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Vol. 12, No. 1 - Mar 1991KISSING ZONE March,1991 Vol.12 No.1 SPRING IS COMING!!! - -You know Spring is just around the corner when we use this item as our opening reminder! TUESDAY, APRIL 5th...that's the day the scavenger will begin yard waste collection this year, continuing each Tuesday thereafter until mid -December. You all cooperated so well last year that the program ran very smoothly - and we really appreciated it! Just to remind you: you must use the "Deerfield Recycles" bags which are available for pur- chase at local stores. Income from the sale of the bags helps to defray the cost of the col- lection program so that residents who use the service pay a greater portion of the cost. Also, about bundled brush (which is sticks and branches greater than I" thick) ... the brush will be collected on the first Tuesday of each month from April through mid -December. Separate col- lection of.brush is necessary so that it can be chipped and shredded before composting. ELECTION DAY, 1991 Local elections will be held on TUESDAY, APRIL 2nd. You'll be voting for: VILLAGE: Three Trustees for four year terms LIBRARY: Two Board Members for six year terms PARK DISTRICT: Three Commissioners for four year terms March 4th is the last day to register. You can vote absentee in person beginning on March.11th at the West Deerfield Township Hall, 858 Waukegan Road. For details regarding voting, call the Town Clerk's office at 945-8317. Each of the above offices has a direct effect on you as a Deerfield resident. BE SURE YOU VOTE!!! Unless you do, how can you make certain you. have the representation you deserve? PUBLIC WORKS AWARDS For the second time in three years, the Village has received an award from the Consulting Engineers Council of Illinois. The Engineering Excellence Awards Competition recognizes projects on the basis of technical competence and innovative solutions to engineering prob- lems. In 1989, Deerfield and the Ciorba Group Consulting Engineers received the award for the Kates Road Bridge. This year, Deerfield and Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers received a second award for our two satellite wastewater pumping stations located in residential areas. One of these facilities is on Deerfield Road along the West Fork and the other is at the end of Warwick Road on the Middle Fork. It's unusual for a community of our size to receive this recognition ..... and we've done it twice IN three years .... a well -deserved honor! TIF FUNDS DISTRIBUTED At their December 17, 1990 meeting, the Mayor and Board of Trustees voted to distribute Lake -Cook Road Tax Increment Financing funds to local governmental agencies. Following is a statement made that evening by Mayor Bernard Forrest which explains that action and how it benefits the community: "Few events give elected government officials more -satisfaction than achieving long term econo- mic objectives in less time than originally anticipated. Such occasions are rare because of the many financial variables involved in the process. Tonight, however, we have an opportunity to recognize such an achievement. Back in 1982, the Village of Deerfield became one of the first communities in Illinois to take advantage of newly adopted State legislation providing for the rehabilitation of blighted areas, improving business areas or developing industrial sites. Referred to as Tax Increment Financing, this funding mechanism allows municipalities to designate a specific area as a TIF District and to develop a plan to improve property values to pay for land acquisition or public works projects necessary to assist redevelopment. The law provides for the district to retain all taxes generated from any increases in assessed valuation during the existence of the district in order to pay the costs of public improvement. "After meeting extensive public hearing requirements, the Village Board, in June of 1982, passed ordinances establishing the Lake -Cook Road Tax Increment Financing District. Although principally directed at the Brickyard property (a former landfill site), the district encom- passed 324 acres lying both north and south of Lake -Cook Road. The Redevelopment Plan for the district called for such improvements as land acquisition, the extension of Pfingsten Road to meet Kates Road, expansion of the Wastewater Reclamation Plant, various utility ex- tensions, and a new public works facility... all necessary to serve the area. "State Statutes allow TIF districts to exist for a 23 year period. Although never anticipated to last that long, the Village has been able to expedite its projects and, because of cor- responding development of the area, is now able to distribute funds to the various local gov- ernments. Tonight we have a resolution before us to authorize the release of surplus revenues to the Lake and Cook County Collectors' offices for redistribution as provided by law. This amounts to significant new revenue for these agencies which, we trust, will translate into a savings to the taxpayers. "According to our estimates, for example, Elementary School District #109 will receive $781,000; High School District #113 - $711,000; Lake County - $234,000. The Village's share of the TIF funds from that part of the district located north of Lake -Cook Road is $245,000. I am proposing, this evening, that we pass an ordinance abating this amount from the 1990 Tax Levy. Along with those abatements approved at our -last Board meeting, this would bring our levy to $3,921,988---$10,000 less than last year's levy. "When we formed the district eight years ago, it was based on the premise that all local taxing units would eventually benefit by it. Even though we are not dissolving it this evening, since some projects remain uncompleted, we have reached our objective of increased assessed valuation through controlled development. This initial distribution serves as a dividend check for the investment made in long-term financial planning. We can take a great deal of pride in being one of the first (if not only) communities in Illinois to achieve this status." 1990 CENSUS The Bureau of the Census has advised Deer- field that its 1990 population was 17,327. This is a .6% decrease from the 1980 Census figure of 17,432. Since additional housing units were constructed during the past decade, this suggests that the trend to smaller house- hold sizes, first observed in the 1970's, continues. '91-'92 BUDGET Work is underway on the annual budget for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 1991. Village staff will present a proposed bud- get tn the Mayor and Board of Trustees in early March. A public hearing will be held on the document at the April 15th Village Board meeting. Your comments and sugges- tions on projects and services are welcome. E SANITARY SEWER PROBLEMS?? TORNADO WARNING Your service line is the portion of the sani- tary sewer from your house to the street... 16the rest is ours. If you have a problem ith the sewer, contact the Public Works Department and they'll inspect the Village line to make sure it's flowing properly. If not, the problem will be corrected. But if the main line is clear, you'll be advised to contact a plumber to clean your service line. Contact Public Works directly at 317-7245 between 7:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M.,.After hours and on weekends, call the Police non -emergency number...945-8636. An "on call" Public Works employee will be dispatched to inspect.the main sewer line. SPEAKING OF EMERGENCIES ... The changeover to emergency phone #9-1-1 is a great success, with few problems... thanks to you. Did you know that when you, dial 9-1-1 and it,rings (even though you hang up or are unable to speak), the pertinent information is immediately displayed on the screen? If the caller hangs up, the Dispatcher calls back and if there's no answer, a car is dis- patched to see what the problem is. Isn't ;hat comforting? REMEMBER, though, for non -emergency Police assistance, call 945-8636... leave 9-1-1 for those who need emergency help. LET'S GO HALVERS! We encourage you to take advantage of our sidewalk sale! We'll pay 50% of the cost of a new sidewalk (and possibly curbs) in front of your home. We'll do all the paper work and supervise the construction. Interested? Call the Public Works Department at 317-7245. RING FOR THE NURSE! The Deerfield Nurses' Association has a num- ber of rehabilitative and sick room supplies available for loan. Although there's no fee for the items, donations are gratefully appre- ciated. 24 hour advance calls are taken after 7:30 P.M. at 945-8096. With tornado season approaching, we'd like to remind you of our warning system! If a tornado is actually spotted,'the sirens will sound for ONE FULL MINUTE. Don't confuse this with the regular tests of the sirens...on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 A.M. BLOOD DRIVE The next blood drive will be held SUNDAY, March 3rd in the Pine Room at the Jewett Park Community Center, from 8:00 A.M. to noon. If you want to make an appoint- ment, call 298-9660. Otherwise, just appear and donate. As we all know, there's a critical need for donors! BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS If you'd like to serve on one of the ad- visory Boards/Councils/Commissions, call the Village Hall for an application. The Manpower Commission interviews all appli- cants and submits recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Trustees. There are currently vacancies on the Safety Council, Youth Council and Cable Advisory Board. MAKE A NOTE - Building permits are required for re- modeling work. Please check with the Building Department .or call 945-5000. - Commonwealth Edison's number to report a power outage is 1-800-EDISON-1. Garbage cans can NOT be placed at the curb before sundown on the night before the pick-up and must be removed from the curb the'day of the pick-up. PARK FOR FREE in V i 11 age commuter lots after 10:00 A.R. on weekdays and all 'day on weekends and holidays. USE 9.1.1 FOR POLICE & FIRE EMERGENCIES PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS Some residents have questioned the timing on the traffic signals for pedestrian crossings at intersections in the Village Center. They are concerned that the signal changes to "DON'T WALK" before they complete the crossing. Not to worry ... that's the way it should be. The "DON'T`WALK" indication warns you not to "start" crossing. If you're already in the intersection, you have plenty of time to complete the crossing. Don't panic; you have the right-of-way! SARA LEE PROPERTY There's nothing new to report on the Sara Lee property other than that it's for sale. Prior to any change in its present zoning, the Plan Commission will hold extensive public hearings to provide ample opportunity for public comment. OFFICE HOURS The Village Hall is open from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Water bills can be dropped off any time at the Police Department or in the depository on the south side of the building (by the mail box). ILLEGAL DOWNSPOUTS YOU'RE AN OLD TIMER IF ... IF you remember when Deerfield children at- tended high school in Highland Park. The present Deerfield High School was built in 1959 (hence its address of 1959 Waukegan Road) and the first classes of Freshmen and Sopho- mores started in the Fall of 1960. The first graduating class ... 1964. AND EVEN BEFORE THAT You're really an old timer if you remember when there was a gas station on the corner where Ford Pharmacy is now located. In order to reduce the overload on sanitary sewers during periods of heavy rain, the Village Code prohibits downspouts from being connected to the sanitary sewer system. These illegal connections must be abated. It is a relatively simple process in which the Village is willing to assist. Call the Public Works Department at 317-7245 if you have any questions about your downspouts. This Spring, inspectors will be checking all residential areas to assure compliance. Avoid a citation and, more importantly, help your neighborhood avoid basement flooding. VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE 850 Waukegan Road PAID Deerfield Illinois 60015 Permit No. 1 Deerfield, Illinois Fire Department 911 CAR/PRE-SORT Fire Department Non -Emergency ............945-4066 Police Department ............................911 Police Department Non -Emergency ..........945-8636 Village Hall..............................945.5000 BERNARD FORREST, Mayor POSTAL CUSTOMER Marvin W. Ehlers TRUSTEES Edwin B. Seidman DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS 60015 James L. Marovitz Vernon E. Swanson Harriet Rosenthal J. Robert York Robert D. Franz, Village Manager Marjorie Emery, D-Tales Editor Printed on Recycled Paper Printed at Standard Printing Services, Inc. (708) 498-6126 r J—" March 1991 Buckle up... one snap decision you won't regret! �IcicyY�IciteY�r�Yityti�'eic�Y�'e�Y�'c�Y�Y�c�F�'r�Y�'ryYir�Y�'c�r�YinY�r�Y�Y�'r�Y�'rsY*�r�Y*4r� � �sY�sY���r�Y�rsr�r�riY�Y�nY�Y�Y�r�Y�'c�Y�Y�r�c�Y�r*�cirir�Y�Yic�Yit4c�'ric�Y�Y�r�Yit�Y�'c�Y Child Passenger Safety ­ February loth - 16th is National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. To -commemorate - this week we have a few reminders about the importance of child safety seats and safety belts. Why child car seats? The body of a child is different from an adult in a number of ways. The skull is softer and much larger in proportion to the rest of the body. The rib cage is thinner and more elastic. The young child's prominent abdomen provides only limited protection to the large internal organs. These factors make it important that special considerations be given to providing protection for the infant and child. A.small child's heavy head makes him very likely to suffer serious head injuries even at low speed accidents. If there is a crash or sudden stop a youngster standing on the seat can fall forward striking some part of the vehicle's interior. Even a child sitting on the lap of an adult isn't safe. In an accident, a 10 pound child riding in a car traveling 30 mph is thrown forward at a force of 300 pounds. 0 How do car seats work? A car seat like (A) faces backwards for infants who weigh up to 20 pounds. (C (B) is an example of a seat intended for children who weigh up to 40 pounds. (C) is a booster seat for children who have outgrown the previous seat, but seat belts are not appropriaey-yet - Some manufacturers guidelines vary so be sure to read and follow the manufacturers instructions for your car seat. Child car seats work like safety belts except that they are more effective for younger children. The benefits of car seats include: I. They take advantage of the "ride down" effect. The belts begin to stop the child as the car is stopping. 2. Car seats distribute impact over time. As the belts stretch, the child is given more (11 C"C TAcr• (a ew(SLOW MC „RpA distance and time to stop. 3. They distribute forces over the child's body. The shock and crash forces are absorbed by the strongest parts of a child's body. 4. They prevent the child from striking the cars interior, or another passenger. 5. A car seat confines the child to one location in the car. This helps you maintain control of the car by keeping your mind - and eyes - on the road. Did you know... in Illinois children under the age of 4 must be secured in a child safety seat. Children 4 or 5 years of age must be secured in a safety seat or a safety belt. It's the drivers responsibility to make sure children 6 years old and under 16 are buckled --up when in the front seat. A parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of 4 years must provide a child safety seat to.any one who transports their child. Car Seat Program In the last newsletter we announced a loaner program for child car seats. Here's a quick reminder about it. The Deerfield Patrolman's Association, Deerfield Optimist Club, and the Deerfield - Lincolnshire Rotary Club have purchased childrens car seats. The seats are for children from birth to 40 pounds. The police department will lend these car seats on a limited basis to Deerfield residents. Our hope is that new residents, grandparents, or visiting relatives will take advantage of the program. We're happy to say that a number of people have taken advantage of the program. To inquire about the program call the police department on the non emergency line 945-8636 and ask for Officer Lundahl or Officer Anfenson. Adult Safety Belt and Shoulder Harness The adult lap belt should be used when the child has outgrown his/her car seat. It is very important that the adult belts are adjusted properly. The adult lap belt should be worn low and snug and crossing the thighs and hips, never across the stomach. The shoulder/lap belt combination should also have the lap belt low and snug with the shoulder belt crossing the chest. If the shoulder belt crosses the face or neck, place it behind the child (never under the arm). The child should lean forward to make certain he does not strike the car's interior. If contact is made, move the child to the back seat. When the shoulder belt is in use, there should be no more than one inch of slack in the belt. While on the subject of child safety we would be remiss if we didn't mention adult seat belt use. Remember to set an example. Children want, more than anything, to be like adults. If adults consistently buckle up then so will children. Air Bags ... protect front seat occupants in a frontal crash. In a frontal crash of about 12 mph or more, air bags inflate automatically, keeping front seat occupants from violent impact with the hard interior surfaces of the car. However, air bags are just one part of a total occupant protection system. For maximum protection.in all types of crashes - side, rear and rollover collisions, drivers and passengers should always wear seat belts. Published by: Deerfield Police Department Chief of Police Richard Brandt 850 Waukegan Road Deerfield, I1. 60015 "Police Beat" edited by Officer Eric Lundahl Portions of this newsletter, and artwork, obtained from Illinois Department of Transportation and 111. Coalition for Safety Belt Use.