Mayor’s Message April 18, 2025

Dear Residents,

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Easter weekend. 

I also want to extend an invitation to join us Tuesday, April 29^th  at 2:00 pm, as we mark Arbor Day in the Village honoring the planting of a Spring Snow Crabapple Tree in the Conservancy.  

At the April Board meeting, the Village Board passed a resolution with a proclamation for Arbor Day. By planting a tree each year and celebrating Arbor Day we honor our commitment to being recognized as a Tree City USA. We invite you to attend and stay for light refreshments commemorating the event.

Conservancy Rentals

Did you know the South Barrington Conservancy is available to rent?

Anyone planning an event with 15 or more people can rent the Conservancy. To secure your spot at the Conservancy, call the Village at 847-381-7510. You may also view the Conservancy guidelines and permit application by clicking here. 

If you wish to rent the Pavilion located in Community Park adjacent to the Conservancy grounds, call the South Barrington Park District who owns it at 847-898-9937.

Invasive Teasel

April showers certainly bring May flowers and unfortunately – weeds. 

Teasel is an invasive species that can form large dense patches, severely impacting habitat plants with ones that are inedible to wildlife. It starts as a leafy weed and then becomes a green candelabra with light pink flowers. Eventually, the plant will turn into a large brown stalk capable of dropping thousands of seeds and invading large areas quickly (see images below). If you see a large floret in your yard, try to eliminate it with herbicide. If you find a stalk, cut it down before it flowers. Wear thick gloves while cutting this plant down to protect your hands from the spines on the stalk. Your efforts to eradicate this invasive plant will help support South Barrington’s environmental initiatives.

Emergency Management Training

This week, two Board members (Dr. Patel and Dr. Stagno) and I had the opportunity to work on our Emergency Management skills at the Barrington
Countryside Fire Department’s Pepper Road facility. Our administrator, Mike Dropka, was also in attendance. 

A tabletop exercise on short- and long-term power outages was our 3-hour morning challenge. The Barrington Area Council of Governments and Advocate Health Care sponsored the event, which included Barrington Countryside Fire Department Chief Mortise, representatives from the Barrington Fire and Police Departments as well as representatives from ComEd, Nicor, Verizon, AT&T, Lake County Sheriffs Department, Lake Country Department of Homeland Security, and Mayors, Board Members and Administrators from our fellow Barrington Communities, Barrington Township and Deer Park.  

Our job was to handle an emergency on a widespread multistate electrical outage. This was good practice to help us sharpen our skills in working with other agencies to find solutions for a large-scale Emergency.

Tax Exemptions for 2024

The clock is ticking to apply for property tax exemptions.

For those of you who wish to apply for exemptions for tax year 2024 the applications are due by this Monday, April 21^st. In Cook County, property taxes are assessed based on the property’s value, tax rates, and available exemptions. To apply online click here or visit Cook County Tax Assessor.

Hydrant Flushing

The Village has a hydrant flushing for the municipal area scheduled for the week of April 28- May 2.

The flushing will include The Arboretum, Regency, The Woods, Village Enclave, and Encore Memory Care. Hydrant flushing is done twice a year to check hydrant operation and maintain good water quality.

The flushing process generally takes two days to complete, during which time customers may experience discolored water. The discoloration is caused by the accumulation of iron in the piping system and is a normal occurrence that will subside once flushing is complete. Residents are encouraged to monitor the status of their water before washing clothes, as this iron may stain fabrics. If staining does occur, it is best not to dry clothes. Commercially available products can be used to remove iron stains from clothing.

If you have any additional questions regarding the hydrant flushing process or the water system in general, please contact the Village’s water operator, at Sheaffer & Roland, 630-208-9898.

Spring at the Arboretum 

Tired of the winter blues? 

Look no further than The Arboretum for great restaurants to celebrate the upcoming holidays, the warm weather and whatever excuse you need to get out of the house. The Arboretum is home to several remarkable restaurants, owned and operated by renowned Chefs who ready to create a unique dining experience for you. To view the special holiday schedules and restaurants see my message below or visit The Arb.

As always, I am here to listen to your thoughts and concerns. Feel free to email me at pmccombie@southbarrington.org, or use the anonymous comment boxes located in the lobbies of Village Hall and the Police Department. I review these messages privately and value your input.

Enjoy your weekend,

Paula McCombie
Mayor