 |
 |
Manager Main Page |
Important News -
For Immediate Release School Supply Assistance Needed The Village of Skokie Human Services Division is working with community families in need to help purchase school supplies for the coming school year. School supplies cost $45 for each primary grade student. If anyone wishes to contribute toward this fund, please send a check, made payable to the Village of Skokie – Donated Funds, to the Human Services Division, 5120 Galitz, Skokie, Illinois, 60077. The Human Service Division office has school supply lists for each of the participating families and can provide a list to donors who prefer to purchase supplies. If you are a family in need, know of such a family in Skokie or would like more information, please contact the Human Services Division at 847/933-8208. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release The Skokie Fire Department Citizens Fire Academy The Village of Skokie’s Fire Department is offering a Citizens Fire Academy as a new addition to their community education program. The Academy is held Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Fire Station #17, 8157 Central Park Avenue, Skokie. The Citizens Fire Academy is a 10-week session beginning September 19 to November 21, 2007 and will cover the Department’s history, fire prevention/education, CPR, fire tactics, emergency medical services, specialty teams, fire suppression, just to name a few. The Skokie Citizens Fire Academy is available to those who live or work in Skokie. Participants must be 18 years or older. Applications must be received by August 8, 2007 and are available online at www.skokie.org For more information, please contact the Skokie Fire Department at 847/982-5340. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Garage Sale Regulations Garage sales are common during the summer and early fall months. When planning a garage sale please remember that a Village of Skokie permit is needed prior to conducting the sale. Garage sale permit applications are available at the Skokie Police Department, Main and Laramie, and cost $1.00. Residents must apply in person to receive a garage sale permit. Regulations for garage sales include the following:
For more information, please call the Skokie Police Department at 847/982-5996, or visit www.skokie.org Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Immunization Clinic The Skokie Health Department offers free immunizations to any child living in Skokie or attending a Skokie school. Certain vaccinations are available for adults too. Consultations on required immunizations are provided by the nursing staff. An appointment is necessary and takes place at Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie. Current clinic dates and times include:
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Skokie Health Department at 847/ 933-8252. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Skokie Police Department Wins National Law Enforcement Challenge The International Association of Chiefs of Police recently announced the winners of the 2006 "National Law Enforcement Challenge." The Skokie Police Department was named as a first place winner in the program. The National Law Enforcement Challenge is a nation-wide highway safety awards program which recognizes law enforcement agencies throughout the United States for their accomplishments in promoting traffic safety in their communities. The program is sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. This annual competition is open to all law enforcement agencies in the United States The competition requires the agencies to report their policies and procedures covering highway safety, their officer training, public information & education initiatives, as well as enforcement and effectiveness measures. Each agency's application is reviewed by a team of independent judges. The applications are judged in categories, based on the number of sworn officers on the department, as well as the type of agency (municipal police, sheriff department, college police, etc.) Skokie Traffic Unit Supervisor, Sergeant Michael Pechter says that, "the whole department is very proud to be the recipients of such a prestigious award, it enhances the Skokie Police Department's reputation as a professionally run department which is tough on crime yet prioritizes traffic safety. The awards will be presented at the Highway Safety Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA. For more information please contact the Skokie Police Department, Sergeant Michael Pechter, Traffic Unit Supervisor at 847/982-5972 Released by Public Information Division July 12, 2007 Skokie Village Board to Consider New Police Facility At the July 16, 2007 Village Board meeting, Village officials will consider taking action to move forward on a proposed new Police facility at 7330 Niles Center Road. Research for the project began several years ago with a detailed space analysis, according to Village Manager Albert J. Rigoni, and showed that the existing 31,000-square-foot Police Station at Laramie Avenue and Main Street is inadequate for the department’s needs. After considering a number of factors, including staffing levels and operational needs, the space analysis recommended a 72,000-square-foot facility on a minimum five-acre site to best serve the needs of the community. “When the Village Board received this information, we requested that staff develop options for building such a facility in terms of both suitable locations and project financing,” explains Mayor George Van Dusen. “Staff researched a number of possible locations and the site at 7330 Niles Center Road seems best suited for the project.” The 6.2-acre site currently contains a vacant warehouse, which, according to Rigoni, adds to its desirability, “The site is ideal in terms of size, location on a major arterial street and, importantly, that its use for the new facility will not displace any current tenants or employees.” Several financing options are being considered for the estimated $30 million project cost. Approximately $5 million will be funded through available reserves. The remaining $25 million would require issuing bonds payable over a 20-year period. To fund the estimated $2.1 million debt service on such a bond issue, Village officials are being asked to consider either a property tax increase or a 3% increase to the Village’s Simplified Telecommunications Tax (STT). The Village’s current 3% STT rate is below the 6% allowed by state statute, and an increase to 6% would generate approximately $1.5 million annually. These funds would be supplemented by an additional $600,000 annually that becomes available in 2008 when debt is retired for a completed flood-control project. “Utilizing an STT increase to fund the new Police facility is appropriate as a large component of the design includes a 9-1-1 telecommunications center for all emergency calls. In addition, the increased STT will tip the revenue balance toward the business community, with less funding necessary from residential customers with lower telecommunications usage,” explains Van Dusen. It is estimated that those with an average $50 monthly telephone bill will pay an additional $1.50 per month, or $18 per year as a result of the increased STT. Likewise, customers with a $100 monthly telephone bill will pay an extra $3 per month, or $36 per year. Should the Board opt for a property tax increase to fund the project, it is estimated that an average Skokie residential property tax bill would increase by $60.38 annually, or 1.2% of a typical residential property tax bill. Pending final architectural design options, it is expected that portions of the existing building can be utilized in the new facility. This would give the Village an advantage in obtaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification through the United States Green Building Council that rates facilities on performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED-certified buildings conserve natural resources and have reduced operating costs. It is anticipated that construction will begin during 2008 and continue for an estimated two to three years. At the July 16, 2007 meeting, the Village Board will consider acquiring the designated property, authorizing Village staff to negotiate an architectural design agreement and to begin proceedings to formally adopt the 3% STT increase. The meeting begins at 8 p.m. at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie. “Over the years, the Police Department has done an admirable job providing top-rated Police services in a very tight facility,” Van Dusen remarked, referring to the Skokie Police Department’s long-held accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. “My colleagues on the Village Board and I look forward to the day when they are in a state-of-the art facility that better serves both the department and the entire community. I further commend Village Manager Al Rigoni, Finance Director Bob Nowak and Police Chief Barry Silverberg for formulating a plan to construct a new facility with options for minimizing the impact on taxpayers.” - 30 - For further information contact: For Immediate Release Public Hearing Notice for August 2, 2007 The Skokie Plan Commission has scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 7:30 p.m., to amend the Comprehensive Plan of Skokie, Illinois to incorporate the 2020 Plan for Sector A: Downtown. The public hearing will take place at Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie. The Comprehensive Plan of Skokie, Illinois provides development direction by determining appropriate and compatible land uses based on combined vision, market opportunity, and development potential. The plan also provides realistic development strategies and future actions needed to implement the plan. The draft plan combines over four years of planning and public participation that involved S. B. Friedman & Company, The Lakota Group, Metro Transportation Group, staff and stakeholder interviews, focus group meetings, a community workshop, the C ommittee on Downtown Development, the Independent Merchants of Downtown Skokie, and the Downtown Task Force. Print copies of the 2020 Plan for Sector A: Downtown are available for public review at Village Hall ( 5127 Oakton Street), the Skokie Public Library ( 5215 Oakton Street), Niles Township offices ( 5255 Main Street) and Oakton Community Center at Oakton Park ( 4701 Oakton Street). The plan is also available online at www.skokie.org. For more information, please contact the Community Development Planning Division at 847/933-8447. Released by Public Information Division Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment Skokie, Illinois, July 19, 2007 – All aspects of the Skokie Police Department’s management, operations, policies and procedures, and facility will be examined by a team of assessors beginning July 29, 2007. The assessors will be representing the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). As an integral aspect of the onsite assessment, the Police Department and the assessment team invite agency employees and members of the community to offer comments at a public information session regarding the Department’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. The session will be conducted on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois, 60077. If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information hearing, but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, they may do so by telephone. The public may call (847) 982-5917 on July 30, 2007, between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Skokie Police Department are requested to write to: COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION Telephone comments are limited to five minutes. Both telephone and written comments must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. Local contact at the Police Department is Mr. Dane Smith, Assistant to the Chief of Police, (847) 982-5900. CONTACT: Sgt. Scott Anderson Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment via Phone Skokie, Illinois, July 19, 2007 – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive July 29, 2007, to examine all aspects of the Skokie Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Barry P. Silverberg announced today. “Verification by the team that the Skokie Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” he said. As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments to the assessment team regarding the Skokie Police Department’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. The public may call (847) 982-5917 on July 30, 2007, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Skokie Police Department are requested to write to: COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION Telephone comments are limited to five minutes. Both telephone and written comments must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Skokie Public Library or the Skokie Police Department. Local contact at the Police Department is Mr. Dane Smith, Assistant to the Chief of Police, (847) 982-5900. CONTACT: Sgt. Scott Anderson For Immediate Release View the Fourth of July Parade If you missed Skokie’s annual Fourth of July parade, or if you would like to see the big bands, businesses and kids marching once again from the comfort of your home, you’re in luck! The parade will be shown on the Village’s governmental channel (number 17 on Comcast systems and 22 on RCN systems) throughout the month of July and August, beginning on Tuesday, July 18, 2007 at 5 p.m. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON The Village of Skokie Engineering Division will host a public information meeting to discuss the design phase of the CTA Skokie Swift Oakton Street Station project on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois 60077. Village of Skokie staff and project consultants McDonough Associates Inc. will be available to discuss the proposed project and accept public comments and questions. Proposed maps, sketches and drawings will be available for inspection at the meeting and thereafter at the Engineering Division located on the second floor of Village Hall. The project, in which Skokie is the lead agency, provides for an intermediate station on the CTA Skokie Swift Line in the Downtown Skokie area, located between Oakton Street on the south and Searle Parkway on the north. A significant amount of federal funding has been pledged for the design and construction of the new station through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMPA) and its Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant Program. The Village of Skokie also is funding the project. For further information please contact the Village of Skokie Engineering Division at 847/933-8232. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Skokie Ordinance Against Vandalism and Graffiti In the Village of Skokie, when graffiti is observed or reported, a Police Investigation Report is filed. This report is forwarded to the Property Standards Division for a follow-up inspection. A written notification requiring removal is sent to the property owner. If the graffiti is not removed within ten days of notification, the Village will remove the graffiti at the property owner's expense. Parents can be held responsible for vandalism committed by their minor child/children. Parents may be required to appear in court and make restitution to the property owner. If you notice graffiti contact the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 847/ 982-5900. By removing the graffiti from your property you help to eliminate the adverse effect on Skokie neighborhoods. If you need assistance or information on removal methods or removal firms, please contact the Property Standards Division at 847/ 933-8224. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Skokie Police Neighborhood Watch Program The Skokie Police Department invites the community to participate in the local Neighborhood Watch Program. By participating, residents have the opportunity to feel a strong connection to the community and contribute to neighborhood safety. The Neighborhood Watch program is one of the most effective crime prevention strategies a community can utilize. In Skokie, over 182 blocks participate in the program. The Skokie Police Department invites any person interested in the program to contact the Crime Prevention/Community Relations Unit at 847/982-5919. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Commission on Disabilities Seeks New Members The Skokie Advisory Commission on Disabilities is looking for representatives who have experience with disabilities, either themselves, with family or friends or through their profession. The commission meets at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. All meetings are open to the public. The Commission works with the Human Services Division to increase public awareness of the needs of individuals with disabilities. Recent projects have included a survey on needs of the disability population, forums for parents of special education students, and assistance with a job fair for persons with a disability. For further information, please contact Meryl Rivenson, Director of Human Services at 847/933-8208. Released by Public Information Division For Immediate Release Village of Skokie Receives Immigrant Integration Grant from The Chicago Community Trust The Chicago Community Trust recently awarded the Village of Skokie a $50,000 grant under the Trust’s new $ 1.5 million immigrant integration initiative. A grant renewal process allows for Skokie to receive equivalent funding for an additional two years, for a total grant of up to $150,000. Skokie’s grant proposal was among 10 funded out of a total 54 applications. The grant proposal was developed with advice from an Immigrant Integration Grant Advisory Committee comprised of Skokie Festival of Cultures executive committee members and others from Skokie’s international community. The Village Manager’s Office, Human Services Division and Police Department are collaborating on grant-funded initiatives designed to provide services or training to immigrant residents. Specific grant-funded initiatives include:
The Village also is forwarding 10% of the grant funds to Metropolitan Family Services Transitional Program that assists newly immigrated students and their families. Skokie’s international community represents a wide range of integration experiences, from those who are new to the United States and also those who are well-established. The grant-funded programs seek to assist and enrich the lives of immigrants of all ages, nationalities and experiences. For further information on these new programs please contact Meryl Rivenson, Human Services Director, at 847/933-8208 - 30 - Released by the Marketing and Public Information Division |
[Back to Top] | [Back to Manager's Main Page] | [Back to Home] | [Search] |
|
Village of Skokie
|