Mayor’s Message for Friday, February 14, 2025
- Posted by Chrissie Mena
- On February 17, 2025
Dear Residents,
After months of meetings and public hearings, the Village Board voted to accept the recommendation of the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals for an approval of the AC Solar Project on the decommissioned landfill off Mundhank Road.
The project first came to the Village for a referral to the Pan Commission approximately one year ago in February of 2024. Since then, the project has been in Plan Commission/Zoning Board meetings 6 times as the Commissioners granted multiple continuations of the Public hearing. Additionally, numerous studies were conducted due to both consultant and public comments on the project. Studies that were presented to the Commission included:
- Adjacent Real Estate Property Value Impact Study
- Decommissioning Plan
- Geotech Analysis
- Landscape Plan
- Line of Sight (LOS) Profiles
- Sound Impact Study
- Surface Water Runoff Study
- Various 3D Renderings
- Wetland and Waterway Delineation Report
Once this is built and becomes operational, a portion of the power the project generates will stay in South Barrington. I thank everyone who attended the Plan Commission meetings and participated in the process. In the end, the Board approved the project because of the long-term benefits to the community as whole and the opportunity to lower electric costs in our community and put the landfill property to good use.
Budgeting Process Begins
It is officially budgeting season at Village Hall.
Our Village staff is busy formulating next year’s Village Budget. Many of you are aware that our Fiscal Year runs from May 1st to April 30th. The process we follow is for the various Village committees to meet to discuss projects, programs, and personnel for the upcoming year. Areas of focus are Public Safety, Building & Engineering, Administration & Finance, and Capital Projects. I will keep you posted throughout this process and as always, we welcome input from our residents on budgeting priorities.
Underground Utility Work
Residents in the Crabtree subdivision will have an electric crew in the neighborhood at the end of the month. Intren, a utility construction company, will be working in the subdivision doing underground electrical work. The project, weather permitting, should take approximately 2-3 weeks.
ACC Position Remains Open
In recent weeks, I have highlighted the ongoing need for an architect to serve on the Architectural Control Commission (ACC), which currently has an opening. As a volunteer member of the ACC, you will be responsible for attending, interpreting, and administering the Village’s architectural codes and/or ordinances pertaining, but not limited to commercial properties, signage, etc. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the ACC, please call the Village Hall at 847-381-7510 to schedule an appointment with me.
Resuming the Green Electric Aggregation Program
Following the passage of a Voter Referendum in 2012, the Village started an electric aggregation opt out program which initially saved the average participating SouthBarrington ratepayer $1,129 per year on their electric bills.
The program expired in October of 2022 because the bids to continue the program were more expensive than the normal ComEd rates.
Market offers have since improved however, and the Village is excited to once again begin offering the program with more green energy at the same rate as Com Ed rates. Through the program, ComEd will continue to deliver power and will do all of billing (unless you have selected another supplier, or the hourly rate, or you are net metered with solar panels). We will be supplying more information on the program as it progresses.
Please NOTE: Residents and small businesses are automatically enrolled into the program, unless they opt out.
The program will enable the Village to become designated as an EPA Green Power Partner Community, since substantial Green/Renewable Energy will be used. We are excited that the Village will once again regain its EPA Green Power Partnership, placing it within the top 100 municipalities in the USA in terms of percentage green power consumed versus total power consumed.
Report on Mailbox Damage
One of the unintended consequences of snow removal occasionally is damage to mailboxes. If your mailbox is damaged by snowplows, be sure to report it to the Village.
The Village offers two ways to report mailbox damage, either by filling out our new online form or by calling 847-381-7510 (if you are leaving a message outside of normal business hours, please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number so we may better assist you).
Your mailbox is an essential means of communication. Aside from receiving your mail, mailboxes also provide your location in case of emergencies or in situations where other village assistance is needed. Our code states that mailboxes or support posts must display numerical address identification.
The US Postal Service gives the following requirements for mailboxes to help ensure mail delivery:
- A box number, if used, inscribed in contrasting color in neat letters and numerals at least 1 inch high on the side of the box visible to the carrier’s regular approach or on the door if boxes are grouped.
- A house number if street names and house numbers have been assigned by local authorities and the postmaster authorizes their use as a postal address.
- If the box is on a different street from the customer’s residence, the street name and house number must be inscribed on the box.
The Village provides residents with free address numbers for mailboxes or mail posts. The address numbers are standard 3.5” black and white stickers that adhere to your mailbox or post and have a reflective coating. You may pick up your free mailbox stickers at Village Hall on regular business days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Metropolitan Asian Family Services
I recently was introduced to additional services offered through Metropolitan Asian Family Services (MAFS) and I am impressed with the comprehensive and integrated social services they offer to immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middle Eastern and other European countries. The organization strives to educate, counsel, assist and empower individuals and families and helps them adjust to their new home in the United States. To learn more about MAFS’s work, please visit their website.
As always, I am here to listen to your thoughts and concerns. Feel free to email me at pmccombie@southbarrington.
Happy Valentine’s Day,
Paula McCombie
Mayor