The Illinois House of Representatives passed landmark legislation today 108-6, initiated by Chairman Dan Cronin, granting DuPage County the authority to reduce the size, scope and cost of local government.

“For the first time, county leaders will have the ability to redesign how public services are delivered to our citizens and to eliminate the red tape that prevents consolidation and shared services among government entities,” said Cronin. “It will allow DuPage County to act as a laboratory to thoughtfully evaluate opportunities for consolidation of specific county-appointed agencies when it has been determined cost savings can be achieved.”

Sponsored by Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) and Representative Deb Conroy (D-Elmhurst), Senate Bill 494 provides DuPage County with the authority to dissolve, by ordinance, outdated or defunct County appointed agencies. The unprecedented legislation would potentially impact County appointed (non-elected) governmental agencies that provide public services such as sanitary, mosquito abatement, fire protection (without full-time employees) and street lighting.

Cronin thanked the General Assembly members for their leadership to eliminate barriers that prohibit consolidation and shared services.

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the bill’s sponsors, Senator Tom Cullerton and Representative Deb Conroy, who worked diligently to shepherd this bill through the legislative process which at times, was not an easy task,” said Cronin. “A number of special interest groups emerged early on to attempt to defeat the legislation in order to preserve the status quo. Similar consolidation measures have failed in the past. This is clearly precedent setting legislation that will lead to further consolidation efforts statewide.”

SB 494 also provides safeguards for residents. Before a government entity can be dissolved, the issue will be properly vetted through an audit, a six-month public review process in addition to the option of a backdoor referendum.

The legislation will further assist in the County’s mission to streamline local government. The board recently assessed the finances and operations of the County’s appointed agencies that account for nearly $300 million in taxpayer money and employ approximately 900 people. Following the assessment, Cronin launched the DuPage ACT Initiative (Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency) in May of 2012 that serves as a roadmap for agencies to follow in an effort to comply with DuPage County policies. To date, the County has achieved more than $5 million in taxpayer savings and enhanced the accountability and transparency of these non-elected government entities.

SB 494 now advances to Governor Pat Quinn’s office to be signed into law.

An updated version of an open space vision for DuPage County was just released by The Conservation Foundation showing many new areas of potential land conservation connections along rivers and streams, according to the Foundation’s President and CEO Brook McDonald.

“After driving around DuPage County a couple of weeks ago after the big flood, it was amazing how well our parks, forest preserves and other open spaces along our flooded rivers were storing billions of gallons of rainwater,” said McDonald. “These open spaces were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing– storing massive amounts of floodwater. Imagine how much worse it would have been if these floodplains and open areas were developed.”

Natural Treasures of DuPage County: Open Space and Natural Areas Plan was a collaborative effort between The Conservation Foundation, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, several park districts and local municipalities, and open space and trail advocates in DuPage County. The plan identifies approximately 40,000 acres of existing protected or partially protected open space in DuPage County and an additional 6,000 acres of potential new open space land that, if protected, would complete the original vision of protecting 20 percent of the county. Many of the new acres are critical missing links in various greenways and trail corridors.

“One thing we know for sure in DuPage County and is that people love the trail systems,” McDonald said. “This plan identifies those missing pieces of the open space puzzle and creates a shared vision for our future. All of the agencies that participated in the development of this plan are in the forever business, so this is a long term plan,” he said.

The open space plan is conceptual and is not a zoning map, land use plan or any legally enforceable document. It is simply a shared vision of various open space agencies and is strictly voluntary for any landowners to participate. The year-long planning project was funded primarily with private funds from The DuPage Community Foundation and Grand Victoria Foundation.

Purpose of the Plan
The purpose of the open space plan was:

To help coordinate the efforts of all local and regional open space organizations in the acquisition or protection of property that will benefit and improve the quality of life for the residents of DuPage County.
To identify and prioritize open land in DuPage County that will provide trail and greenway linkages, expand existing open space properties, buffer existing open space and protect forests, woodlands, prairies, wetlands, watersheds, streams and river corridors.
To identify natural areas that will promote protection and preservation of endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species.
To create a plan that various agencies in DuPage County can use to protect the identified remaining open space, and foster cooperation and partnerships in implementing the plan over time.

Why Now?
In the late 1970s, DuPage County was a national leader in land use planning. Our leaders realized suburbanization was quickly growing west into the county. They wanted to be prepared and make sure DuPage County remained a great place to live, conduct business and raise a family. To that end, vast amounts of interconnected open spaces were a key piece of that future land use vision. Many of these open spaces were to be greenways along our rivers and streams, creating linear parks and forest preserves for trails and outdoor recreation, and flood control.

Over the past several decades, as DuPage County grew and more people moved here, decision-makers did a good job of ensuring open space remained part of the county’s landscape. But, it was not easy. The pressure to develop as much land as possible was strong. Thankfully, forest preserves, parks and other types of open space were set aside in accordance with this early vision.

“Today, many pieces of this original vision or “puzzle” remain missing,” said McDonald. “Key linkages for trails, open space greenways and river corridors have not been connected or protected. This open space master plan gets us to that original vision of an interconnected system of parks, forest preserves and trails to enhance the quality of life in DuPage County. This plan completes the vision.”

Benefits of Open Space
The largest open space landholder in the county is the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County at approximately 26,000 acres or 12 percent of the land in DuPage County. “We are also privileged to have extensive public parks and private acres, such as the Morton Arboretum, Cantigny, and numerous golf courses that provide open space,” said McDonald. “We can see the benefits from open space on a daily basis as we drive by the parks and preserves. Even if we do not have an opportunity to go to one of these sites, we get visual relief from the asphalt, concrete and manmade structures that surround us.”

The benefits of open space are:
Environmental Benefits
~Provides habitats, migratory corridors, and water and food sources for wildlife and threatened and endangered species.
~Protects forests, prairies, savannahs, wetlands and various plant communities.
~Provides natural flood control and improves the quality and quantity of surface and underground runoff.
~Preservation of trees reduces air pollution since plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
~Provides areas where rainwater can infiltrate into the soil and recharge our groundwater aquifers.

Recreational Opportunities
~Provides access for active recreation, education, and research.
~Trail linkages and greenways allow people to walk, run, bike or horseback ride to various locations, improving health and reducing automobile dependence.
~Rivers, streams, lakes and ponds allow boating, canoeing, and fishing.
~Protects historical, cultural and archaeologicallly significant sites.

Health Benefits
~By providing more outdoor recreational opportunities people can improve their physical and mental health.
~The Active Living Research organization reported that with “every $1 spent on trails, there was almost $3 in savings in direct medical costs.”

Economic Benefits
~Properties surrounding open space increase in value and provide an economic benefit to the community.

~Communities receive increased tax revenues because of the increased property values of homes and businesses surrounding the open space areas.
~Increased business revenue from the sale or rental of recreational equipment to residents and tourists.

Growth Management/Sprawl
~Planned open space provides communities a way to manage and channel future growth into appropriate areas, helping to avoid flooding and traffic congestion.
~Open space provides a balance with other land uses that improves our quality of life and attracts new business and residents.

What is Open Space?
In a county setting, protected public open space is typically in the form of a Forest Preserve. In a municipal setting, it is typically a park. This Plan includes both types.

An inclusive definition of open space is: Lands in an open or natural state, recreational lands, or areas already permanently protected. Examples of areas that fall within this definition are prairies, nature preserves, floodplains, wetlands, forests, parks, and greenways. Open space can be passive or active. Passive areas may include floodplains, wetlands, greenways and other natural areas that offer protection to the region’s flora and fauna. Active open space may include recreation areas such as ball fields, parks, playgrounds, trails, community recreational buildings, golf courses and equestrian facilities.

In the development of this plan, not only were important natural open space areas, trail connections and river corridors identified, but also sites that would not typically be viewed as park sites. “We looked at sites that have the potential to be restored and provide a benefit to the community and its citizens,” said Jan Roehll, project manager. “In article after article, there is evidence of the benefits of getting outside and playing in a natural setting. We hope that some of these sites will provide the opportunity to simply play and interact outside, close to home,” she said.

How the Map was Created
DuPage County’s Information Technology Department has advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping capabilities and the committee was able to utilize their information in the development of this plan. The GIS data provided by the County and by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County identified existing parks, preserves, conservation easements, public property and large, private open space areas. The existing open space information was expanded upon with the proposed open space area that the Steering Committee identified. This generalized information shows the network of greenways and waterways that would interconnect the parks and preserves. The new potential open space, referred to as “Open Space Opportunities,” are broad, very general areas where some land of interest was identified.

A copy of the plan can be found on The Conservation Foundation’s web site at www.theconservationfoundation.org. Inquiries can be made to Jan Roehll, Project Manager and DuPage County Program Director at (630) 428-4500, ext. 21.

The Winfield District 34 Board of Education and the Winfield Teachers’ Association are pleased to announce they have reached a four-year contract agreement beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. This follows a two-year contract which included a hard freeze including no step/no lane for the 2011-12 school year and a 1.35% salary increase with no lane or step increase in 2012-2013.

Agreement on the new contract was reached through meetings between representatives of both the teachers’ union and administration/school board rather than through traditional collective bargaining. This unique process worked well for us in the past and has again this time around. “We have great respect for one another, which supports us working well together,” said Dr. Gwynne Kell, Superintendent and Patti Hennessy, WTA President. “Behind every great school s a great staff. I am proud to have been a part of this collaborative process. Our staff is one of the best in DuPage County,” said Board President Susan Gillespie.

Details of the contract:

This contract marks a departure from the traditional teacher salary schedule of both steps and lanes. Lanes for new and nontenured teachers as of June 30, 2013 have been reduced from 7 to 5. Steps have been removed. Salary increases are as follows:

Year 1: Each teacher will receive a 5% salary increase.
Year 2: Each teacher will receive a 3% salary increase.
Year 3: The salary of each teacher shall exceed their 2014-2015 salary by 80% of the CPI (Consumer Price Index) for the 12 months ending December 2013, but not less than 1% or more than 5%.
Year 4: The salary of each teacher shall exceed their 2015-2015 s&ary by 80% of the CPI for the 12 months ending December 2014, but not less than 1% or more than 5%.
The last two years of the contract are based on the CPI, increasing sustainability by tying revenue to expenses. This is because school districts are limited by state law in how much they can increase tax levies each year. The tax cap restricts increases on existing properties to either 5 percent, or the rate of inflation determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.

Other malor changes include:
• additional employee costs for health insurance benefits
• the 6% salary increases at retirement have been eliminated
• teacher evaluation changes required by law are included in the contract
The entire contract can be viewed on the school district website, www.winfield34.org.

The contract was approved by the Teachers’ Association on May 1 and by the Board of Education at its May 6 meeting. It will go into effect Septem ben, 2013.

Winfield will observe Memorial Day with its annual ceremony at Creekside Park on May 27, at 8:00 a.m. Boy Scout troop 575 will lead the event with a flag ceremony, guest speaker, and prepared readings commemorating those who have given their lives for our country. The public is encouraged to attend.

The ceremony will be followed by a pancake breakfast at St. John the Baptist Church in Winfield from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to support the family of Alex Novak, a scout from Troop 575 who was seriously injured last year in a cycling accident.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 7:00 p.m., Community High School District 94 will host a Community Forum to share information with all stakeholders. The Agenda will include the District’s Capital Improvement Plan, Transparency Initiative, an Update on Joining the Upstate Eight Conference, Focus on Teaching & Learning, and Climate Survey Results from Students and Staff. Mr. Gordon Cole, Business Manager, Dr. Moses Cheng, Principal, Dr. Kimberly Chambers, Assistant Superintendent, and Mr. Lalo Ponce, Superintendent, will present information related to the topics.

This is an annual Community Forum held at the high school.

Questions or comments regarding this community meeting should be sent to Superintendent, Lalo Ponce 630-876-6210 or Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, Kimberly Chambers, 630-876-6215.

The location of the meeting will be the Library Resource Center (Entrance “H”) at 326 Joliet Street in West Chicago.

While the severe weather seems to have ceased for the time being, the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to coordinate response and recovery efforts.

The County continues to monitor streams and rivers which are starting to recede. DuPage County Stormwater Management is operating all of its flood control facilities due to rainfall accumulated throughout the week. For real-time stream and rain gage information, visit http://ec.dupageco.org/dec/stormwater/watershed/index.html.

As floodwaters recede and the cleanup process begins, DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin encourages residents to document any damage or loss to structures or possessions.

“Over the next several days, DuPage County will work closely with municipalities, townships and officials from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to assess damage and gather data that will be used to request a Presidential Disaster Declaration. The declaration could lead to federal assistance to help defray uninsured costs incurred as a result of the recent flooding,” said Cronin.

Residents are reminded to take pictures of damage, keep receipts and invoices for repairs and contact their insurance agents to start the claim process.

In addition, unincorporated DuPage residents are encouraged to report flood damage to the County by calling (630) 407-6700 on Saturday, April 20, or throughout the week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents who reside in a municipality should call their local government to provide the same information. The DuPage County call center is only for residents who reside in the unincorporated areas. Cronin said the information provided by residents is essential as the county and state seek federal funding.

For more information, visit www.ProtectDuPage.org for updates regarding the status of a potential Disaster Declaration request, as well as for tips on how to clean up after a flood.

Starting Saturday, April 20, unincorporated DuPage residents and business owners are encouraged to provide information about their flood damage to the County to initiate a process to potentially access federal disaster assistance funding.

“Now that the rain seems to have stopped for the time being, residents and businesses can start to assess their properties. It is important that they document and photograph the flood damage to show proof of loss. Another step in documenting the flood damage is to report to the federal government the total loss to the entire county so that we can attempt to access federal funding,” said DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin.

DuPage County will open a call center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday to gather information about property damage from residents who reside in unincorporated neighborhoods. The call center will re-open on Monday during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents and business owners will be asked to provide specific information about where the flooding occurred, how much water entered the premises, structure damage and if they have insurance.

Residents who reside in a municipality should call their local government to provide the same information. The DuPage County call center is only for residents who reside in the unincorporated areas.

The information gathered from residents and business owners will be provided to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency as officials assess the entire state. The assessment could lead to a presidential disaster declaration that would provide reimbursements for uninsured property damage.

Cronin said the information provided by residents is essential in the county and the state seeking the federal funding.

For more information and to report flood damage to unincorporated areas, call (630) 407-6700.

Visit ProtectDuPage.org for more information about flood recovery and the potential for financial assistance.

Park Street at the swollen Winfield Creek looking north toward Winfield Central School.

compiled from press releases

The Village of Winfield has declared a State of Emergency following excessive flooding associated with the April 17-18 storm event.

Many sections of village roadways remain closed. Property owners experiencing flooding can find temporary shelter at Village Hall, and DuPage County has opened a fully prepared overnight shelter at Benedictine College in Lisle.

Regular vehicle access to the Public Works facility is limited by stormwater, please call Village offices to request availability of sandbags for drop-off.

The Village has arranged for free pick-up of non-perishable trash and debris starting on Tuesday April 23, which must be containerized per annual spring clean-up rules, see Village website or April newsletter for details.

DuPage County has also taken the next step of declaring a county-wide emergency and is requesting information on public and uninsured private property costs related to the storm for assessing eligibility for federal assistance. Property owners are requested to photograph uninsured damages and keep receipts from repair expenses.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin signed an emergency declaration following the severe weather and flooding that has impacted the area.

“DuPage County just received up to 6 inches of rain in the past 24 hours. The flood waters are a real concern for residents’ homes in addition to some of our roadways that are completely impassible. The cleanup will take some time, which is why I have signed an emergency declaration that provides quicker access to emergency resources to help with the cleanup,” Cronin said.

The emergency declaration allows the County to forgo normal business practices to quickly access emergency resources such as generators, pump systems and sandbags. It also allows the County to reassign employees to various flood response and recovery operations.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn declared a state of emergency as state agencies prepared to provide assistance to local governments dealing with severe waterway and flash flooding.

The state of emergency ensures that state resources are activated, that the federal government is aware of a likelihood of a disaster declaration and allows the state to request resources such as personnel and equipment as needed.

State and local emergency personnel have been on the ground in hardest hit areas since early this morning.

… Flash flood emergency continues for Cook and dupage counties…

At 747 am CDT… National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking
another line of thunderstorms producing torrential downpours moving
across the Chicago Metro area. Nearly an inch of rain in 30 minutes
has been reported with this line… which is falling on the three to
locally six inches of rain that already has fallen over the past 24
hours.

Media and emergency management reports indicate that a very serious
and potentially dangerous flood situation is underway. Flooding has
been reported in many basements and homes… countless roadways are
reported under water and impassible. Portions of the
eisenhower… Edens… and Kennedy expressways have been flooded and
closed. Some communities have declared states of emergency.

This is a dangerous and potentially life threatening flooding event.
If you do not need to travel this morning… stay home. Please do not
even consider driving into areas where water covers the Road… you
may not know how deep the water is and the Road may have been washed
out. Do not risk your life… turn around… dont drown!

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

Do not underestimate the power of flood waters. Only a few inches of
rapidly flowing water can quickly carry away your vehicle.

Click HERE for updates

The Annual Winfield-Wide Garage Sale Team is back (standing, left to right): Bonnie Heydorn, Patti Loechl, Karen Blum; (seated): Rick Loechl

from a press release

Hold on to your hats! And your old clothes, furniture, antiques, house-wares, games and books for the Third Annual Winfield Garage Sale.

Garage Sale Committee members are in the planning stages to coordinate a Winfield-area garage sale event for Friday/Saturday, June 21 and 22. Our first two years we averaged over 115 residents, churches and other organizations participating in this unique Village event. And the word is getting out to bargain-hunters in the surrounding towns and counties; we had traffic jams of buyers at last year’s event. For our 2013 Garage Sale event, even more promotion, advertising and support is planned to bring buyers to Village garage sellers driveways!

- Three Garage Sale listings websites
- New Garage Sale signs
- Advertising and promotion in Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Suburban Life newspapers
- Posters, banners and marquees, Channel 10
- And three Vincent DePaul trucks to pick up unsold donatable goods after sale hours on June 22.
- Same $10 fee as last year
- Registration at Antiques of Winfield beginning May 20

So, whether you go it alone or team up with your neighbors, don’t miss this great opportunity to market your treasures. Garage Sale Committee is looking for additional volunteers interested in helping with planning, registration and promotion.

Please feel free to e-mail your comments, questions and suggestions to the Committee at Winfieldwidegaragesale@hotmail.com. And look for more details in upcoming issues of the Winfield Word and other local publications.