A Message from Mayor Daniel C. Shapiro on Family Days

As we enter into nicer weather, I wanted to take a moment to address the Board’s plans for this year’s Family Days celebration.

We have given a lot of thought and consideration as to how and whether to celebrate the Fourth of July. We are aware and sensitive to the tragedy in Highland Park last year and understand that people are still grieving. We have given thought as to what Family Days means for our community and the importance of not only remembering those who were affected, but also those who want to come together for one of our most popular events of the year. Despite the horrific shooting last year in Highland Park, we will go on. We will celebrate yet respect those who were impacted by the senseless killings.  

I want to assure you that as we plan for this year’s July 4th parade and other activities, we have carefully considered how to move forward together. To be clear, safety is our top priority. We have been working closely with our Police Department, Public Works Department and other agencies to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to make Family Days as safe as possible. 

This year’s Family Days Parade will not only be a celebration of our nation’s independence, but also a chance for us to come together as a community and show our support for one another. We do this in solidarity with our neighboring towns.

We will celebrate this year’s Family Days together. 

Removing Buckthorn

Buckthorn, a non-native invasive shrub or tree that can grow up to 22 feet tall, poses a serious threat to native plants and wildlife. Its rapid spread across property lines can create dense thickets that can overtake natural areas and reinvade cleared habitats if left untreated. To combat this problem, the Lake County Forest Preserves has developed a library of free resources to help residents eradicate common or European Buckthorn. These resources include educational removal videos and articles, guides for applying herbicide, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Once a homeowner has cleared the species from their property, they can request a "Buckthorn-Free" garden flag made of weather-resistant vinyl. These flags are offered free of charge to qualifying residents, thanks to a grant from the Preservation Foundation, the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves. To apply for a flag, residents must complete a brief form on the Forest Preserves' website. 

Help protect the native ecosystem and get involved today! Access to these free and easy-to-use resources can be found at the Lake County Forest Preserve website. 

Fire Hydrant Flushing & Painting

The Public Works Department will continue flushing all fire hydrants within the Village next week. Opening fire hydrants and flushing out water on an annual basis allows Public Works to ensure that hydrants are in proper working condition and helps to flush sediment out of the distribution system. 

Signs will be posted in each area before flushing begins. The work is typically performed between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and takes approximately two weeks to complete for the entire Village. 

On Wednesday, Go Painters, Inc., will start hydrant painting in the southwest quadrant and on Deerfield Road east of the viaduct. This year, 107 hydrants will be sandblasted and painted. The hydrants will first be painted white using primer and Go Painters will come back and apply the final red paint coat a few days later.

Waukegan Road Water Main Replacement Starts

This week, the contractor continued moving south along Waukegan Road installing the new water main. An additional crew will begin working near the north end performing side street connections and fire hydrants installations soon. Work may begin in the downtown area later next week, which is required to be done at night. Any anticipated impacts will be communicated via the Village blog as well as pertinent on-site signage. 

This $4M project will result in the full replacement of the existing and aged water main from Deerfield Road to North Avenue.

Updates on the project will be shared via the Village website and interested parties can sign up to receive e-mail and/or text message updates on the project. You can also watch a video of a recent public open house about the project.

For more information, contact the Engineering Department at 847.317.2490.