2015 WinterQuarterly Newsletter I Volume 75 - Winter 2015O B newsAK ROOK
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2 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2015
OAK BROOK news
Closed – Thursday, November 26th
Closed – Friday, November 27th
Closed – Thursday, December 24th
Closed – Friday, December 25th
Open 8 a.m. – Noon, Thursday, December 31st
Closed Noon – 5 p.m., Thursday, December 31st
Closed – Friday, January 1st
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
Illinois General Assembly passed Public
Act 99-0352
6 FIRE
Holiday Tree Safety & Adopt-A-Hydrant
7 PUBLIC WORKS
Winter activities
8 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Development Update
8 INFORMATION SERVICES
Mass Notific tion Alert System
9 SPORTS CORE
Sports Core Update
10 LIBRARY
Winter events
11 FINANCE
CAFR, Water rates
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 • Edward Tiesenga | 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
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.
Live streaming of Village Board meetings now available. 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: Donna Bettin • dbettin@oak-brook.org
VILLAGE HALL/ADMINISTRATION OFFICES HOLIDAY HOURS
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Winter 2015 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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,
six Polo matches, a successful Half Marathon, a 9/11
remembrance ceremony, and a 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 the Dream
Works Animation’s Adventure to Santa House return to
Oakbrook Center this year. This interactive journey is only
one of a few in the country this season!
As you read this, the Village Board is undertaking one of its
most important tasks, which is reviewing and approving
the 2016 Budget. The Board held two budget workshops
on November 9th and 17th on the 2016 budget and
discussed the major issues facing Oak Brook as we move
into a new fiscalyear. The proposed 2016 Budget includes
major capital improvements and roadway improvements.
The Village Board remains committed to responsible and
conservative spending, while still strongly investing in our
community. Based on the proposed budget, the Village
will still maintain almost seven months of operating
expense reserves. On December 8th, the Village Board
is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the budget
and hopefully, we’ll approve it that night. The proposed
2016 budget can be found on the Village’s website, www.
oak-brook.org under the Finance Department's financial
documents.
Finally, please know that the Village Trustees, our staff, and
I are available to you at all times. We are here to serve you.
Feel free to call, email or see me if you have any feedback,
ideas or concerns.
Have a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!
Kind regards,
Village President
(630) 368-5012
glalmalani@oak-brook.org
Gopal G. Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A.
171181 Winter Newsletter r4.indd 3 11/20/15 10:50 AM
BY RICCARDO F. GINEX
Dear Friends and Residents,
It has been a very busy and exciting first year for me as
Village Manager. I have had the pleasure of working with an
incredible staff, supportive Village Board, an engaged business
community and all the wonderful residents I have come to
meet.
As you may know, we are in the process of conducting a search
for a new Public Works Director and hope to have a decision
soon. Doug Patchin, one of our longest serving Public Works
employees, has been filling the role of Interim Director and
has done an excellent job. I appreciate all the assistance he
has given the entire staffallowing our projects to continue in a
seamless manner.
The State has been operating without a budget since July
1st. We have been working with our municipal partners, the
DuPage Mayor’s and Manager’s Conference and the Illinois
Municipal League, to make sure our influence and concerns
resonate with the legislature. Most importantly, with the
assistance of these two organizations, we are actively working
to gain the release of funds being withheld by the State of
Illinois during this lengthy budget impasse. The Village has
not received any Motor Fuel Tax distributions since July of this
year. As the Village typically receives approximately $235,000
annually, we stand to lose over $117,500 in revenue.
The General Assembly, the Governor and the legislative
leaders convened this month and are scheduled to continue
their discussions through December. While we are hopeful any
budget issues could be resolved prior to the end of this year,
it is doubtful if anything significant will happen until January
2016. Unfortunately, this means the State of Illinois will move
into 2016 without a budget. This will leave all the municipalities
within the state in the dark as to if and when revenues may be
released and what revenues may be taken away. Accordingly,
we have made very conservative state revenue projects in our
2016 operating budget for the Village.
Finally, we are coming into our snow season. Our Public Works
staff is already preparing for the snow season and has begun
preparing our fleet for road clearing and salting operations.
I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. I look
forward to our continued success in 2016.
4 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2015
From the Manager’s Desk
Riccardo F. Ginex
Village Manager
(630) 368-5026
villagemanager@oak-brook.org
VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK FIRE DEPARTMENT
SAFETY CHECK LIST FOR THE WINTER SEASON
❏ Have your furnace inspected and serviced by a
qualified professional.
❏ Ensure chimneys and vents have been inspected
and cleaned by a qualified professional. Not
cleaning and properly maintaining a chimney
is the leading cause of chimney fires.
❏ Make sure the wood used for the fireplace is dry
and appropriately seasoned for burning.
❏ Fireplaces must have proper and adequate
protective screening. Ensure it is in good
condition and secured in its position in front of
the fireplace.
❏ Have a covered exterior metal container
available and ready to use for proper disposal of
cooled fireplace ashes and residue. Containers
should be kept at least 10 feet away from the
home and any nearby structures.
❏ Children should be taught and reminded to
stay at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, stoves,
and ancillary heaters.
❏ Check to ensure any portable space heater has
an automatic shut-off. If not, consider replacing
it.
❏ Portable space heaters must be plugged
directly into an outlet, not an extension cord,
and placed at least 3 feet away from any
combustible materials.
❏ Working smoke detectors are required by law
and must be installed within 15’ of every room
used for sleeping purposes. Check and verify
that all smoke detectors are present, tested and
in good working order.
❏ Working carbon monoxide detectors are also
required by law and must be installed within
15’ of every room used for sleeping purposes.
Check and verify that all carbon monoxide
detectors are present, tested and found in good
working order.
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Winter 2015 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 5
Police
BY JAMES KRUGER
News
Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 99-0352
During the Spring legislative session, the Illinois General
Assembly passed Public Act 99-0352, the Police and
Community Improvement Act. While this new law has been
widely reported as the “body camera bill” that is only a small
portion of the entire bill. The General Assembly passed
this far reaching legislation in response to the numerous
events that have occurred over the last fi teen months
across the country between law enforcement and minority
communities. While this new law mandated many reforms
to law enforcement, the Oak Brook Police Department as a
nationally accredited agency, has been doing many of the
things this new law requires to insure we are providing the
very best services to the community long before its passage.
As you can see in our annual reports, the Professional
Standards section details any citizen complaints and their
outcomes, as well as our promise to hold ourselves to a
higher standard of professional conduct.
There are other new requirements of the bill that will go in
effect January 1, 2016. Police Departments across the state
will now report any uses of force that result in death or great
bodily harm. Those cases that result in an in custody death
are also now required to be investigated by an outside
agency, which our policy has always been to do so. This bill
also prohibits chokeholds or any contact with the neck that
would inhibit a person’s airway. Police officers will also be
required to document all street stops and issue receipts to
those persons where the stop results in a frisk.
The new law also creates the Commission on Police
Professionalism that will review training and certific tion of
police officers, the duties of various types of police officers,
the standards of issuance of badges and credentials, and
the issue of police licensure. It will also require all police
officers to have required in service training on the topics
of constitutional and proper use of law enforcement
authority, procedural justice (which I introduced in the
Spring 2015 newsletter), civil rights, human rights, and
cultural competency.
While there is much to consider in this new law, I as well as
my fellow police chiefs across the state are viewing it as an
opportunity to strengthen our profession even greater by
holding all of us to a higher standard. We are also using this
time as an opportunity to open up new relationships with
segments of the community that may not have occurred in
the past. Should you have any questions about the new
As the holiday shopping season is upon us,
please remember the following safety tips
from the National Crime Prevention Council:
• Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by
taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to
help you carry your packages to the car.
• Save all receipts. Start a filefolder to keep all receipts
together and to help you verify credit card or bank
statements as they come in.
• Wait until asked before taking out your credit card
or checkbook. An enterprising thief would love to
shoulder surf to get your account information.
• Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an
unattended bag or package.
• Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your
body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser
pocket.
• Have your keys in hand when approaching your
vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car
before getting in.
• Do not leave packages visible in your car windows.
Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them
directly home.
Should you see anything suspicious or out of place,
please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. You can also send
us an email at crimetips@oak-brook.org for information
that does not require an immediate response. Thank
you for helping us keep Oak Brook a safe community.
James Kruger
Police Chief
(630) 368-8710
jkruger@oak-brook.org
law or the Oak Brook Police Departments commitment to
excellence, please contact me any time.
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 be 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 ehicle approaches. Please drive safely.
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6 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2015
HOLIDAY TREE SAFETY TIPS
The holiday season is a time for fun and celebration.
With the fresh fragrance of pine in the air and the
glow of beautiful ornaments and multi-colored lights,
holiday trees carry the spirit of the season. However,
tree fi es will spoil the holiday cheer. The devastation
that a tree fi e produces not only results in property
damage, but also causes injury and even death to
occupants. Natural trees have the added potential of
causing fi e. If you are considering buying a real tree, think again!
Visit www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/holiday.html to see an
actual tree fi e.
The following are special fi e safety precautions to follow for a
safer holiday season.
• When purchasing a natural tree, choose a fresh one.
A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of
a fi e hazard than a dry tree. Check the freshness
of a tree by color, scent, as well as the number of
needles that fall from the branches. A fresh tree
is deep green in color and has a strong scent of
pine. When tapping the trunk on the ground,
no more than a few needles should fall off.
• Choose a safe location to place your tree.
This should be away from fi eplaces, radiators, or other heat
sources. Be sure that it is out of the traffic pattern and does not
block doorways. Before mounting, cut off about 2-inches from the
trunk. Then mount the tree in a sturdy, water-holding stand with
widespread legs. Be sure the tree is stable. Keep the stand full of
water while the tree is indoors. Moreover, remember that heated
rooms dry out trees rapidly. A dry tree is a fi e hazard.
• Artificia trees should bear the UL label.
UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories or your tree should have
a label reading, “fi e-retardant.” Some unlabeled artificia trees will
burn at a much more rapid rate.
• Check your lights.
Discard lights with broken or cracked sockets,
frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Decorate with
lights that are for indoor use and are UL approved. Generally,
use no more than three sets of lights per single extension.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and do not use
more than the number of recommended lights in one circuit.
Keep children and pets away from electrical decorations. All lights
present the potential of hazards for curious kids and pets. Always
turn off lights on trees when leaving home or going to bed.
For information on Holiday Fire Prevention feel free to contact the Fire
Prevention Bureau at (630) 368-5220.
Space Heaters and Ancillary Heating Equipment
This winter, if you must have an additional heat source in your home,
please make sure you take the following safety reminders into
consideration:
• Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from a
portable space heater or other heating equipment, like the furnace,
hot water heater, fi eplace, or stove.
• Have a three-foot “Kid-free zone” around open fi es and space
heaters. Ensure that pets won’t have access to be able to knock a
space heater over.
Safety & InformationFire
BY BARRY LISS
Fire
BY BARRY LISS
Barry Liss
Fire Chief
(630) 368-5200
bliss@oak-brook.org
• Never dry your clothes on a space heater.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have your furnace and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually
by a qualifie professional.
• Remember to turn space heaters off when leaving the room, your
home, or going to bed.
• Make sure the fi eplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks and
embers from flyin into the room. Ashes should be cool before
placing them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe
distance outside away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Install and maintain Carbon Monoxide detectors to avoid the risk
of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you smell gas in your gas heater,
do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call
the fi e department.
Half of home heating fi es are reported during the months of
December, January, and February.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers important
information on a variety of fi e and life safety topics. For more
information regarding these and other safety tips, please visit www.
nfpa.org/education
ADOPT-A-HYDRANT
In the event of a fi e emergency during the
winter, could fi efig ters fin the hydrant(s)
near your home or business?
The Village of Oak Brook Fire Department
encourages residents to “adopt a fi e
hydrant” near their home or business and
keep snow shoveled away from them during
the winter season.
Please make it a point to uncover your fi e hydrant(s) after every
snowfall. Clear a path approximately 3 feet around the hydrant.
These actions will allow the fi e department to quickly locate the fi e
hydrant, obtain a water supply for fi efig ting activities, and give the
fi e department room to work with this hydrant should the need arise.
Please consider helping a neighbor who is elderly or has a medical
condition by shoveling out a hydrant in front of their home. This act of
kindness will benefi the entire neighborhood.
Water is the principle agent used by the Fire Department to control
and extinguish fi es. Delays in locating and hooking-up to a fi e
hydrant can seriously hamper a fi e suppression operation, raising the
risk of injury and possibly resulting in additional property damage.
The “Adopt a Hydrant” program is an informal program: therefore it
is not necessary to advise the Fire Department about which hydrants
you will be keeping clear of snow.
On behalf of the entire Department, thank you for keeping the
Village of Oak Brook’s fi e hydrants clear of snow and keeping our
community safe!
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Winter 2015 | 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 DOUG PATCHIN
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,*, H t 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 difficul for snow plow operators.
Additionally, due to the weaving around parked vehicles,
significa t 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.
Doug Patchin
Interim Director of Public
Works & Engineering
(630) 368-5270
dpatchin@oak-brook.org
171181 Winter Newsletter r4.indd 7 11/20/15 10:50 AM
Community Development
BY ROBERT KALLIEN
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Residential Development
• Duchossois Redevelopment Project – Construction
continues on the phase 1 foundation, core and shell
permit that was issued during the summer for the new
$60+ million 245,000 square foot corporate facility for the
Duchossois Group. Plans for the interior portions of the
building are now under review. Construction is expected
to be complete in early 2017.
• Oakbrook Center – Construction continues on the
new building that will house structured parking, 12
screen cinema and space for several restaurants. The
superstructure for the parking portion of the building has
been assembled and steel is being erected to frame out
the cinemas. Construction is expected to be complete in
the third quarter of 2016.
• Rush University Medical Center is proposing the
construction of a 100,000 square foot, four-story
ambulatory surgery center and multi-level parking
structure on the vacant parcel located at 2011 York Road
(i.e., parcel just east of LA Fitness). The first step in this
process will be for Rush to appear before the Village’s
Planned Development Commission to obtain approval
of their Planned Development application which is
Information
expected to occur in December 2015.
• The Janko Development Group is proposing the
construction of a 144-room Hyatt House Hotel and
restaurant at the northeast corner of 22nd Street and
Windsor Drive. To accommodate this project, the existing
one-story office building on the site would be demolished.
Similar to the Rush project, the first step in this process
will be for Janko to appear before the Village’s Planned
Development Commission to obtain approval of their
Planned Development application which is expected to
occur in December 2015.
Zoning Ordinance Update is Coming!
On October 27, 2015, the Village Board approved a contract
with Teska Associates, a professional planning consulting
fi m to update the Village’s Zoning Ordinance which
has been in existence since 1966. This update process
is anticipated to take 10-14 months and will involve
considerable public input and interaction throughout the
process.
8 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2015
Robert Kallien
Director of Community
Development
(630) 368-5101
rkallien@oak-brook.org
Jim Fox
Director of Information
Technology Services
(630) 368-5174
jfox@oak-brook.org
Information Technology Services
Mass Notifi ation Alert System — The Village of Oak Brook
has been using the Blackboard Connect mass notific tion
service since 2009. With this service, the Village has an easy-
to-use, reliable tool that allows the Village to make certain
that Village residents and businesses are accurately and
quickly informed during emergency situations.
The Village also uses the notific tion service to contact
residents and businesses about important information in
our community, such as community events, road closures,
utility problems, and weather events. The system has the
ability to reach thousands of people by voice, email, and
text messaging in a matter of minutes.
The Blackboard Connect system provides a comprehensive
list of phone numbers collected from over 200 providers.
However, there is the possibility that your home telephone
number is not included, particularly if your telephone
number is unlisted. More information about this system is
available on the Village website at: http://www.oak-brook.
org/303/Mass-Emergency-Notific tion From the Village
website you can also add additional contact devices and
protocols such as cellular telephone numbers and email
addresses.
There is no cost to use the service and your participation
is completely voluntary. Rest assured that your personal
information will not be shared with anyone.
Can I “opt out” from the Blackboard Connect calls? Yes,
residents can opt-out; however, we strongly suggest that
you do not do so. The Connect-CTY service is used to
send information that is time-sensitive and relevant to our
residents. Any resident that is eliminated will not be able to
be contacted by the system in an emergency.
If you have further questions or concerns about this service
please call the Village at 630.368.5174 or you can email us at
alerts@oak-brook.org.
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Winter 2015 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 9
Sports Core
BY TREY VANDYKE
Information
BATH & TENNIS CLUBHOUSE
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.
GOLFERS
Last Chance Open – Saturday, December 5th weather
permitting, the golf course will host the final event of
the season on Saturday, December 5th.
This 9-hole, two-person, two-club scramble event is
open to anyone brave enough to endure the elements.
Please contact the golf shop at 630-368-6400 for
details and to sign-up.
THE OAK BROOK BATH & TENNIS
CLUB
Celebrate the season with us.
Winter 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:
*Keep your golf swing in shape by practicing at
the White Pines Golf Course Dome in Bensenville.
All of our instructors see students at this facility
during the winter months.
*Winter Clinic – Shake off a little winter chill by
attending our February 27th Winter Golf Clinic.
Please call the golf shop for more information:
(630) 368-6400 ext. 2
Finally, on behalf of the Sports Core staff, we wish you
a safe and happy holiday!
Trey VanDyke
Sports Core Director
(630) 368-6420
tvandyke@oak-brook.org
171181 Winter Newsletter r4.indd 9 11/20/15 10:50 AM
Director’s Message
What does the Oak Brook Public Library mean to you?
To some Oak Brook residents the Library is a treasure trove
of literary classics, from Dickens to Tolstoy. For others it is
a place to grab the latest bestseller. The Library provides
a quiet environment to study for the big exam or collect
one’s thoughts while sitting in a comfy chair. Children enjoy
the lively story times and countless crafts. Audiobooks are
popular for those with long commutes. Those interested
in researching the latest stock tip can scour the Library’s
collection of financial newspapers and databases. On many
weekends there is either an entertaining or educational
program, musicians and historians tend to draw the largest
crowds. This time of year the Library is a warm oasis for those
tackling the sled hill. On Tuesday nights a group of women
can be found knitting, while on Friday mornings a group
gathers in the Meeting Room to discuss and debate the latest
news.
The Library is many things to many people and its mission
to promote the development of independent, self-confident
and literate citizens through the provision of open access to
cultural, recreational, intellectual, and informational resources
is noble. The Library is the cornerstone of the community. It
provides a little bit of everything to everyone at little to no
cost. So next time you are in the Library let the staff know
what the Library means to you. And if you haven’t been to the
Library in a while, then stop on by. The friendly staff will greet
you with a smile and even give you a book recommendation
if you’d like.
Library Calendar and Events
WINTER CALENDAR BY SUE MADORIN
10 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Winter 2015
Sue Madorin
Library Director
(630) 368-7706
smadorin@oak-brook.org
Saturday, December 5 @ 2-3 pmRobyn Vitson: Holiday Music
Join Robyn Vitson for a medley of holiday songs sure to delight the
hearts of all ages. For those brutal Midwest winters, Robyn is here
to warm the spirits. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Saturday, December 12 @ 2 pm The Forgotten Heroes: The Battle of the Bulge
War historian, Robert Mueller, gives a powerful and emotional
presentation with original footage and behind the scenes
biographies of some outstanding soldiers. Mueller’s books give
original photos along with geographically accurate coordinates to
fin exactly where the incidents happen: by foot or by armchair
travel on Google Earth. This is a lecture not to be missed by any
history fan.
Sunday, December 20 through Saturday, March 5, 2016Youth Services 2016 Winter Reading Program: A Blizzard of Books
To encourage reading during the cold and dreary months we
are offering incentives to our young readers. Stop in, we have a
Blizzard of Books from which to choose! Sponsored by the Friends
of the Library.
Sunday, December 20 through Saturday, March 5, 2016Adult Services 2016 Winter Reading Program: New Year, New Reads
Welcome the new year, break the mold and challenge yourself
to read not only books, but different books! From fi tion to
nonfi tion or romance to mystery, pick an author, genre, or
format that you’ve never read before from out collection. All who
participate will receive a reading incentive and be entered into a
drawing. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Saturday, January 9th @ 2pmCapital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington
Jenny Riddle's latest book review will captivate you as she presents
some of the women in Cokie Roberts' best seller, CAPITAL DAMES:
The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868. You don't
want to miss learning how these women and others in Roberts'
book reacted to the war, influen ed the war, and moved women
farther along the road to enlightenment and equality.
Thursday, January 14 @ 5pm
I’m Turning 65 Now What?
Dee Thom, a Healthcare.gov consultant, will be discussing
Medicare, COBRA, and other retirement plans and issues. Please
come with your questions! Every participant gets a copy of the
PowerPoint, for their keeping.
Thursday, February 11th @ 5pm
Make & Take Spa
Dawn Duffey, Refl xologist and Aromatherapist, gives a calming
reading, practices some relaxation breathing, gives instruction
about oils for relaxation, leads a meditation. Participant will leave
with a product they have made, such as a bath salt or body scrub.
Saturday, February 13th @ 2pm All About Love
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Kym Frankovelgia is returning to
the library to put on a show all about love. Her unique blend of
warmth and humor, along with her large catalogue of music in her
repertoire will give you an afternoon you won’t easily forget.
Sunday, February 28th @ 2pmThe Music and Influence of Hank Williams
Relive the legacy of the late great Hank Williams as you hear his
music again through the thoughtful and engaging Steve Justman.
See (and hear!) the lasting impact of Williams on music!
171181 Winter Newsletter r4.indd 10 11/20/15 10:50 AM
Sharon Dangles
Finance Director/
Assistant Village Manager
(630) 368-5072
sdangles@oak-brook.org
Winter 2015 | WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG 11
COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
“For the past 37 years the Village has received recognition for its CAFR...”
State law requires the Village to prepare a complete set of
audited financia statements following the close of each
fisca year in the form of a Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR). The CAFR is presented in three main sections.
The introductory section includes a financia overview and
an organization chart. The financia section includes the
Village auditor’s report, management’s discussion and
analysis, audited basic financia statements and notes
thereto, and the underlying combining and individual
fund financia statements and supporting schedules. The
statistical section sets forth selected unaudited economic,
financia trend and demographic information for the Village
on a multi-year basis.
For the past 37 years, the Village has received recognition
for its CAFR in the form of a Certific te of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government
Finance Officers Association. The 2014 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 financia operations and we are
pleased that we have been able to end the 2014 fisca year
with an overall addition to total Village wide fund balance.
The Village’s General Fund experienced a decrease in fund
balance of $0.3 million; however, this amount came in better
than expected. The 2014 budget planned for a decrease
of $1.2 million as the General fund planned on using cash
reserves to fund one time capital improvements. For 2014,
General Fund revenues were $0.7 million over budget and
expenditures were $0.7 under budget. The financia policy
of the Village is to maintain a cash balance reserve of at least
six months of operating expenditures. By the end of 2015,
the total cash reserves are projected at $12.8 million, which
is equal to 7.6 months of operating expenses.
Finance Information & Community Calendar
BY SHARON DANGLES
Proposed 2016 Budget
The 2016 Proposed Budget is available for viewing on
our website and were discussed at the Village’s budget
workshops on November 9th and 17th. The 2016 budget will
be approved at the December 8th Village Board Meeting.
Water Bill Payments Can Now Be Made
by Phone
The Village now accepts water bill payments over the
phone using Illinois E-Pay. Payments can be made using
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express debit and
credit cards. A convenience fee of 2.35% or $1.00 minimum
is charged for this service. The fee is not charged or
collected by the Village of Oak Brook.
To make a water bill payment by phone, dial 877-690-3729
and enter jurisdiction code 2359 for the Village of Oak
Brook. Please have your seven (7) digit account number
and payment amount ready prior to calling. For more
information on water billing payment options, visit the
water billing payment information website at http://www.
oak-brook.org/185/Payment-Information.
171181 Winter Newsletter r4.indd 11 11/20/15 10:50 AM
PRESORTED
FIRST CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OAK BROOK, IL
PERMIT NO. 19
Notice of Water Rate Increase
On November 10, 2015 the Village Board approved
a 10% increase in water rates based on the
recommendation of the Water Rate Study Report.
The study can be found on the Village’s website at
www.oak-brook.org. It cites three main reasons
causing the need for the increase:
1. There were significa t increases by DuPage Water
Commission and City of Chicago over the past 4 years. In 2012,
Chicago increased its rate for 4 years of 25%, 15%, 15%, and 15%.
Then DuPage Water Commission added an additional increase on
top of that resulting in increases of 30%, 20%, 18%, and 17%. The
Village did not raise its rates high enough to keep up with these
increases.
2. There was a substantial increase in the non-revenue
water in the last 5 years. Non-Revenue water is referred to as loss
and unaccounted for water. Public Works will be working with our
consultant to reduce this amount to obtain substantial savings.
3. The water system infrastructure is aging. Large portions of
the system have reached their useful life. A significa t investment
is needed to avoid disruptions in water service due to failed
equipment.
The Village’s Water Fund is projected to decline in year 2017/2018
where maintenance and replacement projects are being deferred
due to lack of funding. The purpose of the Water Fund is to ensure
that the water supply and distribution system will have the
capacity to serve its residents without taking on any debt.
The new rates would go into effect January 1, 2016 and be
refle ted in water bills issued on March 1, 2016 for residents and
non-residents. For corporate customers, the new rate will be
refle ted in water bills issued on February 1, 2016.
How will this affect my bill?
Using an average consumption of 10,000 gallons for a household,
this is an estimate of how your bi-monthly water bill will be
affected. Water consumption will vary by household.
Even after the water rate adjustments are made, water bills in Oak
Brook will remain competitive when compared to the average
DuPage County Municipalities.
Despite the substantial increases in water rates, it is important
to continue implementation of the 2015 Water Rate Study
recommendations to ensure the on-going viability of Oak Brook's
water system.
Village of Oak Brook
1200 Oak Brook RoadOak Brook, IL 60523-2255
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