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2014 WinterQuarterly Newsletter I Volume 68 - Winter 2014O B newsAK ROOK 2 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2014 2 POLO UPDATE Looking Ahead to the 2015 Season 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Message from Dr. Gopal Lalmalani 4 FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK Message from Rick Ginex 5 POLICE 911, Parking, Car Safety 6 FIRE Holiday safety 7 PUBLIC WORKS Winter activities 8 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Development Update 9 SPORTS CORE Sports Core Update 10 LIBRARY Winter events 11 FINANCE CAFR, Water rates INSERT Absentee ballot application INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK ELECTED OFFICIALS/ BOARD OF TRUSTEES Gopal Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A | President Charlotte K. Pruss | Clerk Don Adler | Trustee John Baar | Trustee Michael Manzo | Trustee Mark Moy, M.D. | Trustee Gerald Wolin | Trustee Asif Yusuf | Trustee VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK DEPARTMENTS Police, Fire, EMS Emergency: 9-1-1 Butler Government Center General Information: (630) 368-5000 Village Clerk: (630) 368-5052 Village Manager: (630) 368-5026 Community Development: (630) 368-5101 Economic Development: (630) 368-5022 Engineering: (630) 368-5130 Fire Non-Emergency: (630) 368-5200 Library: (630) 368-7700 Police Non-Emergency: (630) 368-8700 Public Works: (630) 368-5270 Water Billing: (630) 368-5090 Sports Core Administration (630) 368-6400 Bath & Tennis (630) 368-6400 Oak Brook Golf Club (630) 368-6400 CONNECT WITH THE VILLAGE Website | www.oak-brook.org Facebook | “Village of Oak Brook” Twitter | @OakBrookVillage Regular meetings of the Village Board are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7pm, except no fourth Tuesday meetings in the months of June, August and December. Videotaped broadcasts of Village Board meetings air on Comcast Cable Television, Government Access Channel 6 or 110 Mondays at 7pm and online at www.youtube.com/oakbrooktv Questions or comments? Contact us. Editor: Cathy Doczekalski cdoczekalski@oak-brook.org OAK BROOK POLO POLO UPDATE 2014 Recap: Five Polo matches were played in 2014. Approximately 2,000 people attended Polo this year and the program continues to grow. Several changes enhanced the Polo experience and included: improved event organization with coordination from event partners Ravenswood Event Services and Premier Catering. Corporate support increased and included shuttle busses and drivers donated by the McDonald’s Corporation, awards were donated by Tiffany & Co., and billboard advertisement was donated by Bernie Advertising & Paramount Media. Theme Days were a big hit and field sideline space was at its maximum with sponsor tents, private parties and general admission grandstands. Advertisements in the SCORE program were increased by 72.9% and sponsorship revenues increased by 170.9%. 2015 Plans Are Underway: As polo continues to grow each year, the Polo Committee uncovers ways to save money and enhance revenues by adjusting some of the processes. One of them is the grouping of the polo match dates. Proposed for 2015 are 7 matches with accommodations for approximately 2 rainouts. These proposed dates include: July 12, 19, 26 and August 2, 9, 16, 23, (Sept. 13 = rain date). One positive for 2015 Polo is the Committee continues to receive a rising interest in renewed and new sponsorships and polo event packages. In response to this growing demand by last year’s sponsors, 2015 Sponsor packets and advertising forms for the SCORE program guide will be released shortly, five months earlier than last year. Co-Chairs, Kathy Maher and Jim Pehta held extensive meetings with polo suppliers, players, sponsors, and Village Officials in an attempt to improve the Oak Brook Polo experience for 2015. We know what worked well last year, and we will expand those in 2015. "Our biggest challenge has been the weather, and we have put dates together in 2015 to lessen the impact on the season, as we saw last year" stated Jim Pehta. We had a very positive reception from Homeowner Associations that have held private parties at the polo matches, and hope to expand that next year as well. VILLAGE HALL HOLIDAY HOURS Closed – Wednesday, December 24 Closed – Thursday, December 25 8 a.m. – Noon, Wednesday, December 31 Closed – Thursday, January 1 OAK BROOK news Winter 2014 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Village President (630) 368-5012 glalmalani@oak-brook.org A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Gopal G. Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A. Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope you were able to participate in some of the great activities that took place throughout Oak Brook over the past few months! We had a busy Summer and Fall with great community events such as the Taste of Oak Brook, five Polo matches and very well attended American Heart Association Walk. Speaking of events, we have some great holiday events taking place right here in Oak Brook! The Christkindlmarket is back at Oakbrook Center offering a similar experience to that of downtown Chicago. Gifts are available to purchase as well as traditional Christkindlmarket food and beverages. Oak Brook is also very lucky to have Dream Works Animation’s Adventure to Santa House. This interactive journey is only one of a few in the country this season! The Village Board held two workshops on the 2015 Budget and discussed the major issues facing Oak Brook as we move into a new fiscal year. The proposed 2015 Budget includes major capital improvements, water system improvements totaling $1.6 million and roadway improvements totaling $5.1 million. The Village Board remains committed to conservative spending while investing in our community. Based on the proposed budget, the Village will still maintain almost seven months of operating expense reserves. Oak Brook has a very successful electric aggregation program, which is available to residents and small businesses. We have a contract with Verde Energy USA which expires in June 2015. The Village Board has confirmed appointments to the Electric Aggregation and Issues Committee to continue the great work that has been done so far. The Committee will be co-chaired by Trustee Jerry Wolin and resident Terry O’Malley. Also sitting on the committee is Trustees Mike Manzo and Asif Yusuf and residents Tom Cygan and Mario Vescovi. They will be looking for the best deal for our residents and businesses to continue on the savings. Oak Brook residents and small businesses will save over $3 million on their electrical supply from the onset of electrical aggregation in 2012 through June 2015. Feel free to call, email or see me if you have any thoughts, ideas or concerns. We are always looking for volunteers to serve on our committees and commissions. If you are interested, please contact me. We are here to serve you! Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season! Kind regards, WITH SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOTEL RATES Nearby Oakbrook Center offers world-class shopping, DreamWorks Animation “Adventure to Santa” digital extravaganza, and an Old World Christkindlmarket Oak Brook– featuring over 50 vendors from around the world. With great rates available at the Hotels of Oak Brook, you’ll have plenty of reasons to load up your sleigh and stay this holiday season. to book, Visit us at OA kbROOkHOTELS.COm DOUBLETREE CHICAGO-OAKBROOK 630.472.6000 CHICAGO MARRIOTT OAKBROOK 630.573.8555 RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT 630.571.1200 HYATT LODGE 630.568.1234 LE MÉRIDIAN 630.368.9900 LOAD UP YOUR SLEIGH & STAY Adventure to SAntA dreamWorks Animation DON’T m ISS... BY RICCARDO F. GINEX Dear residents and businesses, I am truly excited to have been selected as the new Village Manager of Oak Brook. I started my new role on Monday, October 6, 2014. Allow me a brief moment to introduce myself. I have over 37 years of municipal experience and over 28 of those years have been in a management capacity. Before arriving in Oak Brook, I served as the Village Manager in Brookfield, Illinois since September 2005. Prior to that, I spent 28 years with the Village of Downers Grove, Illinois. I began my municipal career as a police officer, rising through the ranks and was appointed Police Chief in February 2000. In August of 2001, I assumed the role of Village Manager. I have a Masters Degree in Management and I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Since arriving, these last few weeks have been extremely busy. Besides meeting local business leaders, community leaders, Village staff and the Homeowners Association members, the Village staff has been extremely busy with the finalization of our 2015 Annual Budget. Our Budget Workshop meetings have been held. The 2015 Annual Budget along with the 2015-2019 Five-Year Financial Plan will be adopted at the December 9th Village Board meeting. I encourage you to review both of these documents and see how the Village continues to practice fiscal responsibility for next year and beyond. Additionally, we are coming into our snow season. While we hope this year’s winter has less of an impact than last year’s, please know that our Public Works staff is already prepared for any amount of inclement weather that may come our way. We have already prepared our fleet and have a significant quantity of salt on hand to make sure our roads are safe and passable. I am truly honored to have been selected to lead our Village and carry out the priorities set by our Village Board. The men and women who make up our Village staff deliver extraordinary customer service on a daily basis. I believe Oak Brook is the “jewel” of DuPage County. I look forward to forging enhanced partnerships with our business community, the Chamber of Commerce, and our Homeowners Associations. As we gather with our friends and family over the holidays, I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Riccardo F. Ginex Village Manager 4 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2014 From the Manager’s Desk Winter 2014 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 5 Police BY JAMES KRUGER James Kruger Police Chief (630) 368-8710 jkruger@oak-brook.org News 9-1-1 The Police Department has been auditing 9-1-1 connectivity for many of our businesses telephone lines. It had come to our attention that some establishment’s telephones were being routed to the incorrect 9-1-1 Center. A couple of these discrepancies even went to out of state agencies. Our audit determined that the vast majority of these discrepancies were caused by “voice over internet protocol” or VOIP telephone service providers. These are telephone services you may have in your home such as Vonage, Magicjack, Ooma or even Comcast and AT&T U-verse. These services are very dependable; however the provider must program the customer’s correct 9-1-1 service to their account to insure the calls are routed appropriately. We ask that our residents with VOIP home phone lines check with their telephone service provider that 9-1-1 calls are being routed to the appropriate center. Please do not call 9-1-1 to check. Also, as an added concern, telephone lines that are not routed to our 9-1-1 center may also not have the 9-1-1 surcharge you are assessed on your bill being sent to the DuPage County Emergency System Telephone Board that helps to fund our services. The most important reason to check your line is to make sure there is no delay in response for Police and Fire in an emergency, especially when the person cannot speak. Your home address is displayed on a screen in the dispatch center when calling 9-1-1. As we say goodbye to Fall, the clocks have been turned back and night time has rapidly begun at 5:00 pm. It is vitally important that motorist take extra care driving in our community in the early evening when school aged children and other pedestrians may still be out. Pedestrians should also remember that they should walk against traffic, as close to the curb or roadway edge as possible, and single file as a vehicle approaches. Please drive safely. PARKING On October 21, 2014 the Oak Brook Police Department began using a new web based computer program to maintain the requests and permission to park vehicles on the street during the overnight hours. Now residents can receive special permission to park on the street between 2:00 am and 6:00 am by submitting their request online at http://parking.ducomm.org/oakbrook/public/default.aspx. Permission will be automatically granted with the following criteria: • Request must be received prior to 2:00 am • Overnight parking is limited to three requests within a thirty day period • Overnight parking will not be granted when there is two inches or more of snow on the roadway. This new system has helped manage the program more efficiently and provided residents with an easy way to request permission to park on the street overnight. CAR SAFETY Winter is approaching, and what better time to prepare for the season than before the cold weather arrives. Snow, sleet, and ice can lead to slower traffic and hazardous road conditions. Preparing your vehicle for the winter can help to keep yourself and your family safe on the roadways. Here are a few things to check and keep in mind: • Have your vehicle serviced regularly to prevent major problems • Check the concentration level of the antifreeze in your vehicle • Add a stronger windshield cleaning/de-icer fluid solution to keep the spray from freezing • Check air pressure in your tires (including your spare) and replace any worn tires • Ensure your heater and windshield defroster are working • Check the battery • Check all lights and emergency flashers • Keep your fuel tank full or near full • Always keep an emergency kit in your trunk: o Working flashlight and extra batteries o Flares o First Aid Kit o Jumper cables o Blanket o Salt, sand, or non-clumping kitty litter to use for added traction when stuck o Extra washer fluid o Ice scraper, snow brush , and shovel o Non-perishable foods 6 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2014 Barry Liss Fire Chief (630) 368-5204 bliss@oak-brook.org 12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY SAFETY There’s no greater gift you can give to your family than a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Complete a safety reminder everyday and you’re well on your way to a safe New Year! Day 1 Replace batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Test your alarms to ensure they are in working order. Make sure everyone knows what to do if an alarm is heard in the middle of the night or during the day. Day 2 Before decorating inspect all new and old tree lights, outdoor lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage. Day 3 Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords with too many decorations or devices. Day 4 Test your ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) to make sure they’re protecting you. Day 5 Prevent a tripping hazard by keeping cords out of the path of travel. Keep cords constrained along walls, out of doorways, and high traffic areas in your home. Day 6 Avoid placing small decorations that look edible, lights, metal hooks, glass or breakable ornaments within the reach of children. Day 7 Keep your holiday tree stand full of water. A tree will soak up at least 1 gallon of water a day. A fresh green tree is safer than a dry tree. Day 8 Instead of candles, use decorative battery operated candles for a safer ambiance. If candles are a must, never leave one unattended and remember to blow them out before leaving a room or going to bed. Day 9 Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that could get hot, melt or burn—decorations, table cloths, trees, gifts, bed sheets, and curtains. Day 10 Use tamper-resistant outlet receptacles to prevent children from inserting their fingers or objects into the slots. Day 11 Practice your family fire escape plan and make sure it is shared with overnight guests. Day 12 In the kitchen don’t wear clothing that is big or loose. Baggy sleeves or clothes could catch fire or get caught in mixers. Use back burners and turn pot handles in. Safety & Information HOLIDAY TREE SAFETY Holiday trees are involved in approximately 400 fires annually, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). These fires result in more than a dozen of injuries, deaths, and more than $10 million in property loss and damage. As the holidays approach, we offer these fire safety tips for setting up and decorating holiday trees. ✓ Set up your holiday tree in a corner of the room away from fireplaces, portable heaters, central heating vents, and television sets. Do not block doorways or place in an area where one could exit or enter the home. ✓ Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, broken bulbs, frayed or exposed wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Position bulbs on the tree so that they are hanging freely and aren't on top of ornaments. ✓ Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord (maximum of 200 miniature lights or 150 larger lights). Only one extension cord should be used per outlet. ✓ Don't run electrical cords or extension cords under rugs. Walking traffic can weaken the insulation and the wires can overheat. A pinched cord can fray or short if placed behind or beneath furniture. Keep animals away from cords to avoid entanglement and chewing. Keep cords and lights away from the tree's water supply. ✓ Turn off all lights before going to bed or leaving the house. The lights could short out and start a fire. ✓ Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. ✓ Never use lighted candles on a tree (even an artificial tree) or near other evergreens. ✓ According to the NFPA even a well-watered tree should be taken down after four weeks. If you decorated your real tree right after Thanksgiving, it should be discarded the week after Christmas, not New Year's Day. Fire BY BARRY LISS Fire BY BARRY LISS The Oak Brook Fire Department will once again be a drop off collection point for TOY EXPRESS. Toy Express is a non-profit organization, which directly benefits families in need during the holiday season. Together, with surrounding fire departments, local businesses, and residents, Toy Express has been distributing new toys and clothes to underprivileged children in the western and southwestern suburbs for the past twenty-five years. Toy Express will collect the toys as well as clothing articles and canned foods from the drop boxes and will then distribute to families for the holiday season. Toys and clothing need to be new. Items will be collected at both Oak Brook fire stations throughout the holiday season. Station 94 is located at 1200 Oak Brook Road with the collection drop off boxes located at the main entrance of the Municipal Complex Expansion, which is located across from the north parking lot. Station 93 is located at 725 Enterprise Drive just off of 22nd Street, in which the collection box is located off of the Enterprise Drive entrance. All boxes are accessible to the public 24 hours a day. For further information contact the Oak Brook Fire Department at (630) 368-5220. Winter 2014 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 7 News SNOW AND ICE CONTROL The goal of the Village’s Snow & Ice Control program is to mitigate vehicular and pedestrian hazards caused by the accumulation of snow and ice on all Village maintained streets and parking facilities owned by the Village. To assist in achieving this goal, the Village is divided into five (5) separate routes. These routes were created due to geography location, lane miles of pavement, and specialized equipment needs. Each route is assigned sufficient equipment and man-power to clear all snow, curb to curb, within eight hours after a typical snow event has concluded. Typically, this objective is reached, however, there are times when it cannot be. This is usually due to the amount of snow (over 8”) and/or type of snow, (heavy wet snow requires more truck passes to clear than light dry snow). Following are the routes, the areas included in each route, and the primary streets within each route. In order to facilitate plowing operations, and to open up streets where the most benefit will result, the “Primary” streets are cleared of snow/ice first, followed by secondary streets and cul-de- sacs/dead ends. Public Works BY MICHAEL HULLIHAN Michael Hullihan Director of Public Works & Engineering (630) 368-5270 mhullihan@oak-brook.org FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK Winter is upon us and gives us all an opportunity to enjoy the great indoors. There are a few things we should look at to insure that there are no unwanted surprises in the Spring. Gutters and downspouts should be inspected to insure that periods of snow melt don’t cause ice-damming along gutter lines. Similarly, area drains and sump discharges should be cleared. Now is a good time to make sure furnaces, including filters, are serviced. Chimneys of active fireplaces should also be inspected. The biggest concern for Public Works will be snow and ice control, here are some notes on how we go about it: Primary Streets Jorie Blvd., Spring Rd., Harger Rd., Commerce Dr., 22nd Str. (Rt. 83 to Clearwater only), 16th Str., Enterprise Dr., Castle Dr., Winsor Dr., Forest Trail, Woodland Dr., Timber View Dr., Timber Edge Dr., Timber Trail, & Yorkshire Wood loop. Dover Dr., Sheffield Ln,*, Hunt Club Dr., Hunt Club Ln.*, Forest Glen Ln., Winsor Dr., Bradford Ln.*, Wood Glen Ln., Mockingbird Ln., Regent Dr., Kimberly Circle*, Concord Dr., Kingston Dr. Spring Rd. (south), Madison, Wood, St. Francis Circle, Adams Rd., Acorn Hill Ln., Trinity Ln., 35st. 35th, Saddle Brook Dr., Hambletonian Dr., Fairview Ave., Royal Vale Dr., & Baybrook Ln., Avenue Loire, White Oak Lane * Only portions of these streets are considered Primary. Area ROUTE 1 Commercial, Timber Trails, Merry Ln., & Yorkshire Woods. ROUTE 2 York Woods, Hunt Club, Woodside Estates, & Forest Glen ROUTE 3 Brook Forest ROUTE 4 Fullersburg, Trinity Lakes, & Robin Hood Ranch ROUTE 5 Saddle Brook, & Ginger Creek There are a few other items of particular importance you should note. • Although the Village does not have Village wide restrictions on parking on streets during snow storm events, it is advisable to keep your vehicles in your driveways until plowing operations have been concluded. Vehicles parked on the street make it more difficult for snow plow operators. Additionally, due to the weaving around parked vehicles, significant piles of snow can remain on the pavement. • Many roadways that bisect the Village are not the responsibility of the Village to maintain. The Illinois Department of Transportation has the responsibility for: 22nd St. (from Clearwater to I-294) bridge, and west of Rt. 83), Rt. 83, and Butterfield Rd. The County Division of Transportation has, Meyers Rd., Midwest Rd. 31st St., & York Rd. Should you need to contact either of these agencies, their numbers are: Illinois Department of Transportation: 847-705-4401. County Division of Transportation: 630-682- 7318 • If you have a snow plowing service clear your driveway, please advise them to make sure they deposit the snow onto the parkway behind the curb or edge of pavement. In many cases, this is not done and when our plow trucks come back around, whatever snow they have left in the street will certainly be plowed back into your driveway approach. Community Development BY ROBERT KALLIEN DEVELOPMENT UPDATE (Thru October 2014) Residential Development • For the first 10 months of 2014, permits for 17 new single- family homes have been issued. • At the present time, over 40 single-family homes are in various stages of construction. • Demolition permits have been issued for ten (10) single- family homes. • Permits have been issued for 347 residential remodeling/ alterations. • At the present time, three (3) residential subdivisions; Templeton Reserve, Polo Lane and Dana Park, contain nearly 30 lots that remain available for new home development. Commercial and Office Projects • Oakbrook Center – There are many improvements/ projects underway at Oakbrook Center. o The first two glass pavilions and the 500+ sq.ft. digital video screen have been completed. The digital video screen is currently in use and one of the glass pavilions is now home to Argo Tea. o Porsche has completed its $250,000 interior alteration project. o The Coach store has completed its $400,000 interior renovation project. o Athleta has completed its $500,000+ interior alteration project. o The Blackhawks Store now occupies the space at 703 Oakbrook Center. The only other such store exists on Michigan Avenue. o Brooks Brothers store has completed its $562,000 renovation project. o Z Gallerie has completed its $418,000 interior alteration project. o Zara clothing store completed its $500,000 interior alteration project. o Tory Burch completed its $174,000 completed interior alteration project. o Neiman Marcus continues with its $3.7 million renovation project. o The Gap has submitted plans for a $700,000 renovation project. o The plans to construct a new building to house 12 new movie theaters, multiple restaurants and structured parking is in the final planning stages. This project will be reviewed by the Village’s Planned Development Commission in December 2014. • Latisys Data Center located on Swift Drive continues with its $10 million renovation project. • The Oak Brook Court development located at 1500 16th Street is now home to The Great Escape and Binny’s Beverage Depot. • The new 4,700 sq.ft. Real Urban Barbecue Restaurant opened to the public during the week of November 17th. • Duchossois Redevelopment Project – Planning is in final stages for the much anticipated redevelopment of the Follett site located at 1818 Swift Road in order to construct a new 250,000+ sq.ft. corporate headquarters facility for the Chamberlain Group. The demolition permits have been picked-up for the Follett and two of the three De Amertek buildings and should take approximately 75 days to complete. Building permits for the new 250,000+ sq.ft. office building and parking deck should be submitted in January 2015 with construction beginning by the end of the first quarter of 2015 with construction being completed in 2016. Upon completion of the new HQ building, Chamberlain anticipates moving at least 750 employees to Oak Brook. • The Executive Plaza office complex located at 1211- 1225-1301-1315 22nd Street has been purchased by the Chicago-based Golub & Company. Preliminary discussions with Staff have indicated that the new owners are looking at a number of improvements for the properties include; adding landscaping, updating the building façade’s, marketing the site to restaurant operators, adding to the existing structured parking, and possibly constructing additional office space. • Drake Hotel – Jim Nagle, the new owner of the Drake Hotel continues his renovation of the facility. Based on our most recent discussions, the occupancy inspections could begin in December. First Hospitality Group has been retained and will operate the hotel. The property is also being marketed to an additional restaurant operator(s). Source: Dept. of Community Development Information 8 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2014 Robert Kallien Director of Community Development (630) 368-5101 rkallien@oak-brook.org Winter 2014 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 9 Sports Core BY TREY VANDYKE Information The Oak Brook Sports Core is entering into a peaceful time. However, the Bath & Tennis Clubhouse remains the perfect gathering place for your wintertime event. This private and secluded venue is perfect for your party, meeting, or seminar. Please contact Tammy Perri, our Corporate & Private Event Sales Associate, via e-mail at tperri@oak-brook.org or by phone at (630) 368-6442 to assist you. We hope you will join us as our seasonal outdoor athletic activities move indoors. BATH & TENNIS CLUBHOUSE GOLFERS This is a great time to break down your golf swing and set goals for next year. Please feel free to consult one of our PGA Professionals for wintertime training. Here are a few ways to stay active: White Pines Golf Course Dome in Bensenville All of our instructors see students at this facility during the winter months. Winter Clinic, February 28th Clinic takes place at the golf club house. Please call the golf shop for more information: (630) 368-6400 ext. 2. TENNIS PLAYERS Our tennis professional Greg Spencer takes his player development training indoors to the Oak Brook Park District. Contact Greg at (630) 677-2563 for more information and to book a lesson. Finally, on behalf of the Sports Core staff, we wish you a safe and happy holiday! THE OAK BROOK BATH & TENNIS CLUB Celebrate the season with us. Trey VanDyke Sports Core Director (630) 368-6420 tvandyke@oak-brook.org Daddy Daughter Winter Ball Dance Mark your calendar and start thinking about the perfect dress for the Daddy Daughter Winter Ball Dance! The event is Friday, January 17 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Bath and Tennis Club. Fathers and daughters will treasure this special night and have lots of fun. The night includes music, games, dancing, pizza and an ice cream bar. Pictures/photo booth are included. The registration deadline for this program is Friday, January 8, 2015. The event is open to children ages 3 to 12. $40 a couple (residents/ non-residents) and $20 per additional child. To register for this event, please call Michelle Hrody, Membership Coordinator at 630-368-6424 (payment must be made at the time of registration). 10 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2014 Library BY SUE MADORIN Calendar and Events LIBRARY PROGRAMS WINTER 2014-2015 Sue Madorin Library Director (630) 368-7706 smadorin@oak-brook.org Thursday, January 15 at 6:30 pm Wheat Belly Dawn Duffy Dawn@DawnsHealingHands.com Join Dawn Duffy as she discusses and reviews William Davis’ “Wheat Belly.” Then, find out what gluten really is and why wheat has become the “bad guy” in the American diet. Sunday, January 25 at 2:00 pm The Music and Influence of Pete Seeger Relive the legacy of the late great Pete Seeger as you hear his music again through the thoughtful and engaging Steve Justman. See (and hear!) the lasting impact of Seeger on music! Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 pm Petra Van Nuis Join jazz vocalist Petra Van Nuis and Guitarist Andy Brown as they perform like nothing you have seen before. See why Chicago’s first lady of Jazz Judy Roberts calls them, “Sensuous, winsome and adorably hip, Petra's delectable delivery of songs brings us the tantalizing flavors of Astrud Gilberto and Blossom Dearie in a young and appealing new voice.” Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm Where Nature Comes Home Learn how one community in the suburbs transformed their lawns into an unfolding range of multi-seasonally colorful prairie, woodland, and wetland wildflowers, forbs, sedges, grasses and native rain gardens. This inspirational program will touch the hearts and minds of those who wish to create native earth friendly landscapes around their property to enhance biodiversity and environmental health. Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 pm A Heart to Heart Talk Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, our Village President and noted cardiologist, will address heart care and the prevention of heart disease. FROM THE DIRECTOR Brave the cold and snow and come discover what Oak Brook Public library has to offer this winter. Need a book on how to knit a sweater? The Library has it! How about a cozy mystery to keep you intrigued? The Library has that, too. We offer a great selection of movies and video games to keep you entertained. For those who love learning, check out one of the Library’s two new databases. Mango Languages has more than 60 languages to choose from and focuses on simple instructions and fun activities. LearningExpress Library features 800 tutorials, exams and eBooks covering basic skills, academic success, job preparation and career advancement. These databases are available in the Library and from home if you have a library card. If you don’t have a card, bring a photo ID and proof that you live in incorporated Oak Brook and you will be registered in no time. While you are here, you can sign up for one of the various computer classes we offer. These classes range from beginning computer skills to understanding Microsoft Excel and are taught by our knowledgeable Librarians. If discussing the latest news interests you, make sure to stop by the Library on Friday mornings for the Current Events program. We also serve as a place to recycle those holiday lights that either don’t work anymore or are no longer appreciated. There will be a large box outside in the parking lot through January 8th for your convenience. If you have not signed up to receive our Library Beacon via email, visit our Library homepage at www.oak-brook.org/ library and submit the requested information to be added to our list of recipients. The Library has so much to offer this winter, besides a place to warm up after sledding with a cup of hot chocolate, so please take advantage of it. Holiday hours for the Library: Closed Wednesday, December 24 Closed Thursday, December 25 Close at 1 pm on Wednesday, December 31 Closed Thursday, January 1 Winter 2014 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 11 INCREASED WATER RATES The City of Chicago is passing on the cost of infrastructure improvements to the suburbs that use Lake Michigan water. As a result, the DuPage Water Commission (DWC) will raise our bulk water purchase rate by 17 percent in 2015. To keep the Water Fund healthy, the Village Board approved an increase to the amount users will be charged for water. Starting with the March water bill, the new resident rate is $7.73 from $6.97 per 1,000 gallons and $9.13 from $8.37 for non-residents. COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT “For the past 36 years the Village has received recognition for its CAFR...” State law requires the Village to prepare a complete set of audited financial statements following the close of each fiscal year in the form of a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The CAFR is presented in three main sections. The introductory section includes a financial overview and an organization chart. The financial section includes the Village auditor’s report, management’s discussion and analysis, audited basic financial statements and notes thereto, and the underlying combining and individual fund financial statements and supporting schedules. The statistical section sets forth selected unaudited economic, financial trend and demographic information for the Village on a multi-year basis. For the past 36 years, the Village has received recognition for its CAFR in the form of a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. The 2013 CAFR is located on the Village website in the Finance section. Contact the Finance Department at (630) 368-5000 if you have any questions regarding this document management plan. The Village President and Board of Trustees continue to remain vigilant of the financial operations and we are pleased that we have been able to end the 2013 fiscal year with an addition to fund balance. The Village’s General Fund revenues exceeded expenditures by $1.2 million. By the end of 2014, the total cash reserves are projected at $12.3 million, which is equal to 7.5 months of operating expenses. Finance Information & Community Calendar BY SHARON DANGLES Sharon Dangles Finance Director (630) 368-5072 sdangles@oak-brook.org VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK April 7, 2015 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS On April 7, 2015 there will be a Consolidated Election which will include Municipal Elections. The Village of Oak Brook will be electing: PRESIDENT One (1) to be elected for a four (4) year term CLERK One (1) to be elected for a four (4) year term TRUSTEES Three (3) to be elected for a four (4) year term General qualifications require that a candidate be a resident of the municipality for one year preceding the Consolidated Election, be a registered voter and a qualified elector. Specific information will be provided through the Candidate’s Guide prepared by the State of Illinois, State Board of Elections. www. elections.state.il.us Candidate packets are available through the Village Clerk’s office at 1200 Oak Brook Road. They may be picked up Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. from the Village Clerk or the Administrative Clerk. They may also be obtained from DuPage County or the State Board of Elections or online from the State Board of Elections www.elections.state.il.us. The Filing Period for Candidate Petitions begins December 15, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. and goes through December 22, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Petitions are to be filed with the Village Clerk in the Clerk’s Office during regular office hours. LIVE STREAMING Live streaming of Village Board meetings is now available. The Village Board typically meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Live streaming can be viewed via the Village’s website www.oak-brook.org under the Village Board heading and then go to Streaming Media. If you have questions regarding this, please contact the Village Clerk at 630/368-5052. PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID OAK BROOK, IL PERMIT NO. 19 Village of Oak Brook 1200 Oak Brook Road Oak Brook, IL 60523-2255