Welcome to the Village of Barrington E-Newsletter!
This newsletter is intended to help keep you informed of the latest news and happenings in Barrington. Subscribe Here.
Received this email in error? You can unsubscribe at the very bottom of this email. We are always interested in your comments; please e-mail Kate Himes at khimes@barrington-il.gov.
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A Message from Karen Darch
Home Rule: Reality vs. Speculation
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Good morning,
We are in the final days before the election on November 8, and as you know, early voting has already begun. I hope you have had a chance to attend one of our Information Sessions about the Home Rule referendum, or to view the recorded virtual session on our YouTube channel.
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Yesterday you should have received a special message from me titled “Home Rule: Reality vs. Speculation.” (View the entire message here) . In it I discussed some of the information we have been hearing about Home Rule in the community, and especially the idea that Home Rule will provide a “blank check” for your local officials to abuse its taxing power.
In short, no Village board members I have known over the years have wanted to pay more in taxes themselves, so they are always looking for ways to be fiscally prudent. In addition, in the past, Village boards have followed the will of the community in not approving revenue sources such as video gaming or cannabis sales. There is no reason to think these Board decisions would radically change under Home Rule.
For a better understanding of what this greater taxing authority might mean in Barrington, we have evidence right in our own backyard. Our neighbors, including Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, South Barrington, and Inverness, have decades of experience as Home Rule communities. Here are a few facts:
1) In South Barrington and Lake Barrington, the property tax levy has not been increased over the last several years.
2) Barrington Hills has had a property tax levy decrease over each of the past eight years.
3) Lake Barrington and South Barrington have the 1% Home Rule sales tax, which allows them to collect revenue from shoppers and diners at the Arboretum, Pepper Park, and other retail establishments and restaurants. We could do the same in the Village to help pay for our roads, sidewalks, and beautification efforts.
At the end of the day, the question that Village of Barrington residents have the power to decide is: How do the very real benefits of Home Rule stack up against the disproven speculation about abusive taxation?
For more information on Home Rule, please attend an Information Session on November 3 at Grove Avenue School (7:00 p.m.) or a virtual Zoom session on November 7 at 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit barrington-il.gov/homerule.
Thank you,
Karen Darch
Village President
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Monday is Halloween!
Trick-or-Treating Hours & Safety Tips
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Trick-or-Treating on Monday, October 31 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM
Here are some tips to share with your children to ensure Halloween is fun & safe!
- Use face paint instead of masks to ensure your children can see well and provide them with lights or reflective tape to ensure that they can be seen by others.
- Instruct your children to approach only those homes that are well-lit and never to enter a stranger’s home.
- Instruct your children to eat nothing until they come home, and the treats have been inspected by you.
- Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas and along an established route.
- Do not light your pumpkin with a candle; instead use a flashlight or cold chemical light-stick.
- Autumn leaves, dry corn stalks, berry branches, similar fall decorations, and even some Halloween costumes can be hazardous. Keep lighted bulbs, open fires, and even adult smoking materials at a safe distance.
Notify the police department of any unusual occurrences or incidents. Call 911 in an emergency.
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SAVE THE DATE: Home Rule Information Session Dates
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The Village has placed a Home Rule Referendum on the ballot for the November 8 election.
We have held several Information Sessions in order for our community to learn more about Home Rule. There are two more chances to attend an in-person or Zoom session to gather with your neighbors and meet directly with the Village Board of Trustees and Village Staff. You'll hear a presentation about Home Rule and have the opportunity to ask questions.
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Stories of Survival Series Thru November 6 at Barrington's White House
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Barrington's White House is pleased to present an extraordinary collaboration with the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, made possible by our partners Northern Trust and Kim Duchossois. “Stories of Survival” is a FREE, two-week exhibit and slate of events that showcases stories from the Holocaust and other genocides. It is a can’t-miss opportunity – we hope you will join us!
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Here's the Latest: Construction Updates
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Main Street Resurfacing
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) currently has three separate resurfacing contracts underway on Main Street. Together, these contracts will result in the full repaving of Main Street between E. Hagers Bend Road in Barrington Hills and Quentin Road in Deer Park. Paving and permanent striping has been completed throughout the Village, with the exception of the crossing at the CN tracks.
Paving of this crossing is being coordinated today with CN flaggers. Restoration and punch list work is planned over the next few weeks but should be less impactful to traffic.
As the Village receives additional updates from IDOT regarding this work we will share that information with you.
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Hart Road Bridge Project – HART ROAD IS OPEN!
Due to the diligent work of the Contractor and Lake County Department of Transportation Staff, Hart Road reopened nearly two weeks ahead of schedule on the morning of Tuesday, October 25th. The roadway will still require the placement of the second layer of asphalt. Paving operations on Hart Road are planned to commence following school traffic in the mornings. Hart road will remain open during these paving operations, but there may be delays associated with this work.
The Village of Barrington would like to thank the Lake County Department of Transportation (LCDOT) for working to minimize the impacts of this important project. We would also like to thank the community for your understanding and patience as we all worked to navigate through town during two large projects managed by other agencies (LCDOT and IDOT) during this busy construction season!
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You're Invited to Coffee & Conversation with Village Officials
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You are invited to meet your local Village officials in our new series: Coffee & Conversations! We will be meeting at local coffee shops to discuss a variety of topics, starting with the Home Rule Referendum.
The next Coffee & Conversations will be on Wednesday, November 2 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm at Cook Street Coffee – 100 East Station Street.
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Hillside Avenue Phase I Study | IL Route 59 to U.S. Route 14 Public Information Meeting
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The Village of Barrington is hosting a public information meeting for the Hillside Avenue Phase I Study. The improvements include reconstructing Hillside Avenue and ADA improvements at all intersections. ADA improvements will also be made at U.S. Route 14. The Study is also reviewing potential modifications to the IL Route 59 (Hough Street) and Hillside Avenue intersection and the addition of bicycle accommodations along the corridor.
The meeting will be conducted in an informal, open-house format. Exhibits will be available for public viewing at the meeting. Residents and interested stakeholders should feel free to attend the meeting any time between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Representatives from the Village of Barrington and the project consultant team will be present to discuss the project and answer any questions on an individual basis.
Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Place: Village Hall 200 S. Hough Street Barrington 60010
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Com-Ed Performing Tree Trimming Through End of Year
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ComEd intends to perform vegetation management activities in the Barrington area within the next few months.
Vegetation management activities are a key component of ComEd’s maintenance program to ensure system electrical reliability, as vegetation contact with ComEd equipment is a leading cause of outages.
For more information about vegetation maintenance along power lines and ComEd’s “Right Tree, Right Place” program, visit www.ComEd.com/Trees
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Chicago Tribune Weighs in on Home Rule
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Click HERE to read what the Chicago Tribune has to say about Home Rule in Barrington.
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Congratulations to the Long Family on Purchasing the Catlow Theater!
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Congratulations to Barrington's Long family on purchasing the historic Catlow Theater in Downtown Barrington.
Read more about the purchase via the Daily Herald HERE.
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Welcome to our New Public Works Director, Fred Braun!
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The Village of Barrington is excited to announce that after an extensive search, Fred Braun has been hired as the new Public Works Director.
Braun comes to Barrington with more than 25 years of public works experience, which began in Niles, Illinois, where he joined as a summer seasonal employee in 1996. After a brief period in private sector, he returned as a full-time employee to the Village of Niles. He served as the Deputy Public Services Director and Superintendent of Streets and Sewers for the village before being named the Director of Public Services in 2018.
If you see Fred around town, give him a wave & welcome him to Barrington!
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The Village of Barrington is Hiring!
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The Village of Barrington Public Works Department has the following open jobs:
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The Barrington Police Department is hiring a Police Officer. If you are a police officer looking for a new opportunity, apply today!
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Information for Candidates for Office in the Municipal General Election on April 4, 2023
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The Illinois State Board of Elections has released the 2023 Candidates Guide for those who are seeking local office in the Municipal General Election to be held on April 4, 2023. This Guide provides information and requirements for filing. Dates for circulating and filing petitions and objections for independent candidates, as set forth in the Guide, are outlined below.
First date to circulate petitions:
September 20, 2022
First date to file petitions:
December 12, 2022
Last date to file petitions:
December 19, 2022
Last date to file objections to petitions:
December 27, 2022
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT BARRINGTON'S WHITE HOUSE
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Join Us This Fall for Spectacular Cultural Events
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Over a year ago, Barrington's White House and the Barrington Cultural Commission embarked upon several community “Listening Sessions” to hear more about the types of events you would like to see at Barrington’s White House. Our 2022–2023 season reflects the input we received — a wider variety of fine art and musical ensembles as well as humanities events that will challenge us to learn, grow, and understand.
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Tue, Oct 25, 2022 10:00 AM CST
Stories of Survival Exhibit
Barrington's White House,
Barrington
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Sat, Oct 29, 2022 1:00 PM CST
Elgin Symphony Halloween Chamber Concert for Families
Barrington's White House,
Barrington
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Tue, Nov 1, 2022 7:00 PM CST
What Does Your Faith Say About Belonging to Each Other?
Barrington's White House,
Barrington
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Thu, Nov 3, 2022 7:30 PM CST
An Interview with Sam Harris, Survivor of the Holocaust
Barrington's White House,
Barrington
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Sun, Nov 6, 2022 2:00 PM CST
Steen Metz...Never Forget
Barrington's White House,
Barrington
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Sun, Nov 6, 2022 3:00 PM CST
“I Never Saw Another Butterfly”: The Holocaust Through Music
Barrington's White House,
Barrington
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Compost Pumpkins and Corn Stalks
As we move into fall, remember that pumpkins and cornstalks still have much more to give once they've been used to decorate your home! Collecting them for compost is easy, so why send them to a landfill? You may put your pumpkins and cornstalks in your yard waste cart (be sure to remove candles or wax), or even better, you can nourish your soil by composting your pumpkins on your property.
Here’s How:
- Remove any candles or wax.
- Find a place in your yard for your pumpkin’s final resting spot. (This should be out of the way of daily activity. A sunny spot will speed the composting process.)
- Place your carved pumpkin in the spot and smash it up a bit.
- Cover it with a layer of leaves.
- Let nature do its work. Worms will turn your pumpkin into nourishing compost.
It's Leaf Season - Let's Go Green!
Autumn is a time of year when those beautiful leaves begin to fall to the ground and need to be disposed of. In order to be more environmentally friendly, we are asking that you consider mulching or composting your leaves.
Being “green” will help to reduce the energy expended for transportation, processing, and disposal. If you have leaves that cannot be mulched or composted, you may utilize your large green yard waste tote or purchase leaf bags at most local grocery and hardware stores.
Please do not rake or blow your leaves on to the street, as this can create safety issues and clog storm drains and pipes.
Free Wood Chips Available through October
Why pay for mulch when you can get free wood chips from the Village? Wood chips are self-serve, so please bring your shovels and containers. Stop by the Public Works Facility located at 300 N. Raymond Avenue. The pile of chips is located in front of the large salt barn along the railroad tracks.
Tree Replacement in Our Parkways
Tree planting operations are ongoing from spring until late fall. For further information, please email Conor Justes in Forestry Department at cjustes@barrington-il.gov. You may also call Public Works at 847-381-7903.
Watering Your Newly Planted Tree
If you have received a new parkway tree within the last year or two, you must keep your new tree watered, especially during heat and dry weather. Please fill your Gator bag three times a week. You can continue watering through November. If you need a Gator bag or have other questions, please email Conor Justes in Forestry Department at cjustes@barrington-il.gov. You may also call Public Works at 847-381-7903.
Sanitary Sewer Backup?
If you experience a sanitary sewer backup due to an extreme rain event, please contact the Public Works Department as soon as possible: we are available Monday through Friday at (847) 381-7903 or after hours at (847) 590-3491.
Recycle Corks at Public Works
Save your corks and dispose of them in the receptacle at the Public Works facility, 300 N. Raymond Avenue. This cork is sent to industries that make new products with it. Because cork is such a durable material, it can be recycled into anything from craft supplies to flooring.
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**Sign Up for Emergency Alerts**
To sign up to receive Reverse-911 Emergency Alerts in the event of an emergency in Barrington, click here.
Call JULIE Before You Dig
Across the country, every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without calling a one-call center such as JULIE first. For your convenience, you can enter a self- service, locate request anytime (24/7/365) by going to www.illinois1call.com or by simply calling 8-1-1.
Commuters: Quarterly Hang Tag Renewals
New quarterly hang tags may be purchased at any time for a prorated cost using the Passport website.
If you have purchased a hang tag during the quarter and realize you no longer need it, you have the option to return the tag for a prorated refund. The refund will be prorated based on the day the tag is received at Village Hall.
Battery Drop-Off at Public Works
Residents can drop off batteries at Public Works ONLY during business hours of 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily. There are no outside collection boxes - please bring them into the Public Works front office.
Please Read Before Battery Drop-Off:
Primary/Single-Use batteries cannot be recharged and must be disposed of or recycled once they wear out: Alkaline, lithium, silver oxide, zinc-air, zinc-carbon, zinc-chloride and CR/SR/LR (button batteries).
Alkaline Batteries: AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and 12V* (*12V should be taped on terminal ends) Rechargeable and Lithium Batteries: Lithium (Li-ion), Nickel (NiCd, NiMh, Ni-Zn) Small Sealed Lead Acid (SSLA/Pb) and button batteries all need to be taped. The reason for this is because battery terminals that touch metal surfaces or other batteries can spark causing a fire or explosion during shipping.
Register Your Pets, But Dog Tags No Longer Required
Registering your pets with the Barrington Police Department is a great way to recover your pet if they become lost. You are no longer required to purchase dog tags; instead, please register your pet at frontlinepss.com/barrington.
Permits and Inspections
The Village of Barrington will continue electronic permit review and issuance procedures until further notice. Village staff will continue to evaluate permit procedures and how to safely and efficiently serve the community moving forward. We strongly encourage you to visit the electronic permit submittals page to review permitting requirements and submittal procedures.
The Village is conducting permit inspections on limited days of the week, and certain limitations are still in place for inspections of occupied buildings. Please contact (847) 304-3400 and select “3” for Development Services to schedule inspections and visit the website to learn more!
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Bacoa Offers Medicare Prescription Review
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Call Bacoa at 847-381-5030 to schedule your Medicare prescription drug plan review with a Bacoa Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor. Last year, Bacoa SHIP counselors saved our clients $206,392 on medication costs.
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Help Honor Veterans at Evergreen Cemetery This December
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The members of Signal Hill, NSDAR of Barrington, are undertaking their fourth year of sponsorship of Wreaths Across America Day to honor Veterans buried in Evergreen Cemetery on Saturday, December 17, 2022. National Wreaths Across America Day was begun to Remember the fallen, Honor their Service, and Teach children the cost of Freedom.
Do You Have a Veteran Interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington?
For the fourth consecutive year, the members of Signal Hill, NSDAR will be partnering with Wreaths Across America to honor Veterans interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington. A memorial ceremony and wreath laying will take place at noon on Saturday, December 17, 2022. To learn more, contact a Signal Hill member at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ILEGCA
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UPDATE: Cook County Tax Assessments
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The Cook County Assessor's Office is advising that Cook County 2021second installment property tax bills will be significantly delayed this year. Normally the bills are mailed on June 30 and due August 1, but at this time it is not yet clear when the second installment bills will be issued. Estimates range from mid- to late fall of 2022 with the due dates coming 30 days after the bills are issued.
Before second installment tax bills can be issued, all Cook County assessment appeals must be resolved, first by the Cook County Assessor’s Office and then by the Cook County Board of Review.
Unfortunately, this year there were compatibility problems between a new computer system used by the Cook County Assessor’s office and an older system used by the Board of Review. These compatibility problems led to significant delays in the transmission of data between county appeal agencies and the result is that second installment bills will be late.
Taxpayers may appreciate that the second installment of 2021 tax bills will not be due until sometime toward the end of 2022. But they should be aware that they will have far less time to prepare for the first installment of 2022 taxes, which should be due around March 1, 2023. There may be just a few months between the payment deadlines for these two bills.
Taxpayers seeking updates about the status of second installment tax bills should fee free to contact the Barrington Township Assessor’s Office at 847-381-5632.
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Alcoholics Anonymous of the Northern Illinois Area
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If you're having trouble with alcohol, we can help. Contact the Alcoholics Anonymous of the Northern Illinois area at 847-382-4455, or go to www.barringtonaa.org.
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Rental Assistance in Both Lake and Cook Counties
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LAKE COUNTY
Renters who face financial hardship related to COVID-19 may apply for the new Lake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (FERA) Program, which provides help for individuals paying rent and/or utility bills. Eligible households may receive up to 12 months of past due rent and up to three months of assistance with future rent, but no more than 12 months of assistance total. Payments from the program will be made directly to landlords and/or utility companies. To learn more about who is eligible, and for a link to the application, visit lakecountyil.gov/renthelp.
COOK COUNTY
If you live in suburban Cook County and need help paying rent and utilities due to COVID-19, the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program pays up to 12 months of missed rent and utilities payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility companies.
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Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt
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As many of you know, the federal and state moratoriums on evictions ended on July 31. That means landlords have likely begun to start filing eviction papers. In Cook County, all aspects of evictions can go forward on September 1 which means judges can order evictions and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office can start enforcing the orders.
However, we also know that renters in financial crisis who are unable to pay their rent today will not be able to pay rent, security deposits, and move-in fees for a new home tomorrow. Housing insecurity and homelessness have been shown to lead to food insecurity, domestic violence, mental illness, exacerbated and unattended preventable health conditions, and substance abuse. Uprooting families, especially now as we inch toward recovery, would be destructive.
CCLAHD can help provide free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance for tenants and landlords. And as the moratoriums lift, we are hoping we can steer landlords to look at alternatives to eviction.
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Wednesday, November 2
Environmental Advisory Committee, 6 p.m.
Fire Pension Board, 7 p.m.
Monday, November 7
Committee of the Whole, 6 p.m.
Virtual Home Rule Info Session, 7 p.m.
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Tuesday, November 8
Plan Commission/ZBA, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 9
Cultural Commission, 12 p.m.
Thursday, November 10
Architectural Review Commission 6:30 p.m.
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200 S. Hough Street | Barrington, IL
(847) 304-3400 | barrington-il.gov
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