Loading...
2021 Spring Newsletter WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 OAK BROOK Quarterly Newsletter | Volume 96- Spring 2021 news President Gopal Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A Clerk Charlotte K. Pruss | Trustee John Baar Trustee Philip Cuevas Trustee Michael Manzo Trustee Moin Saiyed Trustee Edward Tiesenga Trustee Asif Yusuf 2 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 OAK BROOK news 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Message from Dr. Gopal Lalmalani 4 From The Manager’s Desk Message from Rick Ginex 3 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Dear Friends and Neighbors, This year, more than ever, spring represents a rebirth or new beginning. As more people get the COVID-19 vaccination we begin to see activities returning to some semblance of normal. With almost 25% of DuPage County fully vaccinated, small gatherings and outdoor events are becoming more prevalent. Shops and restaurants are finally seeing some recovery and an atmosphere of optimism is all around us. With summer right around the corner, the Oak Brook Park District is accepting membership applications for the Bath & Tennis Club, there is still time to receive the early bird discount. Please visit their website at www.obparks.org for more information. We are all hopeful for a successful year and continuation of our partnership with the Park District. The Oak Brook Polo Club is putting the final touches on the 2021 Polo season. The first match is scheduled for June 27th and they plan to host 10 events throughout the summer. Depending on CDC restrictions they are planning to have small and large tents and tailgating with no grandstands this year. Polo is a great way to enjoy time with family and friends in a safe environment while enjoying thrilling competition and good food and drinks! I am delighted to share that Butler National, Pineoak Partners and the Village of Oak Brook have reached an agreement to bring Polo back to the upper field in 2022. This twelve-year agreement includes cost escalators and ensures that the Village will not lose any lease money. Everyone involved will benefit including the fans and the players. There are many new and exciting happenings around Oak Brook this spring. Lifetime Fitness Oak Brook will open on April 19th. This facility is more than a gym, it’s a luxury athletic resort, with a rooftop pool deck, expansive fitness floor, fitness studios and dedicated kids spaces. This 164,000 square foot building is located at the Gopal G. Lalmalani, M.D., M.B.A. Village President 630.368.5026 glalmalani@oak-brook.org President’s Message By Dr. Gopal Lalmalani North end of Oakbook Center and is a welcome addition to our community. The Sheridan, Senior Lifestyle is ready for new residents. This upscale community offers Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care options with personal care services tailored to each resident. They also offer activities, events, social opportunities, amenities and entertainment in addition to offering beautiful floor plans. I believe that having facilities like this adds value to our community and I am pleased that they have chosen to locate in Oak Brook. Lastly, I would like to thank Trustees Moin Saiyed, John Baar, and Phil Cuevas for their dedicated service to the Village of Oak Brook. We have had a rough year and their steadfast determination has greatly assisted in getting us through. I wish them much luck in their new endeavors. I would also like to welcome our newly elected Trustees, Larry Herman, Jim Nagle and Suresh Reddy. I look forward to working with them and having a fresh perspective on Village challenges. On behalf of myself, the Trustees and staff, thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you. We welcome your thoughts, ideas and concerns. Kind Regards, 4 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Dear friends and residents; I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and got through the deep winter snow healthy. I know we are all looking forward to a spring where we can get out with others, shop and eat at our favorite restaurants. After being exposed to the COVID -19 pandemic last year, we are slowly making the transition back to normalcy. Our Village staff took extreme precautions in order to stay healthy so we could continue to deliver services to our residents. While some staff did become infected, their symptoms were mild and all remain healthy. More importantly, I want to thank Hinsdale High School District 86 for their efforts to get over 100 of our employees vaccinated, as they were deemed essential workers. They sponsored a clinic for their teachers, and the employees and residents of Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Willowbrook and Oak Brook. We are looking forward to a wonderful summer at the Bath and Tennis Club. We continue our close management relationship with the Park District. Construction on our pools was delayed last year due to the pandemic. We are on our way to having them being totally completed and ready for opening day on the Memorial Day weekend. Within a few weeks, construction will be complete and the pools will be filled the first week of May, so the Park District can begin training their lifeguards. We will have replaced the original gutters, ladders, liners, filter system and piping from over 40 years ago to bring a more efficient cost savings to the operation. We are excited to have our new Golf Clubhouse restaurant up and running this year. We intend on bringing back the “On the Patio” events we held in 2019 that had to be postponed last year. The events were held with very large crowds enjoying the music and “al fresco” atmosphere in the warm summer evenings. In addition, the Village will continue their relationship with Pineoak Partners for the 2021 Polo Season this year. Riccardo F. Ginex Village Manager 630.368.5026 villagemanager@oak-brook.org From the Manager’s Desk By Riccardo F. Ginex Finally, unfortunately due to the restrictions the Governor has placed on the State for gatherings, the Village Board has decided to cancel our Taste of Oak Brook and Fireworks for this year. We are looking forward to next year to hold that fun event. I hope you all stay safe and healthy! 5 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 I’m sure all of you would agree with the sentiment that this past year is starting to get old. Mask wearing, social distancing, limited availability of products and services, the list goes on. We do appreciate the continued support we have received from our residents in both direct displays of support but also in the way in which everyone has pulled together and supported the mitigation factors out in the community. It really demonstrated the hashtag #Oakbrooktogether As the vaccines become more available we are hoping to start re-initiating some of our community events. The Oak Brook Police Department has been a strong supporter of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics for several years. This culminated in the Flame of Hope award we received in 2020 for 2019. Our Torch Run Committee has begun to plan a few events for this year to include our ever popular golf outing. However, since we are unsure of the progress toward normalcy over the next few months, we are going to forgo the large after golf dinner and opt for a smaller outdoor grab and go event on the golf course patio. Our committee is hard at work to make this scaled down event as nice and memorable as we have done in the past. We hope you’ll continue to support it and bring a foursome. Along with our main event, we are bringing back our Tip-a-cop events at Blueberry Hill and LaBriola in the Oak Brook Promenade. These events have been terrific opportunity for our officers be interact with our residents and a wonderful display of support from our residents. 2021 is also the 20th Anniversary of 9-11. I am excited to tell you that the Healing Field is coming back to Oak Brook for this important commemoration. It is still hard for many of us to think that it’s been twenty years since that tragic day but also gives us an opportunity to live out our commitment to Never Forget. Tentatively the event will be open from September 8th to the 12th, twenty-four hours a day. More details will be forthcoming but we will need support for volunteers and sponsors to make this as successful as it was in 2017. We will begin organizational meetings in April and a Town Hall meeting of all organizations and willing volunteers the first week of May. Please stay tuned to our website and social media for details to come. This event will certainly put Oak Brook on the world stage in this important year. Plans are in place by True Patriots Care to invite several national dignitaries as well. Police News By James Kruger James Kruger Police Chief 630.368.8710 jkruger@oak-rook.org 6 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Recently, the Oak Brook Fire Department responded on Interstate 88 for a multi -vehicle accident during inclement weather. During the incident, a passenger vehicle driving too fast for conditions, ignored our warning lights and sirens, lost control and struck one of our vehicles from the rear. Fortunately, none of our personnel were injured. The Oak Brook Fire Department wants to remind all motorists of the hazards that exist for all emergency personnel responding to emergencies. In the interest of life safety, it is imperative that first responders get there safely and quickly. Did you know that there’s one thing everyone can do to help our firefighters and paramedics provide emergency services? It’s as simple as Moving to the Right for Sirens and Lights! Every year in the U.S., there are almost 16,000 collisions involving fire department emergency vehicles while responding to or returning from incidents. These collisions result in over 1,000 firefighter injuries and almost 50 deaths. Many people panic or simply don’t adhere to the Illinois Rules Of The Road for approaching emergency vehicles. Our state law is very specific; drivers must yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle, and failure to do so can cause serious accidents or delays in ambulances, fire engines and fire trucks arriving at the scene of an emergency. Firefighters are trained and careful to avoid vehicle collisions by cautiously driving when traveling against traffic, or coming to a complete stop at intersections. The cooperation of ALL vehicles on the roadway is essential. There are some simple rules to follow when you’re on the road and encounter an emergency vehicle: DO: • Stay calm. • Pull to the right and come to a complete stop. • If you’re traveling on a high-speed road or if there is no room to stop, slow down as much as possible and pull over safely to your right. • If you cannot move to the right because of another vehicle or obstacle, just stop. Your action will let the driver of the emergency vehicle know what you are doing and allow the driver to anticipate where to drive. •When an emergency vehicle approaches you from behind while you are stopped at an intersection, stay where you are unless you can pull to the right. Fire Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights! By Barry Liss 7 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Barry Liss Fire Chief 630.368.5200 bliss@oak-brook.org • On a 4-lane highway or street without barriers, both sides of traffic should pull to the right. • Be careful when driving by or around a motor vehicle accident or any situation where emergency vehicles are parked and the firefighters are working. • Drivers should stay at least 500 feet behind emergency vehicles. DON’T: • Don’t panic. • Don’t play your radio so loudly that you are unable to hear sirens. • Don’t stop in the middle lane when there is room to pull to the right. • Don’t pull to the left in the center lane or left turn lane. • Don’t race ahead to make the green light or turn before the emergency vehicle gets there. • Don’t turn quickly to the left onto a street or driveway. • Don’t drive through a red light or stop sign when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind. • If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the opposite direction of a divided highway or street, you do not need to pull over. • Don’t disregard the presence of the emergency vehicle by continuing to drive. Illinois Scott’s Law and the Facts – Enacted Jan. 1, 2002, the law requires drivers to yield to change lanes (if safe to do so) or reduce speed and proceed with caution when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying its flashing warning lights. – Law is named for Chicago firefighter Scott Gillen, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated motorist while working at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway. – Drivers cited for violating the law face up to a $10,000 fine. If the driver is found to be intoxicated at the time of the violation, his driver’s license could be subject to suspension, depending on the severity of the incident. Criminal charges also can result. – Since 2002, the Illinois State Police have issued more than 4,600 tickets and 8,800 written warnings for Scott’s Law violations. Fire Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights! By Barry Liss 8 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Public Works News By Doug Patchin Doug Pacthin Director , Public Works 630.368.5272 dpatchin@oak-brook.org Happy New Year! We have made it through 2020 and another Chicago winter. Public Works staff has been busy plowing, salting, filling potholes and working on numerous other projects to kick off 2021. Crews collected 4,290 cubic yards of raked leaves and closed out the annual leaf program on schedule. Yard waste collection will resume April 1st on the same day as refuse and recycling col- lection. Yard waste must be placed in waterproof plastic or metal containers with a tight cover or biodegradable Kraft bags, no larger than 35 gal- lons and not exceeding 50 lbs. All units set out must have an affixed yard waste sticker. Stickers are available from Flood Brothers, Village Hall and local Jewel stores for $2.25 per sticker. Please remember the Village does not offer brush pickup. This must be disposed of through a tree service, landscape contractor or the Village’s re- fuse service, Flood Brothers. Bundles of brush or limbs will be accepted providing that the bundles do not exceed 50 lbs per bundle, are not more than 4 feet long, are not more than two feet in di- ameter, do not contain limbs greater than 3 inches in diameter and are tied with a material that is compostable. Please remember you can always refer to the Village’s website for additional infor- mation on refuse and yard waste collection. With the warmer Spring weather arriving, it’s time to take care of some simple yet important housekeeping tasks. Homeowners should perform an inspection of their property ensuring drainage pathways that take water away from foundations are pitched from the home and clear of debris. Keep drainage in mind during the upcoming gar- den and spring clean up season. Avoid trapping water against your home’s foundation with too much soil or mulch. Gutters, downspouts and ar- ea drains have a tendency to collect debris over the winter. Now is a great time to ensure these drainage features are clog-free and functioning properly. Spring is also a good time to check timers and scheduling of your home’s irrigation system. As a water conservation reminder, outdoor watering is permitted as follows: Odd-Numbered Street Addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Even-Numbered Street Addresses Wednesday, Friday and Sunday 6:00AM until 10:00AM & 6:00 PM until 10:00 PM WATERING IS PROHIBITED ON MONDAY Watering cans or hand-held watering devic- es may be used at any time on any day. Cus- tomers with private wells are encouraged to utilize their wells for all outside watering purposes. Newly planted sod or seed may be watered for a maximum period of two (2) weeks from the date of installation. Please notify the Village’s Water Department at 630-368-5270. 2021 marks another year of capital projects. Some worthy of mention are the continua- tion of Windsor Drive widening and beauti- fication, York and Harger Roads intersection improvements, Harger Road multi-use path and water main extension, Brook Forest wa- ter main replacement, and the list goes on. 9 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Public Works News By Doug Patchin What Is Cross Connection Control, Backflow Preventers And What Does This Mean To Me? Cross connection control, or backflow prevention as it’s also referred to, is a State regulated program designed to protect the safety of water consumers from drinking water contamination. One of the most common ways drinking water can become contaminated is by a process called backflow. Simply put, backflow is the flow of water changing from one direction to the other, reversing if you will. When water enters your home from the main water supply, it should only ever flow in one direction, which is, into your home. But sometimes, due to pressure changes in the pipes, that water can actually flow backwards and seep back into the main water supply. For example, backflow can happen when there is a break in the main water supply or when a fire hydrant is opened for use. Be- cause pressure is lost during these events, water is no longer being pushed forward into your home and will flow backwards into the main water supply. And when this happens, backflow can possibly contaminate the public drinking supply with:  Fertilizers/pesticides  Human waste  Chlorine from pools/spas Soap from sinks/dishwashers/showers And that’s where a backflow preventer comes in handy. A backflow preventer is a device installed within piping that only allows wa- ter to flow in one direction. Think of it as a one-way gate that allows water from the Village’s main water supply to flow into your home’s piping but stops water if and when it ever tries to flow backwards into the main water supply. Some of the more common piping you’ll see backflow preventers installed within are irrigation, fire protection, boiler, and pool or hot tub systems. Annual testing of backflow preventers is required to ensure proper operation. This testing can only be performed by an Illinois licensed plumber who will then register the results with the Village. The Village then updates its database to maintain compliance with the State regulated program. If you have any questions regarding cross connection control, backflow preventers, or anything you feel may be backflow related, feel free to contact Public Works at 630-368-5270. 10 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Development Services Information By Tony Budzikowski Tony Budzikowski Development Services Director 630.368.5104 tbudzikowski@oak-brook.org NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM Community Rating System (CRS) Outreach The best time to prepare for a flood is before it happens. Village of Oak Brook residents have experienced flooding from creeks and sewer backups in the past. As homeowners, there are a few things that you should know about flood safety, preventing flood damage, flood plain regulation, and insurance. Flood Safety A number of precautions should be taken in the event of a flood. Electricity and gas should be turned off if your home is being flooded. Walking through flood water should be avoided especially if the flood water is moving rapidly as drowning is the number one cause of flood deaths, mostly during flash floods. Currents can be deceptive; six inches of moving water can knock you off of your feet. If you walk in standing water, use a pole or stick to ensure that the ground is still there. Do not drive through a flooded area as more people drown in their cars than anywhere else. Don’t drive around road barriers; the road or bridge may be washed out. After exposure to flood water, residents are advised to contact their health practitioner regarding a tetanus shot if they have not received one in a while. Preventing Flood Damage The Village provides advice on how to retrofit buildings to prevent flood damage. There are generally five approaches to retrofitting: elevation, barriers, dry flood proofing, wet flood proofing and basement protection. Other property protection measures include grading, ditch cleaning, moving furniture and sandbagging. The Village has adopted the DuPage County Stormwater Ordinance. As such, all changes in impermeable surfaces within the village, i.e. driveways, patios, sports courts, slabs, sidewalks, etc. require the approval of a building permit to ensure compliance with applicable ordinance requirements. For information on these and other flood protection issues, please contact the Village Engineer at 630-368-5144. Flood Plain Development Development in or near a flood plain is allowed only upon application and issuance of the appropriate Village permits. Flood plain map information is available through the Development Services Department. If you are planning to add, remodel, build, fill, or otherwise develop in a flood plain or if you witness what you believe to be illegal flood plain construction, please contact the Village Engineer at 630-368-5144. Village code states that existing structures shall not be enlarged, replaced or structurally altered unless the changes meet the applicable code requirements. If the changes constitute substantial improvement to a building in a flood plain, then the entire building will need to adhere to these requirements. Substantial improvement is when the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvements to a building equals or exceeds 50% of the market value. Substantially damaged buildings must also be brought up to these same standards. Enforcement of this requirement is achieved through the building permit and engineering review process. Flood Insurance The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 helps to ensure that you will be protected from financial loss caused by flooding. Backed by the Federal Government, flood insurance is available to residents across the country that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It provides coverage that most homeowners insurance does not (e.g. coverage for damage to structures and contents from flooding, flood-related erosion, etc.). In all of these communities, you can purchase flood insurance from any licensed property or casualty insurance agent, broker or company. You must have flood insurance to get secured financing to buy, build or improve structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs, also known as flood plains). Lending institutions that are federally regulated and insured must determine if the building is in a SFHA and require flood insurance on conventional home mortgage loans, FHA loans, VA loans, second mortgages, home equity loans, home improvement loans, construction loans and commercial loans. Flood insurance coverage is an asset to you as a borrower. It reimburses you for financial losses from flood damage. The law protects you from being uninsured and having to rely on a costly federal disaster loan after a flood. This loan is the same as another mortgage that must be paid back with interest. Flood insurance protects your most important investment. It is considerably less expensive than federal disaster loans and is 100% backed by the federal government. Call the National Flood Insurance Program at 1-800-427-4661 for specific questions related to flood insurance. For More Information If you have question about the information in this article, please contact the Village’s CRS Coordinator at 630-368-5101. In addition, the Village maintains a selection of publications pertaining to the National Flood Insurance Program at the Oak Brook Library. Please take advantage of these resources by visiting the Oak Brook Library at 600 Oak Brook Road. Finally, you may also visit the Federal Emergency Management Agencies website at www.FEMA.gov for additional flood related information. 11 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Information Technology Services By Jim Fox Jim Fox Director of Information Technology Services 630.368.5174 jfox@oak-brook.org Next Generation 911 (NG911) Update The Next Generation 911 (NG911) project has been delayed for a variety of reasons including the COVID-19 Pandemic. Linda Zerwin, Executive Director 9-1-1 System Coordinator at Emer- gency Telephone System Board of DuPage County reports that the project “contract with the state is still being finalized.” The Illinois State Police estimates that contract will not be com- pleted for at least 60 days. At this time we do not have an estimated on date on when the Next Generation 911 (NG911) will be in-service in Illinois. For more than 40 years, 911 systems have served the needs of the public in emergencies. As communication technologies have evolved to include wireless phones, text and picture messag- ing, video chat, social media, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices, the public expects that 911 services will also be able to accept information from these communication methods. While efforts are underway across the nation to enable call centers to accept text messages, the future success of 911 in serving the public's needs will only be possible when Public Safety An- swering Points (PSAPs) have transitioned to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based 911 system, com- monly referred to as Next Generation 911 or NG911. Because most 911 systems were originally built using analog rather than digital technologies, public safety answering points (PSAPs) across the country need to be upgraded to a digital or In- ternet Protocol (IP)-based 911 system, commonly referred to as Next Generation 911 (NG911). The success and reliability of 911 will be greatly improved with the implementation of NG911, as it will enhance emergency number services to create a faster, more resilient system to flow seamlessly from the public to the 911 network. NG911 will also improve PSAP ability to help manage call overload, natural disasters, and trans- ferring of 911 calls and proper jurisdictional responses based on location tracking. While the technology to implement these new IP -based 911 systems is available now, the transi- tion to NG911 will involve much more than just new computer hardware and software. Imple- menting NG911 in states and counties nationwide will require the coordination of a variety of emergency communication, public safety, legislative and governing entities. NG911 will enhance emergency number services by creating a faster, more resilient system that allows digital information (e.g., voice, photos, videos, text messages) to flow seamlessly from the public, through the 911 network and eventually, directly to first responders. It will also enable 911 call centers to transfer 911 calls to other call centers, and help them deal with call overload, disasters, and day-to-day transfer of 911 calls to other ju- risdictions. 12 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Library Notes By Jacob Post Jacob Post Head Librarian 630.368.7706 jpost@oak-brook.org Each April, the Oak Brook Public Library is excited to join libraries all across the country in celebrating National Library Week. This year the national theme is “Welcome To Your Library” and takes place from April 4 to April 10. The event aims to highlight the many ways libraries transform their communities through the services and expertise they offer. So visit the Library’s website or stop on by to find out what we can do for you in these difficult times. As the pandemic continues on, know that the Oak Brook Public Library does too. We are committed to providing safe and effective services to the community. In doing so, the Library has adjusted many procedures. When creating these procedures the recom- mendations of various health, library, and municipal organizations have been taken in- to account. Remember to visit the Library’s website to find the latest information con- cerning computer lab use, available seating, virtual and in-person programing, and li- brary hours. April is also the month the Friends of the Oak Brook Public Library typically hold their annual Used Book Sale. This year though, the Friends are postponing their sale until further notice because of the ongoing pandemic. However, smaller “pop up” sales will occur throughout the spring and summer on select days. These sales will be one day only and have a limited number of items highlighting certain genres at a time. When dates are decided, the Friends of the Oak Brook Public Library will publicize the sales. As a reminder the Oak Brook Public Library has increased their electronic content. More titles are now available for download via the Libby and Axis 360 services. If ebooks are not your thing, how about taking advantage of the Library’s numerous da- tabases? A few highlights include ConsumerReports, Kanopy, Lynda, Morningstar and Mango Languages. All these services are available at the Library or can be viewed from home with an Oak Brook library card. Visit the Library’s website for a complete list of databases or reach out to one of the Library’s reference librarians for more in- formation. Staff will be happy to answer any questions or provide a demostration. And last but not least, remember that the Library has close to 100,000 informative and entertaining items awaiting your perusal and checkout. We hope to see you soon this spring. 13 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Village Clerk By Charlotte Pruss VILLAGE OF OAK BROOK UNOFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE CONSOLIDATED ELECTION OF April 6, 2021 Votes Cast Village Trustee: Phil Cuevas 516 John Baar 720 Charlotte K. Pruss 537 Suresh Reddy 925 James P. Nagle 1016 Laurence Herman 1023 Charlotte Pruss Village Clerk 630.368.5052 cpurss@oak-brook.org Warm Weather Encourages Door-to-door Solicitors The season of door-to-door sales people is upon us. The Village of Oak Brook requires that all Commercial Solici- tors must apply for a permit from the Village. A background check for local violations is completed for each indi- vidual that has requested permission to solicit door-to-door in the Village of Oak Brook with the intent to protect the residents of the Village. Non-Commercial Solicitors must register with the Village for the purpose of identification. Federal litigation has specified that religious organizations and political parties are exempt from any Village re- quirements of licensing or registration. Many religious organizations do cooperate and at least provide us with information and are willing to wear our badges. The Village does not regulate solicitors distributing handbills as long as they do not participate in personal contact with residents unless the resident pursues contact. Further information can be found at our Village of Oak Brook website at www.oak-brook.org or you can contact the Village Clerk’s office at 630-368-5052. Free “No Solicitors” signs are available at the Village Hall and solic- itors must honor those signs and not attempt to contact you. 14 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Golf Season Opener By Sean Creed The 2021 Golf season is underway. After a long winter, the early spring weather has us all wanting to be outdoors and spend time with family and friends. Golf and other outdoor recrea- tion remain in high demand and our team is looking forward to providing a great experience both on and off the course. After the disappointment of not being able to utilize our newly updated indoor bar and lounge last season, we are excited to have it open and ready for patrons. Whether relaxing after a round of golf or just looking for a place to watch the game or PGA Tour golf tournament, I invite you to experience the Oak Brook Bar and Grill. Break- fast, lunch, dinner and drinks are served daily inside and on our outdoor patio. We also look forward to bringing back our patio parties with live entertainment and food and drink specials. For golfers in need of new equipment or apparel our pro shop is fully stocked and team members are available to assist with special orders and questions. For tee time reservations or general inquiries contact our very capable crew at 630.368.6400. Thank you for your past and continued support. Sean Creed Golf Club Manager 630.368.6460 screed@oak-brook.org 15 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Finance 2021 Budget Approved By Jason Paprocki Jason Paprocki Finance Director 630.368.5070 jpaprocki@oak-brook.org The Village Board approved the 2021 Municipal Budget on December 8, 2020. The 2021 Budget continues to be a fiscally responsible financial plan that allows the Village to continue to provide the community with high quality municipal services. There are a number of short -term and long-term factors taken into account when compiling the annual budget. Some of the issues the Village faces include the effects of COVID-19 on the revenue base, long-term stability of the sales tax base, increasing pension obligation costs, rising health care costs, and the funding for equipment, infrastructure, and building capital improvements. The 2021 annual budget was developed in a way to balance and address these factors. The Village’s General Fund cash reserve balance continues to be an important aspect in the Village ’s position of fiscal strength. One of the Village ’s financial policies is to maintain a cash balance reserve of at least six months of operating expenditures in the General Fund. The projected ending cash balance for 2021 in the General Fund is $24.0 million, which is equal to 13.0 months of operating expenses. This is $12.9 million above the Village’s six-month operating reserve requirement. In total, the Village projects to end 2021 with a healthy cash balance of $32.7 million across all funds. It ’s common practice for certain funds to accumulate and reserve money over a period of time before expending it on major capital projects. In most cases, this accounts for any budgeted losses you may see in individual funds from year to year. The total Village-wide 2021 budgeted revenues are $52.4 million, which is down $4.0 million, or 7.1%, compared to the 2020 Budget. This is mainly due to decreases in projected sales and non-home rule sales tax, utility/telecommunications tax, hotel tax, interest income, and interfund transfers. The General Fund, which is the Village’s main operating fund, includes total 2021 budgeted revenues of $24.4 million. The General Fund houses many key functions of the Village, including police, fire, public works, library, and general administration. Sales tax revenue accounts for nearly half of the budgeted General Fund revenues. General Fund sales tax revenue is projected to be $11.9 million in 2021, or 5.1% lower than last year’s budget. The Village collected nearly $11.7 million in general sales tax for 2020, which was down 6.7% from 2019. The total Village-wide 2021 budgeted expenditures are $62.9 million, which is a decrease of $3.7 million, or 5.7%, compared to the 2020 budget. This is primarily due to the elimination of contracted paramedic services, a decrease in Interfund transfers, and a delay in budgeted capital projects. Some of the major capital projects scheduled for 2021 are: Windsor Street/Bridge Widening, $3.6 million York Road/Harger Road Intersection Reconstruction, $2.9 million Brook Forest Water Main Replacement Phase 3, $2.8 million Contributions to the Village’s public safety pension plans are budgeted at $4.4 million in 2021, which is even with budgeted 2020 contributions. Due to revenue concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village contributed at an amount to be funded 90% by 2040 in 2020, which was approximately $0.9 million under the budgeted amount. Long-term, however, Village has been committed to paying 100% of the recommended actuarial contribution in order to have the pension funds completely funded by 2040. As always, we continue to evaluate our operations to make certain we are providing services to our citizens and corporate business partners as efficiently and economically as possible. Thank you to everyone for their continued commitment in making Oak Brook a great community to live and work. Budget In Brief Document The Village is excited to release its third Budget in Brief document for fiscal year 2021. This document presents a high-level summary of the Village’s 2021 annual budget that some users may find easier to read and understand. The full 2021 budget document spans over 300 pages in length and details over $62 million in spending. We hope you find this document both informative and useful and encourage those who want to learn more about the Village’s finances to review the full 2021 budget document. These reports, along with other financial documents, are available on the Village’s website at http://www.oak- brook.org/180/Finance. Water Rate Increase Water rates increased 4.0% effective January 1, 2021. The residential rate increased from $11.24 to $11.69 per 1,000 gallons and the non-resident rate increased from $13.27 to $13.80 per 1,000 gallons. The monthly fixed charge of $10 per account remains unchanged. The rate increases were recommended as part of a water rate study that was performed in 2018. Water rates are determined at an amount to pay for current operations and fund future capital projects. A copy of the full study can be found on the Village website at: http://www.oak-brook.org/186/Water-Rates. 16 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Bath & Tennis Club By Marianne Long Celebrate Life with Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Losing someone near and dear to you is one of life ’s most difficult moments. But experiencing that loss means that you’ve also experienced love and have so many cherished memories that deserve to be celebrated. That ’s why at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis, we take care of all the logistics and catering, so you can focus on celebrating love, life and memories with those who you hold near and dear. STEP 1 : FIGURING OUT THE DETAILS FOR YOUR CELEBRATION OF LIFE When planning a celebration of life, funeral or memorial service, there are a few things you should consider. To make it easy for you, we’re going to share our tips after helping other clients in your situation. These are the details you will want to start with: Guest Count: Who will you invite, and who do you think will attend? Date & Time: Will it be a brunch celebration? Perhaps an evening gathering? Venue: Where do you want to host the celebration of life? Can the venues you’re considering accommodate your guest count? Catering: What was your loved one’s favorite food? What type of food will be fitting for the time and date? Theme: Do you want to create a theme to help celebrate your memories? Perhaps they were a fisherman—do an ocean- themed send-off. Maybe you want them to don all white since your loved one was the biggest angel in your life, and you know they’d want their celebration to be white. There are many options to honor those you cherish and all their contributions to the world! Floral: Did your loved one have a favorite flower? Adorn your tables with their favorite and invite guests to take the centerpieces home. Sharing Memories: Invite family, friends, former co-workers or neighbors to share stories about your loved one and the impact they had on their lives. STEP 2 - BOOKING THE IDEAL VENUE TO COMMEMORATE YOUR LOVED ONE Finding a venue to celebrate the life of your loved one can seem overwhelming. That ’s why at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis, we try to make it easy. We can accommodate last-minute requests, weekdays or weekends, day or night—we will be here to help you plan. Our location is uniquely situated close to all the major Chicagoland highways. However, we sit on 20 serene acres of lush green space for a truly peaceful celebration of life. The ease of access yet pristine seclusion so you can celebrate privately is why many choose our venue for celebration of life memorials. Our space is designed to host events, so you won’t have to worry about bringing in anything— we will take care of it for you. Our space features gorgeous natural wood features with floor-to-ceiling windows to let the light shine in, a covered veranda and outdoor spaces if you’d prefer to celebrate life among nature, all the necessary facilities for guests and catering, as well as climate controlled indoor space for chilly days to celebrate in warmth together. Additionally, we have a podium with a microphone for speeches and screen available for tribute slide shows. We also understand that funerals can be financially burdensome for some families; however, our pricing is all modeled to be affordable so families can fit the cost of rental into their budget to properly celebrate and commemorate . 17 WWW.OAK-BROOK.ORG | Spring 2021 Bath & Tennis Club By Marianne Long STEP 3 : DESIGNING A MENU THAT SPARKS NOSTALGIA When it comes to designing a memorial menu to offer guests at the celebration of life, your options are endless. Our tips are to consider what the individual you’re celebrating loved to enjoy, as well as the time of day you will be honoring them. No matter what, our partners at Tasty Catering will help customize the catering menu to the vision for your celebration. B RE A KFA ST & BR U N CH C ELEB RA TI ON OF L I FE C A TE RI N G O PT IO NS If the funeral is in the morning, there’s no better way to enjoy the company of your family and friends to celebrate than a breakfast or brunch buffet. Maybe a mimosa or bloody Mary bar, too? LUNCH CEL EBRA TION OF LIFE CATERING OPTIO NS Many celebrations of life happen around lunch or midday. We’ve had some families provide boxed lunches so guests can grab and go, or enjoy lunch on the patio overlooking the water and fountain as they share memories. EVENING CELEBR ATIO N OF LIFE CATE RING OPTIONS Sometimes, especially when the deceased loved a good party, we’ll do evening events. Whether you’d like a plated meal, passed hors d’oeuvres, stations with chefs or something a little simpler, we can do it all. Add a signature cocktail as an ode to their loved one and their favorite drink of choice! LET OAK BROOK BATH & TENNIS HELP YOU CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF YOUR LOVED ONE We understand this is a stressful and difficult time. Get in touch with our Oak Brook Bath & Tennis team today at 630-368-6440. We can discuss immediate availability and help you start planning the most beautiful celebration of life for your loved one. We are here for you and will ensure you can plan stress -free during this tough time. Oak Brook Sports Core -- Bath & Tennis Club 2021 Season Aquatics, Tennis, and Soccer Programs The Park District plans to open all amenities at the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club under the guidance and guidelines as provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The 2021 Online Registration is here. (Website Link) The 2021 Sports Core Information Guide is available here. (Website Link) The Oak Brook Bath and Tennis Swim Team link is available here. (Website link) For information about Bath & Tennis Club memberships, programming in aquatics or tennis and field rentals, please visit https://www.obparks.org/programs/oak-brook-sports-core or contact Dave Thommes, Deputy Director of Oak Brook Park District at 630-645-9534. Field reservations for the Sports Core fields may be made now by contacting Brian DeWolf at bdewolf@obparks.org or by calling 630-645-9527. Membership forms may be submitted via email to dthommes@obparks.org or mailed to: Oak Brook Park District 1450 Forest Gate Rd. Oak Brook, IL 60523