September, 2025

Serving Our Community

Road District: 847-381-7793

Township Office: 847-381-1924

Assessor's Office: 847-381-1120

Supervisor Christopher Karam

Our township comes alive in the fall with cooler breezes and annual traditions. Whether you’re returning from summer trips or simply savoring the change of season, we invite you to participate in our fall activities.

Paper & Electronic Shred Event – Saturday, September 6

We are excited to announce our much-anticipated Paper and Electronic Shred Event, taking place on Saturday, September 6. This community service event is the perfect opportunity for residents to securely dispose of sensitive documents and outdated electronics, ensuring both privacy and environmental responsibility.

Date: Saturday, September 6
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Cuba Township Road District Office

Join us as our trusted shredding partner provides on-site, industrial-grade shredding, giving you peace of mind that your personal information is handled safely. Accepted items include paper files, receipts, old tax documents, bank statements, and more. We also welcome small electronics such as laptops, cell phones, and tablets. Please remember to remove any batteries from electronic items to ensure safety. This event is free for all Cuba Township residents—don’t miss this opportunity to clean out your files and declutter your home while protecting your privacy and the environment!

Cuba Township Annual Fall Festival – Saturday, September 20, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Prepare your autumn spirit for the highlight of our community calendar—the Cuba Township Annual Fall Festival! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 20th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, when the heart of our township transforms into a wonderland of festivities, flavors, and family fun. Our annual festival is a wonderful way to connect with neighbors and meet our newest residents. We encourage you to take part in the festivities, admission is free, and all are welcome.

We want to extend our warmest wishes to all the parents, guardians, and students embarking on a new academic year. To all our students: we hope this year is filled with laughter, learning, and wonderful memories.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and wish everyone a safe, successful, and inspiring start to the new school year!

Warm regards,

Chris Karam

Township Services

****Appointments for services are REQUIRED****

Passport Services

Passport Applications: Passport processing takes 2-3 weeks for expedited processing and 4-6 weeks for standard processing. Expedited processing is an additional $60 per passport. Passport appointments are required - call 847-381-1924 to schedule an appointment. To check the status of your passport, click here.

Visit Travel.state.gov's renewal page if you want to renew an adult passport.

Food Pantry

The Tuesday food pantry continues weekly, by appointment only, from 10 AM to 1 PM. If you need food assistance, please email info@cubatwpil.gov or call 847-381-1924.

Below is a list of needed items:

Canned chicken, salmon, spam, and tuna
Canned meals including chili (mild), stew, and pork & beans
Canned soups including vegetable, chicken noodle, and any chunky soups
Toilet Paper and Paper Towels
32 oz bottles of liquid laundry detergent

Visit the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Online Portal for Reduced Fare and Ride Free Customers

The RTA'S Fare Programs Online is a web-based online customer portal that allows residents with disabilities and seniors to apply for, replace, and renew Reduced Fare and Ride Free Permits. It's quick and easy to use - go to Fares.RTAChicago.org.

Cuba Township Half-Fare Taxi Program

The half-fare taxi program is available for Township residents who are 65 or older. The Township will subsidize half of the taxi fare up to $10.00. Please stop in the office to sign up for this program. Proof of age and residency is required. Limits may apply.

Metra Access Pilot Program

Metra Access is a pilot program running through July 31, 2025, providing a reduced fare on all Metra lines and zones for individuals enrolled in the SNAP program who live within the RTA six-county region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties). To apply, you will need a SNAP eligibility letter, a government-issued ID, and a 2" photo of yourself. You may apply at Fares.RTAChicago.org.

Cuba and Barrington Township PACE Service

The Pace program is subsidized by Cuba and Barrington Townships, as well as the Villages of Barrington, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, South Barrington, and Tower Lakes.

The service is available to seniors and disabled persons, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. The fares are $2.00 each way. Advanced reservations required. Call 1-800-451-4599, Monday - Friday, from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

For additional assistance, call Pace customer service at 800-606-1282, option 2.

Ride Lake County - PACE Service

Seniors aged 60+ and people with disabilities interested in using Ride Lake County are encouraged to register by calling the Pace Call Center at 1-800-201-6446.

Registering early for Ride Lake County will allow riders to schedule trips. Seniors must provide their date of birth at registration, and individuals with disabilities must provide their RTA Reduced Fare Permit number at registration. Learn more

Clerk Heidi M Shannon

Cuba Township Monthly Meeting Set for Thursday, September 11, 2025

Cuba Township's Monthly Meeting is set for Thursday, September 11, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM at the Cuba Township Office located at 28000 W Cuba Road in Barrington. Members of the public are welcome. View the Agenda.

Sincerely,

Heidi Shannon

Assessor Nicole E. Knapik, CIAO

Dear Neighbors,

The Lake County Chief County Assessment Office mailed the 2025 Property Assessment notices to residents, and they should arrive on or around Thursday, August 21. At the date of publication, 2025 values will be available online at IMSlake.org.

I encourage you to check the factual accuracy of your property (i.e., number of bathrooms or square footage) at our property search portal, IMSLake.org. IMSLake.org is the ONLY website for accurate property information.

If you notice an error in your property characteristics, contact our office at 847-381-1120 or email info@cubaassessoril.gov. A site visit may be required in some instances. Please also check to make sure your property exemptions are listed! Additional exemption information is listed below and here.

Appeal Information

Property owners who decide to appeal their assessed values must do so electronically. Property owners can appeal their assessment on their own to the Lake County Board of Review. No attorney is required for most residential appeals. Appeals can be done in a few minutes by using the new SmartFile E-Filing Portal. Detailed instructions to appeal your assessment are available on our website.

Note: There is a 30-day deadline from the date of publication to file an assessment appeal. 35 ILCS 200/16-55.

The final filing date for assessment appeals in Cuba Township is September 22, 2025.

Please contact the Cuba Township Assessor's Office if you have questions regarding your property valuation or instructions on how to appeal. You can reach us via email at info@cubaassessoril.gov or call us at 847-381-1120.

Tax Relief Exemptions

Remember to file for your 2025 qualifying exemptions if you purchased your home last year. If you purchased your home this year, the first day to file your exemptions is January 2, 2026. If you need help filing, please schedule an appointment by calling 847-381-1120. Below is a list of the most common exemptions. Visit our Tax Relief page for more information.

Filing for exemptions is quick and easy through Lake County's Smartfile E-Filing Portal. If you can't file online, you may contact our office at info@cubaassessoril.gov or 847-381-1120 to schedule an appointment.

General Homestead Exemption (GHE)

If you purchased a residence in Cuba Township, and it is your principal residence, you may be eligible for the General Homestead Exemption (GHE). The GHE for 2025 is $8,000.

Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption (SHE)

If you or your spouse turn 65 at any time in 2025, and your property is your principal residence, you may be eligible for the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. The SHE for 2025 is $8,000. There is no income requirement and no annual renewal.

Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (SCAFHE)

Homeowners 65 or older with an income of $65,000 or less may qualify for the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze. Beginning January 2022, proof of income must be filed along with Senior Freeze applications. You must own the property as your principal residence for two consecutive years (January 1). If you currently receive the Senior Freeze, the Lake County Assessor's Office mails reminder letters in March 2025. The SCAFHE must be filed annually to verify income eligibility.

Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities (HEPD)

This exemption may be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Exemption and the Senior Homestead Exemption, if applicable. Applicants must be disabled under the Federal Social Security Act and supply evidence of disability, in addition to completing the PTAX-343 Application for Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities and PTAX-343-A Physician's Statement.

Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities

You may claim this exemption in addition to the General Homestead Exemption and the Senior Homestead Exemption. Disabled veterans qualify if they have at least 30% and up to 100% service-connected disability. Evidence of disability is required along with the completed PTAX-342 Application for Homestead Exemption and PTAX-342-A Annual Verification of Eligibility.

We are here to serve you!

Nicole E. Knapik, CIAO

Highway Commissioner Thomas J Podgorski

For the latest updates on roads, please follow us on Facebook!

Self-Serve Mulch

Self-serve mulch is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The mulch pile is next to the textile recycling bin in the same lot as the road salt.

Mulch Madness!

Mulch is available for delivery to Cuba Township residents ONLY, for a delivery charge of $125.00 per truckload. Mulch is delivered on Fridays from 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM. Each load is 6-8 yards. The mulch is a double-ground mixture of hard and softwoods from removed Cuba Township trees. Email Sue at info@cubaroads.org or call 847-381-7793 to schedule your delivery.

Free Paper and Electronics Shredding Event Set for Saturday, September 6, 2025

The fall Shred Event is being held at the Cuba Township Road District, 28160 W Cuba Road in Barrington, from 8:30 to 11:30 AM, or until the trucks are full.

Please click here for a list of accepted electronic items.

Annual Fall Brush Pickup Begins Monday, October 6, 2025

Our fall Brush Pick Up begins Monday, October 6, 2025. The Road District picks up throughout the entire Township by routes. No need to call to call our office with your address.

Please have your brush at the roadside by 7:00 AM on Monday, October 6, 2025 to ensure your brush gets picked up. We will not circle back once we have gone through the route.

Neatly stacked brush piles cannot be larger than 10′ X 4′ and no logs or branches larger than 8″ diameter. No leaves, grass, weeds, root balls; no debris in plastic or paper bags will be picked up.

We do not pick up on IDOT roads (Rt 59, Rt 22 and Rt 14)
We do not pick up on Lake County Roads (Roberts, Miller, Kelsey and River)

Putting in a new driveway?

If you are putting in a new driveway, a Road Bond is required. Please complete the Permit Application and email it to info@cubaroads.org.

Driveway Alert for Unincorporated Homeowners

If you are a homeowner in unincorporated Lake County and planning to put in a new driveway over an existing culvert, contact the Cuba Township Road District to inspect the culvert.

Instructions for Trees or Limbs Touching Utility Lines or Power Outages

If you have issues with trees or limbs touching utility lines, contact the utility company directly. The Township cannot trim trees or limbs within 10 feet of utility lines.

If trees are blocking the road, dial 911.

Need to report a pothole?

Lake County roads - (847) 377-7400 or visit the LCDOT site.
Unincorporated Cuba Township Roads - 847-381-7793

The Road District does not offer year-round electronics recycling. Visit LRS Recycling, Wauconda Recycling, or the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County.

Back to School Days: Before the Bus Came by Barbara Benson

As summer winds down, and school buses once again navigate our roads, the memories of long ago, when going to school was mostly on your own two feet, were eloquently recalled in “Tales of Old Barrington” the book published in 1976 by the Barrington Bicentennial Commission and the Barrington Press.

In your imagination, walk with Cuba Township’s own William (Bill) Klingenberg, Jr. as he went to school from his farm home on Oak Knoll Road.

“When I was six years old, (1910) it was time for me to start school and I went to the Porter School which was located on what is now Buckley Road. It was the only building on this sod road and located on the east side in an oak woods between Cuba and Oak Knoll Roads. There would only barely be a buggy or wagon that would pass this school during the day.

The teacher was Annabell Welch, and the class consisted of about thirteen children and covered eight grades. The desks were designed to accommodate two persons - it was good to be able to sit close, especially on cold days.

A dug well with a hand pump was located south of the schoolhouse. The older boys would pump a pail of water and bring it in for drinking. It had a dipper with a long handle on it and everybody drank out of it except the teacher, who had a folding cup. The dipper was never washed, except at the start of the school year. The pail of water had to be emptied every day after school during the winter or it would be frozen the next day.

All the pupils regardless of age would play together at noon or recess. The schoolhouse floor was scrubbed clean once a year, at the start of the school year. Thereafter, every Friday noon the teacher, with the help of the students, would sweep the floor and clean the blackboards.”

After school Consolidation, in 1946, the Porter School was sold to well-known artist Ruth Mead, who moved it to her property on Ridge Road, using it as a garden house. The tornado of 1967 destroyed all but one wall with some shelving and flower pots. But the memories were written down forever.

If you would like to email Barbara, send to Barbara and we will share your thoughts with her.

Join us - Eliminate Textile and Shoe Landfill Waste

Clothing and Textile and Reuse-A-Shoe Drop-Off Location – SWALCO Partnership

Did you know clothing is now the fastest growing waste in the US waste stream today? Join us in dropping off used clothing, linens, and shoes at the Cuba Township Textile, and Reuse-A-Shoe drop-off locations in partnership with SWALCO.

Clothing, textile, and shoe recycling is a full-circle program, diverting your new and gently used donations from landfills.

Clothing/Textiles

Unacceptable Items:

Wet, odorous, or moldy items
Nylons and Pantyhose
Fabric Scraps
Craft Scraps (yarns, threads & other craft materials)
Pillows
Sleeping Bags
Mattresses
Rugs
Carpet
Cushions
Foam furniture and foam mats
Large Luggage
Electric Blankets & Mattress Pads
Non-Fabric Household Linens: Vinyl Shower Curtains, tablecloths, furniture covers, etc.

Shoes

Dress boots, hiking boots, and rain boots are accepted. NO WINTER BOOTS ALLOWED. Shoes in any condition, from new or gently used, to those that are worn, will be accepted. And, the great news is that 95% or more of all the materials collected will be recycled or reused.

Before dropping off your shoes, please tie the laces of each pair together; if they are sandals or have no laces, please place a rubber band on the pair to keep the shoes together.

UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS include Roller Blades, Ice Skates, and Winter Boots.

Homebound and need a State ID?

The Homebound State ID program is a service program for older adults, bedridden individuals and people with disabilities who are unable to leave their homes to obtain a state ID card from a Secretary of State facility. The card may be used for identification purposes in the same way as a standard driver’s license is used for identification.

Certain documents are required to obtain the card. Once an applicant submits the information via our web form below, we will determine eligibility and the documents required to complete the transaction. For assistance to help determine if you or your loved one qualifies for this service, call 312-814-3121.

Quick Links

Homebound State ID Card Contact Form

Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) promotes the welfare of honorably discharged veterans of military service and their families. The VAC acts as a central service office for all veteran organizations and has general oversight of the distribution of emergency assistance to military veterans and their families.

Types of Assistance

Assistance with rental and mortgage payments.
Utility payment assistance.
Emergency medical care is provided to any member of the Veteran’s
immediate family who qualifies. Medical care includes hospital payments,
outpatient care provided by Lake County clinics, and emergency dental, and vision
care.
Job service assistance.
Food, clothing, and other supplies at Midwest Veterans Closet.
Proper burial for indigent veterans.

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.vaclc.org/ and view their most current newsletter Here.

How to Dispose of Batteries - Home Depot

Home Depot offers recycling of batteries at their Call2Recylce site located at the Home Depot, 670 S Rand Rd in Lake Zurich.

Click here for a review of how to dispose of batteries and how to recycle batteries. It includes information on single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries.

Not all batteries are accepted at Home Depot. Please click here and confirm your batteries will be accepted.