Dear Residents,

I would like to address a recent development regarding Village operations and the actual Village boundaries.  Allstate Insurance Company filed a petition in the Circuit Court of Cook County to disconnect its property from the corporate limits of the Village of South Barrington. Unfortunately, I am limited by what I can say on this matter, however, as we are involved in ongoing litigation, best practices and Village policy must be respected. Even in light of this prohibition, I can say that this filing marks a significant moment for our community.

The petition, if granted as stated above, would remove the Allstate property from the corporate limits of South Barrington and take the property, including any future developments on it off the Village tax rolls. This filing comes after Village staff worked for years to aid Allstate in securing a new owner for the property after it abandoned the location.

As we continue to navigate these matters, let us reaffirm our commitment to collaborative growth, informed decision-making, and the prosperity of South Barrington and its corporate citizens.

On a more pleasant note, please join Congressman Krishnamoorthi for his upcoming Zoom Town Hall on “Getting a Good Job without a College Degree – A Zoom Town Hall for Job Seekers, Educators, and Employers” on Tuesday, February 6 at 12 p.m.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi will be leading a panel discussion with workforce leaders and advocates. This discussion will provide valuable perspectives on recognizing and developing alternative educational pathways. Participants can expect insights, success stories, and a comprehensive exploration of the evolving landscape of the job market. You can register in advance for this Town Hall here.

Please consider taking OUR quick survey on how you would like us to notify you of time-sensitive Village updates.  The Friday e-blast newsletter will continue, but we are looking for another avenue to bring forth news that cannot wait until Friday, such as, closed streets, accident closures, updates on loss of power, missing pets or people, snowplowing information or other road construction issues etc. To initiate this type of communication, I have been exploring the various avenues of social media.  Thank you for helping us.

The Village has hired R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care to trim parkway trees. Trimming is scheduled to start this Wednesday, February 7 or Thursday, February 8.  The work scheduled will be pruning, trimming, and chipping overgrowth and dead limbs on the Village right of way.  The Village investment in the maintenance of trees is directed towards keeping them healthy, promoting longevity, enhancing landscape aesthetics, and for public safety.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has mailed the First Installment property tax bills for Tax Year 2023, due March 1, 2024. The First Installment is always 55% of the previous year’s total tax. Exemptions that you may have claimed are applied to the Second Installment bill. To make a payment online, visit cookcountytreasurer.com.

The Village has received several calls regarding the recycling of paint, household chemicals, and other special recyclable items. South Barrington is a member of SWANCC, giving our residents access to the programs they offer.  SWANCC is the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and provides many programs for recycling opportunities.  For more information about their services, what items they accept, and drop-off locations please visit their website at SWANCC.

We are proud to offer several types of recycling here at Village Hall. Recycling is offered for cork, CFLs, and  4’ & 8’ florescent tubes, and clean, white, Styrofoam.  (PLEASE NO PACKING PEANUTS). Of the 6 extra-large containers of Styrofoam we recently accumulated, our partner refused to take 4 of the bags due to contamination with packing peanuts, colored Styrofoam, or other materials mixed in with the Styrofoam.  We were unable to remove enough of this unwanted material to make it an acceptable load for recycling.

If you have expired or no longer needed medications, visit an area CVS and Walgreens pharmacy for proper disposal. Most pharmacies offer a drop box for such items.  It is recommended you reach out to the pharmacy before dropping off items.

As the weather gets warmer, the Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that maintenance crews will be out patrolling and repairing potholes on state highways and interstates. To ensure everyone’s safety, please remember to slow down, use caution, and move over for workers. Non-emergency patching operations usually take place during non-peak travel periods and often require temporary lane closures.  If you come across a pothole along the Village streets, please use our online form to report the issue located on our Village Website.

You can always reach me by email at pmccombie@southbarrington.org on our website. Anonymous comment boxes are also available in the lobbies of Village Hall and the Police Department. I read anonymous messages privately, so please do not hesitate to contact me.

Have a very nice weekend!

Paula McCombie

Mayor

Read more of my Friday message by clicking here.

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