March/ April Village News by BuffaloGrove

Buffalo Grove

MARCH – APRIL 2022

VILLAGE NEWS

Page 2 Village President’s Letter

Page 3 Employee Spotlight

Page 4 Memory Café

Page 6 Spring Property Maintenance

A Future-Ready Fire Department When you think of a fire department, fighting fires and responding to medical emergencies can often come to mind. Firefighter/paramedics that serve Buffalo Grove and cities across our nation go through ongoing training to save people and property, and are one of the first on the scene of car crashes and other incidents when lives and safety of our residents and visitors may be in jeopardy.

In addition to the planning that goes into being prepared for any incident, the Fire Department is also planning for the future to continually improve services for the community. After months of meetings within the Village, a community survey and focus groups, the department recently released its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which identifies areas where it can improve as an organization to be prepared to meet any future challenges. continued on page 5

Strategic Plan Development Timeline 2

August 19, 2021 Visual Identification

September 16, 2021 Implementing the Vision: Creating Objectives and Initiatives

Page 7 At Your Door

Page 8 Pavement Life Cycles

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July 2021 Environmental scanning: Surveys and Data Analysis

August 31, 2021 Stakeholder Engagement Focus Groups

December 9, 2021 Plan Adoption

Village Trustees

Letter From the Village President Andrew Stein AStein@vbg.org

Lester Ottenheimer LOttenheimer@vbg.org

David Weidenfeld DWeidenfeld@vbg.org

Joanne Johnson JRJohnson@vbg.org

Eric Smith ESmith@vbg.org

Gregory Pike GPike@vbg.org

Village Clerk

It’s hard to believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has already lasted for two years. Thankfully, things are definitely starting to improve. As of late, positivity rates are very low, and masks have become optional in many places. However, masks are still required on all transportation systems, including buses, trains and planes, as well as at airports, due to federal requirements that remain in effect through at least April 18. Masks are also required at medical facilities and care centers. Despite the pandemic, the Village has been operating very successfully. Buffalo Grove was recently ranked the #1 safest town in the country by MoneyGeek.com, which calculated communities’ cost of crime per household. Many Village employees also went above and beyond in 2021, and have been recognized for their exceptional efforts.

Awards, Commendations and Achievements

Village Manager, Dane Bragg, APWA Award: Dane received the American Public Works Association (APWA) Award for exemplary service to Public Works. As the leader of the organization, he has a deep impact and influence on both the yearly and long-term projects completed by Public Works. This includes the 5-year Infrastructure Modernization Program that will fortify infrastructure all around the Village for decades to come. The award recognizes exemplary public service and commitment through policy setting and implementation. Dane is now in the running to receive the National APWA Award. Engineer Ted Sianis, Public Works Employee of the Year: Ted was named the 2021 Public Works Employee of the Year. This superstar in the department was previously in private consulting for 14 years before starting with the Engineering Division in late 2019. Ted is a registered professional engineer in the State of Illinois and a member of the American Public Works Association for the last decade. He now performs engineering development reviews, acts as the liaison for outside agency projects, coordinates permits, performs quality assurance reviews of Geographic Information System and handles engineering inspections, as needed. Officer Eric Sarat, 2021 Officer of the Year: Eric is a leader of the evening shift and an accomplished multi-tasker. He makes himself available for calls of service, and goes above and beyond to ensure

the best possible outcomes. Eric’s passion for traffic law enforcement is evident by the pride he takes in his work, along with an eagerness to investigate traffic accidents – which earned him a position Beverly Sussman on the Lake County BSussman@vbg.org Major Crash Assistance Team. His enthusiasm, work ethic, and leadership as a police officer is recognized and highly valued by his supervisors and peers, and he is an asset to the Buffalo Grove community. He also helps to train all officers on new technology, which has included making himself available even when he is off duty. Investigator Jaime Verduzco, Special Commendation Award: Jaime has continued to successfully carry a caseload for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, in addition to the multiple investigations he has managed within the Village. During the 4th quarter of 2021, Lake County needed substantial support from assisting law enforcement agencies and Jaimie handled nine homicide cases, in addition to a shooting. He was instrumental in responding to agencies where these incidents occurred. As a result, he sacrificed countless hours away from his family. While balancing his time with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, he has stepped in to assist and advise new colleagues as they learn the investigator roles and responsibilities. In addition, Jaime’s Spanish translation skills have been an invaluable asset to Investigations, when on patrol, and for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force. Street Section Manager Scott Fontanez, APWA Professional Manager of the YearTransportation: Over the past 11 years as Street Section Manager, Scott has displayed exceptional leadership in the Public Works Department. His vision, innovation, honesty and consistent collaborative efforts have strengthened working relationships within the department and helped to grow the entire team. Scott has shown his dedication to being the best possible employee and has inspired his team members; he is a shining example of how flexibility and devotion to growth lead to improvement for all. Over his 31-year career, Scott has shared his passion for snow continued on page 3

Janet Sirabian JSirabian@vbg.org

VILLAGE NEWS

Village Manager’s Message Spring appears to be quickly approaching as daytime temperatures start to rise and the days get longer. It’s refreshing to see some signs of light as we close the second full year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Soon we will see spring bulbs emerge and buds on the trees, ushering in spring and summer. As we venture out of the darkness of winter, there is also a glimmer of light as it relates to pandemic mitigations. With the recent lifting of mask mandates, we are once again free to move about and see one another’s smiling faces. Your Village of Buffalo Grove team is excited to see you as we carry out our daily routines. And more awaits on the horizon for Buffalo Grove. We will see the Town

Center redevelopment plans make their way to the Village Board for approval this spring, as well as several other important projects to bring economic vitality to our community. I’m pleased to report that we will have far fewer traffic inconveniences this year, with our major roadway projects nearing final completion. We will continue our aggressive neighborhood infrastructure improvements with street, sanitary sewer and water main rehabilitation projects in the neighborhoods that need it most. Overall, Buffalo Grove has weathered the storm well over the past couple of years and we have all of our residents and businesses to thank for that. Your perseverance has paid off and we are

Dane Bragg 847-459-2500 DBragg@vbg.org

well positioned for our community to continue to grow and prosper in the coming years. I would like to offer encouragement and support for our allies in Ukraine. Buffalo Grove is blessed to have many residents of Ukrainian descent and we send our support to you and your families during this difficult time.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: ANGELA BUTLER Angela Butler recently joined the Village’s Community Development Department as the new Permit Coordinator. Angela grew up in Evanston and has spent her career in the Northwest Suburbs. She brings more than a decade of experience to the role, having previously worked for the City of Highland Park and Evanston Township, as well as in the private sector with Advocate Health Care. In 2019, Angela received her Permit Technician Certification through the International Code Council and is currently participating in a training course to receive her SolSmart Certification. She lives with her family in Glenview and loves to travel to tropical locations; her favorite places to visit are Hawaii and the Turks and Caicos islands. Angela was drawn to the position with Buffalo Grove by the diverse and exciting economic growth in the community.

Village President’s Letter continued from page 2 and ice control and has transformed the program into the award-winning plan it is today. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, his exemplary leadership stressed both safety and education and he has been an unwavering supporter for doing what is necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of employees. Firefighter of the Year to be Announced in early May: The Village is very proud of all Fire Department staff members, and of special note is the extreme responsibility the entire department took addressing the health issues surrounding

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the pandemic over the last two years. They are always ready to go “above and beyond” to make the Village a safe place to live, work and raise a family. Olympic Silver Medalist Megan Bozek: Megan grew up in Buffalo Grove, where her parents still live today, and is a 2009 graduate of Stevenson High School. She played collegiate ice hockey at the University of Minnesota and helped guide them to the national championships in both her junior (2011-2012) and senior (2012-2013) seasons. Megan recently competed in the Olympic Games for the second time where her team won a silver medal. She also competed in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014 where

her team also won a silver. Megan serves as an Athlete Mentor for Classroom Champions, a non-profit organization dedicated to pairing teachers with Olympic and paralympic athletes in underserved communities. Through her work with students in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, she supports them to reach their full potential both inside and outside of the classroom. Well done, Megan – you make us proud! I wish you all a safe and healthy spring. Beverly Sussman Beverly Sussman Village President

Memory Café Serves Connection and Creativity Officer Matt Mills and the Police Department partnered with several community organizations to create a Memory Café - a safe and welcoming place for individuals with dementia and their care partners to socialize through conversation, arts, music and refreshments. As memory care concepts have grown in popularity across the U.S., the Police Department saw an opportunity to bring this program to our community. Residents with mild forms of dementia are some of the most vulnerable groups in our community, and are particularly vulnerable to crimes such as scams, elder abuse and ruse burglaries. The Memory Café provides police officers with opportunities to connect with these residents and their care partners, to educate them on how to avoid becoming victims of these types of crimes.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

COLLABORATE TO ENRICH THE MEMORY CAFÉ PROGRAM Many of the local organizations that provide services for seniors have embraced the Memory Café concept, and have assisted the Police Department in ensuring a safe and successful program. Participating organizations include:

Caring for individuals with dementia is a very stressful role, and the Memory Café serves as a welcome respite. Care partners who visit the café are informed of the support networks available in our community, and can discuss some of the stressors with other people in similar positions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Memory Café shifted its programming to providing themed activity kits for both the individual experiencing memory loss as well as their caregiver. Each “Memory Café to Go” kit inspired creativity with a goal to help improve both health and wellbeing. Additionally, the cafe serves as a means for multiple community stakeholders to collaboratively support residents with dementia and their care partners (see sidebar below). The Police Department takes pride in maintaining active relationships with local organizations and businesses, and the Memory Café is a powerful example of the benefits of these relationships. It is hoped that the success in leading this effort inspires others to continue to seek new and innovative ways to engage the community. The Memory Cafe holds programs monthly, and registration is required via the Vernon Area Library’s website, by phone at 224-543-1485, or in person at any public service desk at the Vernon Area Library.

WHO’S LISTENING?

Steven Casstevens CHIEF OF POLICE

Phone: 847-459-2560 Email: SCasstevens@vbg.org

•B elmont Village Senior Living Buffalo Grove •S unrise Senior Living Buffalo Grove •B uffalo Grove Community Foundation • Buffalo Grove Park District • Indian Trails Public Library • Vernon Area Public Library

VILLAGE NEWS

Raupp Museum Hosts On the Job: History and Change in the Buffalo Grove Police Department The Police Department partnered with the Park District’s Raupp Museum, 901 Dunham Lane, to create a new exhibit entitled, “On the Job – History and Change in the Buffalo Grove Police Department.” The artifacts and accounts by members of the police department tell the story of how an officer’s job has evolved through the years. The items included in the exhibit are on loan from the department and displayed by the Park District’s Raupp Museum. The display will be open to the public through May 13. Admission is free, and the Raupp Museum hours are Monday - Thursday 11 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1 - 4 p.m.

CPR Classes Available

The Fire Department’s in-person Heartsaver CPR classes are now open for registration! Classes will be offered on Thursdays twice per month, with one session for healthcare providers only and another for the general public. All classes will be held at the Fire Station Headquarters (1051 Highland Grove Drive). The class fee is $50, and a two-year certificate is provided upon successful completion of the program. To register for March classes, visit vbg.org/cpr_classes.

Fire Department

continued from page 1 To ensure the department’s goals remain reflective of the community’s needs as a whole, these efforts have helped to identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as top priorities. This feedback, along with input from the Department’s employees, was utilized to develop the Strategic Plan goal areas. To learn more about the Strategic Plan, be sure to tune in to the Village’s Facebook page for a Facebook live event reviewing the plan at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16. Fire Department’s 2022-2025 Strategic Goals Staff and Organizational Development: This goal area focuses on ensuring that the Department is prepared for the future. The Department is continuing to undergo significant turnover as the result

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of retirements. Working to prepare Department members for leadership positions, while ensuring access to high quality new recruits, is essential to the Department’s future success. Organizational Efficiency and Team Development: This goal area directly responds to the feedback received through the surveys and discussion groups held in August 2021. The key objectives within this category seek to improve the Department’s communications, while also ensuring that the Department’s personnel feel empowered to perform at the highest level. Infrastructure Improvements This goal area focuses on creating the necessary physical and organizational assets needed to support the Department in the future. This includes a focus on the fire stations, apparatus, and achieving fire accreditation.

Communication and Technology This goal area focuses on the needs of the Department as it relates to the software and hardware that the Department utilizes on a daily basis. In particular, this section focuses on the tools the Department uses to communicate or receive information and the hardware or software that the Department’s staff use to do their jobs.

WHO’S LISTENING?

Mike Baker

EMA DIRECTOR, FIRE CHIEF

Phone: 847-537-0995 Email: WBaker@vbg.org

Spring Property Maintenance The lengthening days and warmer temperatures have many residents thinking about home repairs and maintenance. It’s a great time of year to tackle these projects, both indoors and out!

COMMON

EXTERIOR

VIOLATIONS • Accumulations of trash • Dead or diseased trees •M issing or deteriorated roof, siding or trim • Overgrowth of weeds/grass • Peeling paint • Sheds or fences in disrepair •V iolations involving storage or disposal of refuse •S ump pump/downspout discharges exceeding (10) feet in length •W ork being performed without the necessary permit

Kevin Pyne, the Village’s Property Maintenance Inspector, offers residents the following tips and reminders: Ensure Proper Drainage Sump pumps’ discharge pipes should be routed properly to the drainage swale, kept free of blockages, and not exceed the maximum allowable length of 10 feet from the home. Paint or Stain as Needed Overhead garage doors, window frames, and trim should be checked for chipping or peeling paint. Check exterior wood, such as decks or trim, for rot, and replace and/or stain as needed. Maintain Landscaping Trim back trees and bushes so that they do not encroach the sidewalk and impede pedestrian traffic.

pickup begins April 1 and runs through December 15. For more information visit vbg.org/ property-maint, contact the Community Development Department at 847-4592530, or email BldgDept@vbg.org.

WHO’S LISTENING?

Inspect Fences Fences are often damaged by winter weather. Ensure that they are able to stand on their own without additional support. Refuse Reminders All refuse, brush and related containers should be put out for collection no earlier than 5 p.m. the night before collection. All containers should be removed no later than 24 hours after collection. Yard waste

Kevin Pyne

VILLAGE INSPECTOR

Phone: 847-459-2530 Email: KPyne@vbg.org

Utilities Superintendent Dave Haisma Retires If you have turned on the water in Buffalo Grove, you know Dave Haisma’s work. From 1985 until his

retirement in January, Dave worked to maintain, upgrade and improve the Village’s water and sewer infrastructure and policy. In his nonutility time, Dave served for many years as the charismatic director of the BG Days Planning Committee. He retired as the Utilities Superintendent after a 36-year career in Public Works. Thank you, Dave, and best wishes for a happy retirement! 1985 Flashback: When Dave first started in 1985 as a maintenance

worker at Public Works, the town looked a bit different: • Back to the Future was a hit movie. • L ake Cook Road was less than 10 years old (and now it is again!). • There was no Buffalo Grove Road north of Route 83. • Buffalo Grove’s population was only about 16,000 residents (versus over 41,000 today!).

VILLAGE NEWS

Spring Cleaning? Schedule an ‘At Your Door’ Pickup! The Village’s waste hauler, Waste Management (WM), offers residents a convenient home pickup service for items not accepted for landfill collection. This service, called At Your Door, provides an option for the disposal of hazardous and difficult-torecycle materials, such as electronics, televisions and chemicals. There is no additional fee for this service; it is included in residential monthly refuse and recycling rates.

To schedule a pickup appointment, contact WM by calling 800-449-7587 (7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday - Friday), emailing AtYourDoor@wm.com or by visiting the WM website. Be sure to have your list of unwanted materials ready, as Waste Management may need to mail a collection kit for some items. On your designated pickup date, place materials out before 7 a.m.

WHO’S LISTENING?

Be sure to properly dispose of your household hazardous waste. Contact Waste Management to use the At Your Door Special Collection Service. Call 1-800-449-7587 or visit www.WMAtYourDoor.com

Nicole Woods

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Phone: 847-459-5539 Email: NWoods@vbg.org

Protect Your Home from Lead Public Works’ water professionals regularly test the drinking water for lead and other common contaminants. Results have always indicated a very safe water supply. Despite the newer age of our water system, lead can also enter drinking water through fixtures, pipes and service lines, so it’s a good idea to monitor other potential sources. To learn how to ensure your home’s water is safe, visit the Village’s lead page at vbg.org/lead-info, or call Public Works at 847-459-2545. We’re here to help!

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Pavement Life Cycles: How Public Works Cares for Our Roads Do you ever drive over one of our newlypaved roads in town and wonder why all of our streets can’t be just as smooth? Street pavements follow a typical life cycle: Newly paved surface looks and performs great! Slowly, some cracks start to show. Suddenly, a lot more cracks show, potholes appear and the pavement quickly degrades from there.

Pavement Lifecycle

Public Works believes in utilizing the right tools for the right issues at the right time to extend and improve the life cycle of our Village streets. In doing so, they not only utilize Village resources efficiently, but also extend the life of streets and minimize disturbances to residents. The Right Tools: Maintenance repairs can be completed within a matter of minutes or hours. Rehabilitation projects, on the other hand, generally require weeks of disturbances to residents. Maintenance work can include spot fixes like crack sealing, pavement patches, and pothole filling - or more street-wide methods like pavement rejuvenators and cape seals. Rehabilitation work requires removal and replacement of large sections, or even the entire roadway. Street resurfacing or reconstruction is performed to address major, street-wide issues. Typically, rehabilitation measures cost four to six times as much per foot of street as typical maintenance expenditures.

Pavement Conditions: Public Works periodically assesses pavement conditions for both the types and extent of cracking, structural integrity, drainage and rideability. All of these factors are used to determine where each street fits into the larger maintenance and rehabilitation street programs. The Right Time: Pavement deteriorates with exposure to traffic and weather. Certain types of distress accelerate deterioration, causing the pavement condition to get worse faster. Keeping up with maintenance is key to delaying the need for rehabilitation treatments.

Typical Pavement Maintenance Includes: • Pothole Patching • Crack sealing • Rejuvenation Treatment • Resurfacing • Reconditioning •G rinding and replacing street (removal down to base) After assessing the pavement’s condition, Public Works determines the right maintenance solution to maximize the pavement’s life. See some of those solutions on the following page.

WHO’S LISTENING?

Mike Skibbe

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

Phone: 847-459-2545 Email: BGPubWks@vbg.org Weathered, worn pavement

Smooth pavement

VILLAGE NEWS

Pavement Maintenance Solutions

Aspahlt removal grinding

Paving

Crack Sealing

Pavement Patching

Pothole Patching

Roadway Reconstruction

Backflow Prevention Inspections Do you have an irrigation system? If so, you will need to have your backflow prevention device inspected. Whether you use it or not, the Village requires inspections of these devices (also called RPZs) annually to ensure the safety of the Village’s water system. Appointments with licensed, qualified professionals book up quickly, so get your inspected and the report sent in before May 15. If you want to learn more, visit vbg.org/backflow.

TED SIANIS, PUBLIC WORKS

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Civil Engineer Ted Sianis has only been with the Village for three years, but he’s already leaving his mark: Ted was named the 2021 Public Works Employee of the Year! Ted was recognized for his accomplishments at the February Village Board meeting and earned a reserved parking spot. Thanks, Ted – and keep up the great work.

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Saturday, April 2

5th Annual

Dinner at 6 pm • Play begins at 7 pm All proceeds benefiting the Foundation’s fee assistance program for active military families, and families in need. $35 per person (dinner included) Table of 8 - $280

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Beer and Wine Cash Bar Prizes for the Winning Team 50/50 Raffle Event being catered by Bontá Pizzeria and Restaurant

Community Arts Center Rooms 20 and 21

For more information, call Jenn Foreman at 847.850.2110 or jenn@bgparks.org.

SENIOR EXPO Friday, April 22 10 am - 1 pm

Free to seniors and their families Join us for the annual senior citizen expo. This event, hosted by the Friends of the Parks Foundation, and coordinated by the Buffalo Grove Park District and the Village of Buffalo Grove, provides a dynamic one-stop shop for seniors to interact with vendors and service providers, enabling them to become familiar with the wide range of services available to them. There will also be raffle prizes, featuring a grand prize of a TV, donated by Mark Drug Medical Supply. The Expo will be held from 10 am - 1 pm at the Community Arts Center. For more information, call Chuck Burgess at 847.850.2125.

VENDORS WANTED

We are still looking for vendors for the Senior Expo Extravaganza. If you are interested in marketing your business to senior citizens, contact Chuck Burgess at 847.850.2125.

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