Village of Westchester October 2021 Newsletter by Village of Westchester, IL

Village of

Westchester OCTOBER, 2021

From the Desk of President Frank Perry I’d like to start my monthly article off with some spectacular news!

pOLICE DEpaRTmENT

pUBLIC WORKS

fIRE DEpaRTmENT

LIBRaRY

SCHOOL DISTRICT

SENIORS

SCOUTS

Fiscal Year 2020 was the first year since Fiscal Year 2014 that we had an increase in the General Fund balance. For five years in a row, from Fiscal Year 2015 through Fiscal Year 2019, we had expenditures totaling more than revenues. Fiscal Year 2020 was a slight surplus, $134,000, and then this year, Fiscal Year 2021 had a large increase, $1Million. Fiscal Year in Review: Here’s a briefing on our FY 2021 yearend with the caveat that about 85% of the accrual entries have been recorded. Thus, final fund balances will change, but they should not be significant. • The Village’s General Fund should end the year with a fund balance INCREASE of between $1.1M and $1.320M after the statements are finalized. In February 2021 during our preparation for the FY2022 Budget, we projected an almost $1M surplus. The main drivers of this surplus are: 1.) Strong sales and State-shared revenues over the original budget of almost $765K; 2). Ambulance and photo enforcement fees $400K more than budgeted, although police fines were $110 under budget. The Village prepared its FY2021 Budget on a conservative basis for the last two years, and especially during the uncertainty of the economy during the pandemic. CARES ACT federal grant money of $285,000 has been received during the year through Cook County and was used for reimbursement of firstresponder and public safety personnel expenditures. The Village is expecting another $45K from a FEMA/IEMA grant for other COVID-19 related costs to be reimbursed.

• For expenditures, personnel costs such as salaries and employer-paid insurance came in under budget in all departments. Overall expenditures were monitored closely and capital items were held to necessary purchases. In summary, the IML (Illinois Municipal League) is projecting that the economy returns to pre-pandemic levels during FY 2022, but with a levelingoff or slowdown during the latter portion of calendar 2022. Although the increase in the General Fund’s balance is encouraging for FY2021, we must continue to be diligent to increase our reserves to comply with the Village’s Fund Balance policy and guard against another economic slowdown in these tenuous times. • The Utility Fund looks to experience an increase in fund balance of over $100K after depreciation expense of $500K is recorded. • The Motor Fuel Tax Fund recorded an increase in fund balance of over $600K. This is mostly due to Build Illinois grant money of $551K received during the year for to be used for streets and transportation-related purposes. • Property acquisition by the Village on Mannheim Rd. is the primary purchase activity in the Roosevelt Rd. TIF fund in FY2021. Although not drawn down yet, the Village has a loan secured with Republic Bank to cover the cost. Payback of the loan will be funded by sales of the Mannheim property for development. • Debt service on the Village’s 2013 and 2015 bond issues was almost $558K for the year and is funded by the NonHome Rule 1% sales taxes collected in the Capital Projects Fund. In FY 2022, the Village has a bond refunding opportunity due to a favorable interest rate environment, and is in the process of refunding its 2013 GO Bonds for a

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OCTOBER 2021

P olice D e partment

Summer is coming to an end

OCTOBER, 2021

Every week as the Chief of Police for the Westchester Police Department I am contacted by concerned residents to field questions regarding the uptrend’s of certain calls for service like gang homicides, carjackings, shots fired, that have hit parked cars and residential buildings. I must say that police officers and including myself have not lost their will to put it all on the line including our lives to protect lives and our community. However, what have changed over the years are societies and how the legal system decides to process these crimes against criminals. The police department has been very proactive trying to reduce these types of crimes, especially in our North end. We are stationing a police officer fulltime at that location from dusk until dawn to maintain a strong police presence. It will also give us a better chance to listen for shots fired, or address any other crimes like loud music, that may unfold before a 911 call is ever requested. We have been working on installing cameras with plate readers and increasing bike patrols and ATV patrols throughout the community and any hot spots. The department is working with a major task force trying to stop the flow of carjackings through a specialized computerized intelligence networking system, which is state of the art. Nevertheless, the truth is it will take old fashion boots on the ground policing, through hands on patrolling to catch these random carjackings taking place throughout the entire Cook County area. Sincerely, Chief Daniel Babich

POLICE BLOTTER 1) At 11:20am on August 15, 2021 a Criminal Damage to Property was reported on the 1800 block of Boeger Ave. The resident reported that unknown person(s) threw a rock at a window of the house causing damage. 2) At 5:20pm on August 17, 2021 a Retail Theft was reported at Walgreens located at 10345 Roosevelt. The on-duty manager reported that a subject left the store without paying for a cart full of items. 3) At 8:41am on August 18, 2021 a Theft from Motor Vehicle was reported on the 1000 block of Suffolk Ave. Various items and money was taken from within the vehicle. 4) At 8:58am on August 18, 2021 a Theft was reported on the 10600 block of Cermak. A vehicle owner reported that their catalytic converter was stolen

from the vehicle while parked in the lot overnight. 5) At 11:23am on August 28, 2021 a Criminal Damage to Property was reported on the 1300 block of Hull. The resident reported that their vehicle was damaged on the driver’s side. 6) At 4:36pm on September 3, 2021 a Theft was reported on the 10600 block of Fleet. The resident reported that sometime during the previous evening, their catalytic converter was taken from their vehicle while parked on the street. 7) At 8:35am on September 7, 2021 a Theft was reported on the 10300 block of Wight Street. The resident reported that sometime during the previous evening their catalytic converter was taken from the vehicle while parked on the street.

OCTOBER 2021

PUBLIC WORKS Branch Pickup Branch pickup for October will be October 4-8, 2021 Branch pickup for November will be November 1-5, 2021 Please note that this will be the final branch pickup for the year. Branch pickup will resume in April 2022. The Public Works Department will pick up branches the first full week of every month. (April-November) All brush must be put out on the front parkway by 7:00 a.m. on the designated pickup day. Branches can be up to 7’ in length and stacked with the butt ends facing the street in the same direction. If not stacked properly, a “restack” notice will be left. Again, please put ALL brush out on your designated pickup day and Public Works crews will determine what constitutes an open load, which will be picked up later in the week. An open load could include any brush that will not fit through the chipper such as logs, stumps, and large limbs. These must be cut for one man to lift. Dirt must be removed from any root balls for pickup.

Public Works Crews will only pass through a designated pickup area once due to time schedule and other workload responsibilities. Landscaping contractors are responsible for their own brush pickup and disposal. Please note the following schedule for branch pickup: MONDAY: From Mannheim Road West to Wolf Road and from Canterbury South to Windsor-including both sides of Windsor Drive. Also, Waterford, Waverly, Camelot and Concord. TUESDAY: Roosevelt Road South to Cermak Road-from Gardner Road West to Mannheim Road. WEDNESDAY: From Roosevelt Road north to the expressway and from Gardner Road west to Mannheim Road. Also, Roosevelt Road south to Canterbury from Haase west to Heidorn. THURSDAY: From Belleview west to Wolf Road, Martindale Drive to 31st Street Remember….. Waste Management will also pick up your branches if they are bundled no more than 4’ in length. These will be picked up on your regular garbage

day every week. Free yard waste stickers for reusable yard waste containers are available at the Village Hall office. Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day-Holiday Garbage Schedule There is no change to the garbage collection schedule the week of October 11th. Waste Management – 1-800-796-9696 • If your garbage, recycling, or yard waste was not picked up on your regular day, please call Waste Management directly. • If you would like to request a new garbage or recycling receptacle, please call Waste Management directly. • If you have large items that will not fit in you receptacle (i.e. couch, chairs, tables, etc.,) please call Waste Management directly and request a special pickup. The Waste Management’s “At Your Door Special Collection” service will pick up unwanted-potentially hazardous and hard-to-recycle items from your home. That number is 1-800-449-7587. The full list of items may be found at www.wmatyourdoor.com/residential.

Pothole Repair The Public Works Department repairs potholes throughout the Village, weather permitting. Please call Public Works at 708345-0041 to report potholes. The vac and jet machine will continue to clean out storm sewer inlets, as weather permits. As Always….. Village residents are asked to call Public Works at 708-345-0041 or the Police Non Emergency number after hours at 708345-0060 if an unusual amount of water is visible in the street or parkway. This could be a main break or water leak that requires our immediate attention. 50/50 Shared Cost Parkway Tree Program Beautify your yard and add to the curb appeal of your home…. The Village offers a 50/50 shared cost program that includes the purchase and planting of a new parkway tree. Residents have a choice of trees indigenous to the area. The trees will be planted in November 2021. Please call Public Works at 708-345-0041 to register or for more information.

New parkway trees coming to your block! At the last Village Board Meeting, our head of Public Works, Scott Russell, spoke to the huge loss of trees in Westchester. Since 2019, the Village removed 493 trees that were dead or hazardous, and only replaced 128. Beginning in November, Public Works will begin a major replanting effort to restore the green canopy that once graced the streets of Westchester. Maybe you don’t want a tree -- you think they are too much work, too messy, grow too slowly, or will harm underground water pipes. We offer ideas here to counter those objections, because a tree’s benefits far outweigh any perceived negatives. In fact, if you sign up for the Village’s 50/50 program (where you pay for half the cost of the tree, usually about $150 cost to the homeowner), you can choose the tree you want from a select list and get it planted this year (find more info at Public Works). Leaves can be left and used as compost around the base of the tree, or to cover flower beds in your garden. Slow-growing trees are often stronger and less prone to breaking during storms and high winds. And if water pipes are rodded every year or two (yearly if you have the Service Line Warranty insurance), tree damage to pipes

should be alleviated. We’ve smothered our Earth with concrete and grass forgetting the intricate balance of relationships between organisms (Biotic Factors: mammals, plants, microorganisms, birds, insects, and reptiles) and their environment (Abiotic Factors: air, sunlight, and water). “Trees play a critical role for people and the planet. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the presence of trees and urban nature can improve people’s mental and physical health, children’s attention and test scores, the property values in a neighborhood, and beyond. Trees cool our urban centers. Trees are essential for healthy communities and people.” - NPH (https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ full/10.1002/ppp3.39) If flooding, air quality and extreme weather events cause anxiety with frequency and severity of storms, plant a tree. - Flood Factor (https://floodfactor.com/city/ westchester-illinois/1780047_fsid) If heat islands are negatively impacting your daily quality of life, plant a tree. - EPA (https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/whatyou-can-do-reduce-heat-islands) If the financial impacts of extreme climate and weather events that increase insurance

rates are a concern, plant a tree. - NCDC NOAA (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ billions/) Benefits of Trees, for more details see (https://mor tonarb.org/plant-andprotect/benefits-of-trees/): • DOLLARS: Trees reduce heating and cooling bills by saving energy, increase home values, are good for business and pay dividends. • ENVIRONMENT: Trees clean the air people breathe, treat water pollution, help handle storm runoff and reduce flooding and can mitigate the effects of a changing climate. • HEALTH: Trees give oxygen, save lives and make people healthier. • WELL-BEING: Trees help people relax, keep people cooler, make streets quieter, make cities safer and surround people in beauty. Our greatest power as a collective community is strengthened when we plant trees. By planting trees (and native plants), not just on parkways, we hold space to honor our original land ethic. Planting trees along with proper mulch practices will bring in the microbial community that regenerates our soil as well as aid

in infiltration strengthens our aquifers. Healthy soil, Healthy life. Maintenance and upkeep of a healthy tree can seem overwhelming, nature’s cycles simplify the process if we view organic waste and rubbish as environmental gold. Take advantage of free resources like compost, leaves and other organic clippings as mulch around not only trees, garden beds and pollinator pads. - Xerces (https://www. xerces.org/blog/leave-the-leaves) Westchester is an active member of Tree City USA and in continuing to be a qualifying community we must meet the following standards; 1) have a tree board or department, 2) a tree care ordinance, 3) a community forestry program with annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and 4) an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. - Arbor Day (https://www.arborday.org/ trees/tips/ / https://www.arborday.org/ trees/benefits.cfm) We are actively forming GROW, Green Residents Of Westchester - Ecological Commission and are seeking Eco Allies to help share vital ecological information that impacts all of our lives. Let’s go greener Westchester and be the change.

F ire D e partment OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2021

L ibrary OCTOBER 2021

OCTOBER 2021

Happy Fall from the WPTC!! We hope the beginning of the 20212022 school year has been exciting for all Westchester Public School students so far! The months of August and September have been busy! Hopefully, you were able to visit our table at the Meet and Greet with a Treat at your child’s school or the Back to School Picnic at Mayfair Park! There was also a book fair we sponsored at WPS which included so many great reading options for the students. We opened up the Spirit Wear Store in September and hope you were able to order some fun stuff for your Dolphin, Husky, or Warrior! We also had our first restaurant fundraiser at Buona Beef which was a huge success. WIS students will soon have their very own Little Free Library in front of the school (similar to the one at WPS and at the park district buildings). Be sure to check it out! We have some fun events coming up! Be on the lookout for: *October 6th at 6pm- Our first WPTC meeting which will be held at WIS All WPTC members are welcome to attend! *October 13th-15th- WIS Fall Book Fair Volunteer opportunities available! *October 14th- Family Reading Night at WIS More info to come! *October 18th- Restaurant Fundraiser at Chickies Beef *November 10thRestaurant Fundraiser at Portillos Please continue to check our Facebook page and website for any updates! www.wptc.membershiptoolkit.com h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / WPTC92.5 You can also reach the WPTC via email at wptc925@gmail.com. We are happy to be serving as your WPTC Board and encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns! Thank you for your support thus far! Tammy Flynn- President Crystal Bozzelli- VP of WPS Karen Spiropoulos- VP of WIS Mary Ellen Newhouse- VP of WMS Elis Guidice- Treasurer Sarah Faitz- Secretary

OCTOBER 2021

CONTINUED fro m page 1 potential savings over the next 10 years of almost $290K - or a net present value savings of roughly $270K. This is akin to refinancing a home mortgage, although the Village is not pushing out the remaining years of its payments and is gaining this savings over the original amortization period. • Roughly $16.5 million of the 2021 GO (referendum) bonds for streets and watersewer infrastructure has been received in FY 2021 and project activity has commenced during the summer. The remaining amount of the bond issuance – roughly $25.5 million, could be issued in 2023 based on the status of the current projects and scheduling. Looking ahead at preliminary FY2022 activities, the Village has recently been awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds in the amount of almost $2.2M to be received in two installments over the next two years. The first half of $1.1M was recently received. The Village plans on using these funds to replace its aging water meters, which are allowable water-sewer infrastructure purchases under the federal guidelines. Environmental News: Environmental issues affect our quality of life in so many ways. The financial impact of floods and storms, the cost of heating and cooling our homes, and the beauty and comfort of our green spaces are all major players. In response, we are in the process of creating a new commission that will advise the Village and help educate

residents in environmental programs and practices. GROW (Green Residents Of Westchester) Ecological Commission will play an advisory role in beautification and ecological decisions. Their focus will include improving the quality of our air, water, and land, reducing greenhouse gases, minimizing waste, reducing energy consumption, and any other issues impacting environmental quality. We are looking for more residents to join the Commission and move Westchester toward its green future. If you find interest, please contact me at fperry@ westchester-il.org or Nicole Molinaro at grownmmolinaro@gmail.com Fire Department Update: • During August and September Westchester Fire Department bike medics supported Westchester Fest and the Park District’s Concert in the Park series. • This past Sunday, they participated in the Westchester Back to School Bash in Mayfair Park. • On October 5th, the Westchester Fire Department will be having a Fire Prevention Week Open House at Station 25, located at 10240 Roosevelt Road. • October 3rd through the 9th is Fire Prevention Week. This year’s FPW campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action

Police Department Update: This has been a busy August for the Police Department. As many residents have seen, both the bicycle patrol and the ATV patrol are in action. The bicycle and ATV unit not only patrol the streets, they travel throughout the alleys as well as the parks throughout the Village. Both the bicycle unit and the ATV unit have stopped to talk to residents on numerous occasions. Many of the residents took time to pose for pictures with the officers. The residents were also able to have a wonderful conversation and voice any concerns. We anticipate both the bicycle patrol and the ATV patrol to be active well into the fall, weather permitting. If you see one of these units out in the neighborhood feel free to stop them and say hello. The PD is constantly working at being more accessible. In regards to the carjackings in our town and surrounding towns, we have hired 2 more officers with another two currently being hired. We will increase the man power on the north side of town, giving one dedicated officer minimally to increase presence. Investigators are meeting regularly with Chicago’s Carjacking Task Force. They have an ongoing joint effort in intelligence, information and manpower sharing. Please report anything suspicious. If you think something is odd, don’t hesitate to call 911. Emergence or non-emergency, call 911. Please stay alert of your surroundings. Public Works Update: At the last Village Board Meeting, our Director of Public Works, Scott Russell, spoke to the huge loss of trees in Westchester. Since 2019 the Village removed 493 trees that were dead or hazardous and only replaced 128. Beginning in November, Public Works will begin a major replanting effort to restore the green canopy that once graced the streets of Westchester. Maybe you don’t want a tree -- you think they are too much work, too messy, grow too slowly, or will harm underground water pipes. We offer ideas here to counter those objections, because a tree’s benefits far outweigh any perceived negatives. In fact, if you sign up for the Village’s 50/50 program (where you pay for half the cost of the tree,

usually about $150 cost to the homeowner), you can choose the tree you want from a select list and get it planted this year. Please call Village Hall for more information! As usual, our Public Works Department was relentlessly busy on multiple fronts. The 2021 Street Program which included Raliegh St, Lancaster St, Kingston St, Nelson St, Plymouth Ave Mayfair Ave (CermakCanterbury), Downing Ave (CanterburyOxford), Essex St, Westchester Blvd (Cermak-Canterbury) and Westchester Blvd (Roosevelt Rd-Expressway) have all been completed. With the 2021 street program coming in under the contract price it was decided that Kensington Ave (Canterbury-Dorchester) and Buckingham Ave (Canterbury-Dorchester) would be added in this year’s program. The 2021 Sewer Lining Program is still under way with over 65% of the work being complete. All work will be completed by November 15th 2021 which will include over 50,000 feet of storm and sanitary mains being lined along with 150 manholes being rebuilt and lined. Additional streets having work done and maintained include Westminster Dr, WakefieldSt(Boeger-Wellington),NelsonSq, Windsor Dr (Belleview-Mayfair), Somerset Sq, Heidorn Ave (Dickens-Charles), Charles St, High Ridge Ave (Boeger-Canterbury), Evers Ave (Canterbury-Roosevelt), Camelot St, Waverly Ave and Concord Ave. Lastly, the 2021 Green Alley Reconstruction is currently under way which will include alleys between Hull Ave/Westchester Blvd from Kitchener St to Expressway, Hull Ave/Westchester Blvd from Gladstone St to Devonshire St, Portsmouth Ave/Suffolk Ave from Kitchener St to Wedgwood Dr and Gardner Rd/Bristol Ave from Kitchener Ave to Wedgwood Dr. The green alleys consist of storm mains being installed along with permeable pavers that will allow for 250,000 gallons of water to be stored. We are actively staying on top of all flooding issues in town. We’re constantly working on infrastructure and exploring ways to protect our residents from Mother Nature. She’s a tough one! Hope everybody enjoys what’s left of summer!

S chool D i strict OCTOBER 2021

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An incredible man Karl Ethan Akley October 24@1 pm The Prairie House, 11225 Constitution Drive The Mind of a Genius Inventor, nature photographer, explorer, adventurer, biologist and conservationist. Akley’s bold ideas helped shape our world. The Prairie House, 11225 Constitution Ave,. Westchester

dedicated

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OCTOBER 2021

Boy Scout Troop #73 News

In June, Boy Scout Troop #73 spent the week at Rainbow Scout Reservation for a fun filled week of camping. Boys worked on scout skills, merit badges and enjoyed meeting scouts from around the area. While at camp, 34 merit badges were earned including swimming, cooking, woodcarving, fingerprinting, geology and canoeing. • Last month, the Troop held a Court of Honor recognizing the boys that had achieved rank and earned merit badges. Matt Henning, a senior at Timothy Christian High School became the Troop’s 57th Eagle Scout. He was presented with his Eagle neckerchief and Eagle Scout badge and award. • Our annual Scouting Food Drive will take place Saturday, October 23rd. Scouts will be collecting nonperishable food, used eyeglasses and old US Flags. Anyone that would like to donate to the food drive should put their filled bags on their front porch by 9:00am. and a Scout will be by to pick up the donations. If your bag has not been picked up by 1:00p.m., please email us at: cspack73@gmail. com. Food contributions will be distributed to Westchester area food pantries, including the Westchester Food Pantry and St. Vincent De Paul. Used eyeglasses will be distributed by Lions Club International to people in developing countries. Old US flags will be respectfully retired by the Boy Scouts of Troop #73. The Troop currently has two fall fundraisers underway. They are selling Vermont Center fresh cut wreaths and swags for the upcoming holiday season. Deadline for ordering is October 20th. The Troop will also be holding their annual Rake-a-Thon on the weekend of November 6th and 7th. For a $25 donation, Westchester residents can have up to 6 bags or containers raked. Each additional bag or container is $5. Residents need to provide Scouts with containers or leaf bags. For more information regarding wreaths or to make a reservation for raking leaves please call 708-5627807.

Boy Scout Troop 73 Rake-a-Thon Westchester Boy Scout Troop #73, sponsored by the Westchester Community Church, will be having their 8th annual Rake-a-Thon on the weekend of November 6th and 7th starting at 9:00a.m. For a $25 donation, Westchester residents can have up to 6 bags or containers raked. Each additional bag or container is $5. Residents need to provide Scouts with containers or leaf bags. For more information and to make a reservation, please call 708-562-7807. Call early to reserve a spot.

OCTOBER 2021