aforementioned information using the MWRD form.

Obtain informed written consent from each resident receiving the rain barrels allowing and agreeing to the MWRD access to your property to deliver the rain barrel(s).

Within 1 year of the date of this agreement, the Village shall report back to the MWRD with the number of rain barrels distributed, and cooperate with MWRD in conducting a post installation survey.

Any rain barrels not so installed or disconnected from the residence must be returned to MWRD. MWRD, nor Village Staff, will NOT install the rain barrels. Instructions are provided.

According to the Village of Westchester Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), the Village Cooling Center will be activated when the following conditions are forecasted: 3 consecutive days with the heat index at 100 º F - 104 º F 2 consecutive days with the heat index at 105 º F - 109 º F Single day with the heat index at 110 º F or higher The Village Cooling Center in the Community Room available to any residents that need it temporarily. Typically the hours for the cooling center are 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There will be cots and water for residents to use. NO PETS will be allowed unless it is a certified service pet. The residents utilizing the cooling center are responsible for food and any other personal needs. This is for TEMPORARY use by residents. If residents need longer term assistance, we will make any accommodations within our power.

If you require the assistance of the Cooling Center, please contact Chief Adams at 708-305-7091. You will need to go to the police department and fill out a WESTCHESTER EMERGENCY RELOCATION FORM and the police will complete a background check BEFORE being allowed to stay in the cooling center. This is for the safety of all guests.

80’S ROCK BLOCK PARTY and BBQ

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING

You are cordially invited to attend our two day Village 80’s Rock Block Party and BBQ to be held on Friday, July 17th and Saturday, July 18th at the Westchester Community Park, 10201 Bond Street. On Friday, July 17th, the fun will begin at 5:00pm with the headliner Slippery When Wet taking the stage at 8:30pm. The fun will continue on Saturday, July 18th from 3:00pm until 10:30pm. The headliner on Saturday night will be ARRA taking the stage at 8:30pm. There will be activities for the kids and a variety of food selections for your enjoyment.

Come out and enjoy the weekend!

For most people, summer is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year, but in the midst of all the summertime excitement, the dangers of hot temperatures are often forgotten. If the National Weather Service issues one of the following alerts for your forecast area, get ready for triple digit temperatures and sweltering heat index values!

1. Excessive Heat Outlooks are meant to alert you that the potential for excessive heat exists over the next 3-7 days.

(When is heat considered to be excessive? When heat index values reach 105°F or higher.) Now is a good time to stock up on extra bottled water, water coolers/ice chests, and ice.

2. Excessive Heat Watches let you know that excessive heat is possible within the next 24-72 hours.

Heat indices of 105°F+ during the day, or 80°F+ at night are expected to last for a couple of days.

3. Excessive Heat Warnings warn that heat index values are high enough to be life threatening! This threat exists when heat index values of 105°F+ are highly likely and are expected to last more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or when a heat

WESTCHESTER COOLING CENTER Hot weather might be right around the corner.

The Village Hall community room will again be available as a Cooling Center for extreme heat emergencies for those residents without air conditioning and when our heat index is such that health and safety is in jeopardy. The Westchester Fire Department/Police Department are to be contacted should the need arise. Fire Chief Jim Adams has provided the rules of the room for your information.

index of 115°F occurs for any length of time.

4. Excessive Heat Advisories are similar to Excessive Heat Warnings, but less serious. If you take extra precautions to stay cool and keep well hydrated, the heat index may only cause discomfort rather than threaten your life.

What’s a Heat Index?

The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels outdoors as a result of air temperature and relative humidity combined.

Wondering how humidity affects the feeling of hotness? When the human body overheats, it cools itself by perspiring, or sweating; heat is then removed from the body by evaporation of that sweat. Humidity, however, slows the rate of this evaporation.

The more moisture the surrounding air contains, the less moisture it’s able to absorb from the skin’s surface through evaporation. With less evaporation occurring, less heat is removed from the body, which is the reason why the air feels hotter than it really is when it’s humid outside. For example, according to the heat index chart, if the air temperature is 86°F and the relative humidity is 90%, the heat index--how hot it feels--would be 105°F. Although heat index isn’t a “real” temperature, our bodies react to it like it is. When the heat index is expected to exceed 105-110°F for 2 or more consecutive days, the NOAA National Weather Service will issue excessive heat alerts for an area. At these apparent temperatures, the skin essentially can’t breathe. If the body overheats to 105.1+ °F it is at risk for heat illnesses, such as heat stroke.

Listen for the Mention of ‘High Pressure’ In Your Forecasts One weather feature in particular is known for triggering excessive heat in the summertime: high pressure residing in the upper atmosphere.

Whenever upper level highs (also known as ridges) move over an area, they bring warm and dry weather conditions to the surface below.

The above information provided

by Tiffany Means Weather Expert at www.about.com.

Look After One Another Remember it is all of our responsibilities to check on our elderly friends and neighbors to see if they are OK in extreme heat situations.

Please dial 9-1-1 for any police or fire ambulance assistance.

WITH RAIN COMES MOSQUITOES The Village of Westchester is part of the Des Plaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District whose headquarters is located in Lyons, Illinois. In your property tax bill you

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will see a line item that covers the cost of the mosquito abatement. I have seen the orange and white jeeps around the Village treating the curbside storm sewer basins. I read recently that mosquitoes in the Oak Lawn/ Evergreen Park area have tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

The District will continue to maintain an aggressive mosquito larval control program against these nuisance species of mosquito. The operation of the district cover: All open water sources including retention/detention ponds, ditches, low areas capable of retaining water, etc. are inspected on regular cycles treated whenever mosquito larva/ pupa are present.

All curbside stormwater catch basins are treated using 30 day Altosid briquettes on approximately 3 week intervals. The curbside basins will be treated 5-6 times this season.

All stormwater catch basins situated in back-yards, parks, etc are termed off road basins. Off road basins are treated using 30 day Altosid briquets on a 3-4 week intervals. All off road basins are treated on an average of 5-6 times during a typical season as well.

To report the presence of dead crows (or other birds) within your Village, please contact the Cook County DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC HEALTH at 1-708-633-8025 The Des Plaines Valley Mosquito can be contacted at 1-708-447-1765.

When I called them the other day I was told to expect a great number of the non-disease nuisance mosquito to show up around the 4th of July.

Mosquitoes are small, midge-like flies which compose the family Culicidae.

Although a few species are harmless or even useful to humanity, the females of most species are ectoparasites, whose tube-like mouthparts (called a proboscis) pierce the hosts’ skin to suck the blood. The word “mosquito” (formed by mosca and diminutive ito) is Spanish for “little fly”. Thousands of species feed on the blood of various kinds of hosts, mainly vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even some kinds of fish. Some mosquitoes also attack invertebrates, mainly arthropods.

Though the loss of blood is seldom of any importance to the victim, the saliva of the mosquito often causes an irritating rash that is a serious nuisance. Much more serious though, are the roles of many species of mosquitoes as vectors of diseases.

In passing from host to host, some transmit extremely harmful infections such as malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus, dengue fever, and filariasis.

Information from Wikipedia.

I cannot tell you what commercial product works the best but I did find

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 12 the following information on the web that might be helpful.

Do you prefer a chemical-based or natural bug spray?

When it comes to choosing the best insect repellent, you have two choices: chemical-based or natural deterrents.

Demand for natural, plant-based insect repellents and alternatives to the most powerful chemical repellent, DEET, have soared in recent years.

Many parents are reluctant to put chemical sprays on their kids -though DEET is deemed safe for kids over 2 months old -- while many plant-based repellents (like those containing oil of lemon eucalyptus) aren’t safe for babies and toddlers.

The anti-DEET trend isn’t as popular with outdoor enthusiasts delving into mosquito-infested tropical climates or on a hike in the deep backwoods, however. Many campers, hunters and overseas travelers are more concerned with warding off mosquitoes and bugs that could carry malaria, West Nile, Lyme disease or a host of other insect-borne diseases, and seek out the strongest and most effective repellents on the market.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using insect repellent containing active ingredients that have been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Products containing DEET; picaridin, which is popular in Europe; IR3535 (all chemical options); and oil of lemon eucalyptus are approved for use on skin and clothing. Additionally, some products containing permethrin (another chemical) are registered by the EPA for use as a repellent for use on clothing and camping gear.

Experts say DEET isn’t particularly effective against black flies, gnats, biting flies, fleas and mites - but those insects usually don’t carry potentially fatal diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), DEET is the “best available product, repelling a wide variety of insects, ticks and mites and generally lasting longer than the other repellents.” However, the safety of DEET has been debated on and off for years.

The EPA conducted a safety review in 1998 and concluded that DEET doesn’t pose a health risk when used according to the application directions. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using products containing DEET on infants younger than 2 months old and not exceeding a concentration of 30 percent DEET on children above that age. Canada recommends using less than 10 percent DEET on children under 12.

Even though DEET passes muster with the EPA, there’s plenty of consumer skepticism regarding its safety. After all, DEET can melt plastic and some fabrics, and some studies have shown high concentrations of the chemical to cause neurological damage in mice. It also has a strong chemical smell and needs to be washed off after returning indoors to prevent prolonged skin absorption.

Public health experts recommend using extended-duration DEET if you might be exposed to insect-borne disease like malaria, but for a summer outdoor picnic or hike in less risky areas, insect repellents containing DEET alternatives are effective.

Herbal-based repellents like citronella, lemon eucalyptus, soybean and other natural oils are all popular options. Their effectiveness varies, but lemon eucalyptus oil seems especially good at repelling mosquitoes and ticks, according to Canadian health authorities. One issue with herbal repellents is that their scent can be offensive -- same with DEET. A number of professional organizations, including Consumer Reports and Consumer magazine (a New Zealand publication) test and review insect repellents. These reviews helped determine the best reviewed picks in the following categories: best insect repellent, best insect repellent for kids, best natural insect repellent and best insect repellent for clothing and gear. Consumer feedback at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com is also valuable.

How You Can Protect Yourself Residents are encouraged to use a common sense approach in avoiding exposure to adult mosquitoes and any potential mosquito-borne diseases.

Window screens should be inspected and repaired if damaged to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.

In addition, any openings around window air conditioners, clothes dryer vents, etc. should be eliminated for the same reason. If possible, avoid outdoor activities around dusk. If not possible, wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loosefitting, light colored clothing is best.

Appropriate use of insect repellents per manufacturer’s instructions is recommended.

Residents are also encouraged to look for potential mosquito breeding sources around the home and take the following simple steps: Throw away all trash that can hold water as cans, jars, bottles, etc.

Clean rain gutters/downspouts to prevent water from standing in gutters, or on flat roofs.

Change water in bird baths, wading pools, etc at least once a week.

Maintain swimming pools properly.

Remove or turn over containers, buckets, etc which may accumulate

water.

Screen rain barrels to prevent adult mosquitoes from depositing eggs on the water’s surface.

Aerate ornamental ponds and stock with goldfish or other surface-feeding fish to control mosquito production.

Dispose of any used tires without rims to prevent water accumulation.

DIVINE INFANT SCHOOL WINS CHALLENGE On Monday June 1st, I along with ComEd Vice President of External Affairs Michael Guerra and DI Principal Leonard Gramarossa, were present to present a Grand Prize check to Divine Infant School in the amount of $5,000 for winning the ComEd Celebrates Earth Week by Helping Students Get Smart about Energy Management Contest.

The ComEd $10,000 Earth Month Challenge teaches students how to save energy using smart meters ComEd’s $10,000 Earth Month Challenge helped approximately 6,000 students in northern Illinois learn about smart meters and how they can help their families better manage electricity usage, become more energy efficient and save money.

Eighteen schools within ComEd’s smart meter deployment area signed on to participate in the competition in which students, with assistance from their parents and teachers, earn points for their school for completing tasks and extra credit activities.

ComEd awarded a total of $10,000 in prize money to the top five schools, including a $5,000 grand prize for the top-ranked school along with an endof-the-year ice cream party.

“As we deploy smart meters across our service area, we want all of our customers to know about the value smart meter technology offers in terms of giving them greater control over their energy usage,” said Val Jensen, senior vice president of Customer Operations, ComEd. “This Challenge is a fun and creative way to help customers understand how much electricity they’re using and how they can manage their usage to realize meaningful savings.”

To kick-off the Earth Month Challenge, ComEd representatives visited each of the participating schools to host an event including games and prizes for the students. The Challenge ran throughout Earth Month (April), and the top five performing schools were announced in May.

CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL QUIGLEY TO VISIT WESTCHESTER On July 22, 2015 members of Congressman Michael Quigley’s staff will be visiting the Village of Westchester. From 10AM to 12PM, the Congressman’s staff will be present to speak with constituents about federal issues at the Village Hall. All residents

are welcome.

GET OUT AND PLAY DAY On Saturday, June 20TH, the Citizens Advisory Board hosted it annual Get out and Play Day at St. Joseph H.S. A number of volunteers from the group as well as many families were in attendance. The focus of the event was to incorporate some type of physical activity in both our and our children’s daily routines. Several businesses were present and handed out prizes and giveaways along with important literature regarding health and wellness. Thank you to the CAB Board members and all of the venders and participants who made the day a huge success.

It appears from the video CAB Liaison and Trustee Tom Yurkovich sent me that the children and the adult’s participation in the Tug of War with our Fire and Police Departments had more strength and stamina and won the event! Chauncey Niziol, our local celebrity Fisherman from ESPN’s Great Outdoors showed all how to cast with the flick of the wrist. Thank you, Chauncey!

Sponsors included Westchester AYSO, Westchester Boys Baseball, Westchester Raiders Football, Westchester Girls Softball, , St. Joe’s State Basketball Champs with Coach Pingatore, Athletico Physical Therapy, Chauncey’s Great Outdoors, Dina Costello Fitness, J4 Jumping Beans, Kickboxing with Sharon, Loyola Center for Fitness, Midwest Orthpaedics at Rush, Panda Dance, Pinnacle in Training Success, Tall Order Vending, Training for Warriors and Zumba with Mish. Thank you all for a successful event!

PUBLIC WORKS STARTS PAVING PROJECTS In early June our public works staff started our in-house grinding and paving projects. Several streets have had their curb lanes ground down and paved. It is virtually impossible financially to totally rebuild all of the 49 miles of streets of the Village.

As determined by our public works department, many streets had poor curb sections but center portions that were holding up. The determination was made to repave those curb sections usually on both sides of the street and leave the center intact.

The work PW has done is not a total reconstruction project, but rather maintenance. There are no Villages in our area that have their own paving machine doing what our PW staff does each day. I’m very proud of our staff, how they operate, and the hard demanding work they do under very

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 21 difficult weather conditions. I’m sure you feel the same as I do.

ASSISTANCE FROM COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY I am very pleased to report that Cook County Government through its Department of Homeland Security and the Partnership with President Toni Preckwinkle and Homeland Security Chief Michael Masters, Westchester once again has borrowed equipment to assist us in handling severe storm events. In response to the June 15th storm we were able to borrow 2 six inch pumps in case the Mayfair Reservoir or other areas needed such a large capacity pump.

We were also able to borrow a Bobcat and attachment where we could make 20 sandbags mechanically with very little hands on operation. Initially we did not obtain the correct sandbags, but within a day were up and running.

PW employee Eric Détente manned the bobcat and with the help of summer employees prepared several hundred bags that were available for pick-up as a preventive measure based on the uncertain weather.

The information was placed on our web site and many residents took advantage and picked up as many as 20 sandbags per household. The sandbags and sand used to make them were provided by Cook County Department of Homeland Security free of charge. Please see the Village website for information on how to obtain sandbags. You can view the operation at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=wMP86S-Neho.

6TH GRADERS DESIGN FLOOD RESISTANT HOUSES Knowing flooding has impacted several of our students lives, teachers Britta Reinertsen and Bridget Welsh designed a cross-curricular inquiry project in which 6th grade students researched flooding and flood prevention to help design, build, and test a flood resistant house. The students presented their findings in class on June 1st. The students are very excited to be trying to find solutions to this real life problem, and many have asked if their designs could be used to actually help families in Westchester. I was pleased to be invited to see the amazing ideas the students have developed to try to help out their communities. Great job by all!

WESTCHESTER CIVIC THEATRE IS BACK I have been told by Mr. Walter Novak, former Village Trustee and now one of Westchester’s most prolific advocates for the Arts, that the Westchester Civic Theatre is gearing up for an October show.WCT will be presenting “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up” with performances scheduled from October 31 - November 15, 2015.

Auditions are scheduled for August 27th and August 28th. WCT performs at St. Joseph High School’s Sirus Theater located at 10900 W. Cermak Rd, Westchester, IL. For more information, please contact WCT at www.westchesterplays.com.

COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL The Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control has scheduled LOW COST Rabies Vaccine Clinics at various locations throughout Cook County. Dogs, cats, and ferrets 3 months old or older owned by Cook County residents with a valid ID can avail themselves of the service. Rabies Vaccine for 1 year is $7; 3 years $21, and Ferrets $9. Nearby locations for the month of July are Tuesday July 14, 2015 in Maywood at the Maywood Public Library 121 S. 5th Ave. Maywood; and in Brookfield on Tuesday July 21, 2015 at the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. Brookfield. The event is from 10AM until 2:45 PM. Cash or check accepted.

NO credit or Debit card transactions.

For more information and additional locations www.cookcountyil.gov or TX 708-974-6140.

TOMMY LASORDA GOLF OPEN I recently attended the 8th Annual Tommy Lasorda Golf Open at the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort with several other local mayors (see picture page). The event supports the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. It was not only for a great cause but was a fun-filled day of golf for participants and all the delicious Italian food you can eat. Meeting the great Tommy Lasorda, the legendary manager who led the Dodgers for 20 years, was the highlight of the day.

SORROW IN OUR MIDST As I conclude this issue of the newsletter I feel compelled to comment on two instances where people have passed away way too early.

The first has to be the senseless murder of 9 people attending bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina a few

weeks ago. These instances of gun violence have gotten out of hand. As a police officer by career who has had the ability to carry and use a firearm in the course of my duty to protect lives in imminent threat situations, I cannot understand why someone would take another human life for no reason.

What did we do as a society to create such blatant disregard for human life? I’m sure brighter psychological minds than mine can come up with an explanation, but for the life of me I can’t. But the better most logical question now is what are we going to do to prevent this from happening again or is it just going to be the luck of the draw and fate. We are all born without prejudice or hateful thoughts.

We as parents and grandparents have a duty to denounce these violence acts and reinforce positive behavior in our words, actions, and even thoughts. I give a lot of credit for the families of the victims to forgive the perpetrator of this attack on their loved ones. Personally, I know I would be struggling with it probably forever.

I don’t have the answer, but hopefully we are making those positive steps and supporting those who do.

The second loss to be mourned is Westchester resident Laurence P. Mulcrone. Larry started his law enforcement career as a military police officer at the U.S. Army base in Fort Bragg, N.C. Later, he joined the Elmhurst Police Department. In 1976, he was appointed a special agent with the Illinois Bureau of Investigation, where he worked undercover narcotics.

When I met Officer Mulcrone, he was a high ranking official with the Illinois State Police working on security concerns associated with World Cup Soccer. The ISP and the NIPAS Mobile Field Force had been informed that the destructive activities associated with soccer games in Europe were coming to Chicago for the World Cup Finals. Our job was to coordinate police protection in Chicago and the suburbs where the teams were staying and practicing. He worked hard throughout his career and was a dominant force in the Metropolitan Enforcement Group whose mission was to target and eradicate drug possession across county lines.  Mr. Mulcrone, 64, died on June 12th of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining caused by exposure to asbestos.

His doctor thinks the disease was linked to asbestos on a summer construction job he worked when he was 20, said his brother, Father Tom Mulcrone, a chaplain for the Chicago Fire Department. Larry served the Village of Westchester as one of the original members of our Emergency Telephone System Board since its

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inception in 2001 until 2009.

Larry is survived by his wife Karen, three daughters, 11 grandchildren, three sisters, and three brothers. Larry will certainly be missed by all of the people whose lives he touched during his short time on earth. God must have needed another good soldier in heaven.

FROM THE BOARD At the May 26th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 05-21-2015 in the amount not to exceed $821,213.07 Approval of Minutes of the May 12, 2015 Village Board Meeting, minutes of the May 12, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting, and minutes of the May 12, 2015 Executive Session Meeting An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.56, Entitled “Police Department,” of Title 2, Entitled “Administration and Personnel,” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Amending Section 7.56.060 Entitled, “Penalties,” of Chapter 7.56 Entitled, “Noxious Weed and Nuisance Greenery,” of Title 7, Entitled “Public Peace, Safety and Morals,” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Amending Section 14.01.110, Entitled “Fees” of Article II, Entitled “Permits” of Chapter 14.01, Entitled “Administration,” of Title 14, Entitled “Buildings and Construction,” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Authorizing the Acceptance of the Transfer of Real Estate from the County of Cook to the Village of Westchester for a Public Purpose An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.40, Entitled “Board of Fire and Police Commissioners,” of Title 2, Entitled “Administration and Personnel,” of the Westchester Municipal Code A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Amendment to a Professional Engineering Services Agreement between the Village of Westchester and V3 Companies of Illinois, Ltd. for Additional Services Related to the Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Project A Resolution Approving and Authorizing a Local Agency Agreement for Federal Participation by and between the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Village of Westchester A Resolution Approving and Authorizing a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement For Federal Participation Between the Village of Westchester and Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd in an amount not to

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PRESIDENT Continued from page 21 exceed $84,000 A Resolution Approving a Retainer Agreement with Government Consulting Services of Illinois, LLC. in the amount of $30,000 A Resolution Advising and Consenting to Appointments of Certain Officers At the May 26th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: Motion to Receive and File the Cook County Clerk’s Election Results Certificate from the April 7, 2015 Consolidated General Election At the May 26th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business: Bid Results 50/50 sidewalk program 2015 Street Improvement Program Design At the May 26th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following item was discussed under Information Only: Zoning Code Update Crestwood Report on pumps and meters At the June 9th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 06-04-2015 in the amount not to exceed $838,843.73 Approval of Minutes of the May 12, 2015 Village Board Meeting, the May 12, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting, the May 12, 2015 Executive Session Meeting, the May 26, 2015 Village Board Meeting, the May 26, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting, and the May 26, 2015 Executive Session Meeting Approval of Departmental Monthly Reports for the Community Development Department, Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works Department An Ordinance Amending Chapter 11.68, Entitled “Honorary Streets,” of Title 11, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic,” of the Westchester Municipal Code in order to designate “Barbara L. Bailey Way” An Ordinance Approving and Ratifying the Execution of a Contract between the Village of Westchester and Strada Construction Company of Addison, Illinois for Services Related to the 2015 50/50 Sidewalk Program in an Amount not to Exceed $52,350 A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Amendment to a Professional

Engineering Services Agreement the 2015 Street Improvement Program Between Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. and the Village of Westchester in the Amount of $16,000 A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an “Intergovernmental Agreement Westchester Park District – Village of Westchester for Special Events” At the June 9th Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: A Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an “Intergovernmental Agreement by and Between the Village of Westchester and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for the Distribution of Rain Barrels” At the June 9th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business: Proposed Language for Outdoor Grilling At Fixed Food Establishments added to Section 8.12 Stop Sign Compliance Consideration of Amendment of Vehicle Sticker Fee Structure Review of Executive Session Minutes Recommendation for Professional Audit Services Crestwood Design Engineering Agreement for Professional Services Refuse Rate Structure Surplus Property Procedures and Standards for Commercial Filming and Taping Proposed Amendment to Municipal Code Chapter 11.40 – Truck Traffic At the June 9th Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following item was discussed under Old Business: Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Phase I Update At the June 23rd Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Consent Agenda: Approval of the Record of Bills ending 06-18-2015 in the amount not to exceed $657,565.05 Approval of Minutes of the June 9, 2015 Village Board Meeting, the June 9, 2015 Committee of the Whole Meeting, and the June 9, 2015 Executive Session Meeting An Ordinance Amending Section 8.08.010, Entitled “Service Charge,” of Chapter 8.08, Entitled “Rubbish Collection,” of Title 8, Entitled “Health and Sanitation,” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Amending Chapter 8.12, Entitled “Food Service Sanitation Code,” of Title 8, Entitled “Health and Sanitation,” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Amending Section

7.84.030, Entitled “Exemptions,” of Chapter 7.84, Entitled “Massage Parlors,” of Title 7, Entitled “Public Peace, Safety and Morals,” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale or Disposal of Surplus Property Owned by the Village of Westchester An Ordinance Waiving the Requirements of the Village of Westchester Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual and Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services Agreement Between the Village of Westchester and Stanley Consultants, Inc. in an Amount not to Exceed $12,000.00 An Resolution Authorizing the Award of a Contract to Berger Excavating Contractors, Inc. for Construction Services Related to Phase II of the Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Project, in an Amount not to Exceed $1,011,021.50 A Resolution Regarding the Periodic Review of Closed Meeting Minutes and the Destruction of the Verbatim Recordings of Certain Closed Meetings of the Village of Westchester A Resolution Authorizing the Engagement of Sikich LLP for Professional Auditing Services for the Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2015 in an Amount not to Exceed $35,250.00 A Resolution Authorizing the Acceptance of a Proposal from V3 Companies of Illinois, Ltd. for Construction Engineering Services for Phase II of the Mayfair Reservoir Expansion Project, in an Amount not to Exceed $146,570.00 At the June 23rd Village Board Meeting, the following items were approved under the Active Agenda: An Ordinance Amending Section 5.102.220 Entitled “Number of Licenses”, of Chapter 5.102, Entitled “Video Gaming”, of Title 5, Entitled “Business Licenses and Regulations” of the Westchester Municipal Code An Ordinance Providing for the Declaration of the General Prevailing Rate of Hourly Wages for the year 2015 to be paid to Laborers, Mechanics, and other Workers Performing Construction of Public Works within the Village of Westchester, Cook County, Illinois A Resolution Approving a Village Manager Employment Agreement between the Village of Westchester and Janet M. Matthys At the June 23rd Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following items discussed under New Business: Proposed IDOT Resolution for Construction on State Highway – Ms. Matthys (p. 2) Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Secondhand Dealers, Junk Peddlers and Pawn Shops from Dealing in Catalytic Converters

Proposal for Supplying and Installing Sensus FlexNet Vehicle Drive-By Meter Reading System Proposed Financing of Radio Read Meter System through PNC Equipment Finance Alley Improvements At the June 23rd Village Committee of the Whole Meeting, the following item was discussed under Old Business: Proposed Amendment to Municipal Code Chapter 11.40, entitled “Truck Traffic”, of Title 11, entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” Stop Sign Enforcement

NO TRUCK TRAFFIC ON WESTCHESTER BOULEVARD Since the mid 1960’s, an ordinance prohibiting truck traffic of Westchester Boulevard has been on the books. At my request, Chief Carpino and the Village Board took a look at the ordinance and the matter was discussed at our Committee of the Whole meeting on June 23rd. A revised ordinance was proposed and is scheduled for approval at our July 14th Board Meeting. Once approved, commercial truck traffic will be prohibited.

Appropriate signage will be erected. Exemptions will apply for those commercial trucks servicing homes along Westchester Boulevard as well as governmental units, and utility company servicing.

The Village was receiving complaints about enforcement of truck traffic regulations; that truck traffic was utilizing Westchester Boulevard as a pass through into and out of Bellwood and using Westchester Boulevard as an alternate road to get to and from Cermak Road. Westchester does have a 6 ton truck limit on all of the Village streets.

YELLOWBOOK Recently the Village received a flyer regarding the YELLOWBOOK phonebook that gets delivered to your door each year. The flyer states the following: Your out–of-date Yellowbook is 100% recyclable.

Made from recycled fiber, discarded wood chips & pulp.

Printed with biodegradeable soy ink.

Bound together with vegetable based glue.

A new eco-friendly 7”x9” size using 33% less paper.

Recycled into new phone books, made into cellulose insulation and used to make packaging such as boxes and containers.

You can learn more at www. recycleyellowbook.com. You can select which phone books to receive. You may also opt out of receiving the Yellowbook at www. yellowpagesoptout.com

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