Wind Turbine Alliance Rally a Great Success

This past week was the Wind Turbine Alliance Rally for HB 6660. On a cold windy night over 80 people showed up for the information sharing. This was a great turnout that demonstrates the wide reaching community support around this issue. We were very honored that one of our Congressmen, and four of our State Senators and Representatives could join us for this discussion.

The Wind Turbine Alliance is working to provide clean, sustainable energy to schools by forming a consortium of public entities supporting the use of wind turbines located in Central Illinois. The goal for school districts is to leave a smaller carbon footprint, and be a positive role model for the students in their charge. A second goal of the Alliance is to reach out to those School Districts, College Districts, and Municipalities across the state to share the message to their State Senators and Representatives on the subject matter. Saving tax dollars for those taxing bodies and offering head of house type employment down state are certainly goals worthy of debate by our government leaders in the State House.

I am most appreciative of the time shared by our elected officials who are only a week away from the election. This bi-partisian initiative couldn't be more grass root oriented, we thank them all.


US Representative Peter Roskam, 6th Congressional District; Gary Ofisher, Keeneyville School District #20; Representative Franco Coladipietro (R) 45th District; Dr. Carol Auer, Superintendent Keeneyville School District #20; Senator Michael Noland (D) 22nd District; Representative Harry R. Ramey Jr. (R) 55th District; Representative Fred Crespo (D) 44th District; and Rodney S. Craig, Village President, Hanover Park.
I was honored by the attendance of our prominent representatives who share in the Mayor's enthusiasm for Alternative and Sustainable Energy Sources.

Seeking Public Input for Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Development

The press release below was released today from the Village of Hanover Park. I encourage all residents to participate.

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Hanover Park Requests Public Input
For Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Development

As part of the development of the Village’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2010 budget, a public input meeting is scheduled Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 7:30 PM in the Board Room of the Village Hall, 2121 W. Lake Street, Hanover Park.

The first step in the Village budget process is to solicit public input. With this meeting, residents have an opportunity to appear before Elected Officials and provide comment about budget issues. Topics could include public safety services, municipal utilities, public works projects or financial resources necessary to fund the budget.

The meeting format is similar to the Village Board meeting Town Hall session in which residents can appear directly before Elected Officials. Their input will be recorded so suggestions can be listed and discussed subsequently. However, debate or immediate proposal response is not planned at this meeting. The meeting’s purpose is to provide an open forum for public commentary.

A second Fiscal Year 2010 public budget meeting is scheduled Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 7:30 PM, one week later. At this meeting, Elected Officials will discuss previously submitted public input comments and receive a list of identified projects and programs prepared by Village Departments. With combined public and Village staff input, Elected Officials will have a comprehensive concept of issues to be discussed during Fiscal Year 2010 budget deliberations.

The third and final preliminary budget meeting is scheduled Monday, December 1, 2008. At this meeting, the Village Board will decide which suggested or recommended projects or programs will be analyzed and evaluated for inclusion in the final budget.

The Fiscal Year 2010 budget allocates expenditures and financial resources necessary to provide Village services for the period May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010

Minute with the Mayor September

This is a little late, but this is the Minute with the Mayor from the September Hi-Lighter.

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Hanover Park having celebrated its 50th Birthday August 14th toasted the Eagle and Gold Award Scouts at our event kick-off in the VIP tent. The Family Festival was a huge success and everyone really was impressed with the line-up of music and youth activities. The weather was most complimentary, staff performed like all the activities were business as normal. Volunteers were everywhere and most notable was the support for the Parade. Hahnz Teope, Parade Coordinator had a goal to have more youth in the parade than watching. I believe he achieved that goal. Rick Roberts and Ray Kiel, Parade Coordinators along with Hahnz were a blur of activity organizing walkers and locating floats to perfection teamed up with Kim Benedix who managed the information.

The Classic Car Show really topped off the weekend, sponsored by Prairie Station Pub proprietor, John Holdeman. What a great job, 174 cars, super trophies, and cash awards. The Hanover Park Community Resource Center (DuCap) was the recipient of a nice donation for their efforts, as was BSA Troop 398. We are truly a town blessed with people who care as demonstrated by the work completed. Thanks to Police, Fire, Cert Team, Fire Core, Public Works, and Staff.

I’m often asked about the Wind Turbine Generator, it remains a work in progress as House Bill 6660 gathers momentum to solve the aggregation issue with ComEd. Thanks to State Representatives Fred Crespo and Randy Ramey for the sponsorship. Numerous School Districts have signed resolutions in support of the initiative and there is more to come in the near future. On October 24, 2008, Keeneyville School District #20 and your Mayor will be presenting the initiative at the Lt. Governors 3rd Annual Sustainable Cities Symposium, at Benedictine University. I’m also working on an Energy Forum for October 28, 2008, at Lake Park High School. We have a plan to save taxpayers dollars.

Recently I was asked by PACE at one of my DuPage Mayor & Manager Transportation meetings, if we would be receptive to participating in a bus line touching Hanover Park. Given every municipality around us is engaged in bus service in one form or another, I’ve been a tad outspoken on the subject. We expect a route that will touch our train station, motor along Barrington Rd to the Alexian Hospital, back to Golf Rd and onto Woodfield Mall. Hoo Rah!

STORM NEWS: Finally, we had a very wet weekend a few days ago. 9.1 inches in 36 hours, or 90 billion gallons of water fell on the area. Numerous streets were flooded and water washed over curbs into family rooms. When MWRD shut down many residents suffered the indignity of sewer water backing into their homes. I’ve been in contact with elected officials of that facility and a formal response is headed our way. Many communities have Ordinances that mandate overhead sewers to stop the backup, we will be considering that plan and offer residents a cost-sharing upgrade program. Today I signed a Declaration of Disaster to enable maximum benefit to residents under the Federal guidelines. The staff is sharing mailings to the impacted areas, and if you have any concerns please call for clarity. I expect all information to be contained on the Village Web site. We are also completing an assessment of damages, so hopefully anyone with a loss is in contact with the Village.

To this end, I encourage residents to contact me with concerns or questions via office staff, phone messaging, and email. Village Board meetings are held monthly on the first and third Thursdays at 7:30 PM. It continues to be my pleasure to represent the people of Hanover Park, our hometown. Take an opportunity to get involved.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event in Carol Stream

Our neighbor, Carol Stream is taking leadership in partnering with the County in terms of recycling. Please take a look at this PDF about the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Saturday, October 25 from 8am to 3pm. This is a free event, so I hope that you will take advantage of it if you have the need.

Young Adult Job Fair

Young Adult Job Fair (Ages 16-22)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22,6-8PM

(6:00pm-6:45pm) Job Skills Seminar: “How to Have a Successful Interview.”
You must attend in order to interview with businesses.

(6:45pm-8:00pm) Fill out applications and interview with the businesses.
Please dress appropriately for an interview.
Bring names and phone numbers of three references.

Where: Astor Avenue Community Center (kitty-corner from Fiesta Market)
7431 Astor Avenue, Hanover Park, IL.

Organized by the Hanover Township Youth and Family Services Sponsored by Target, ChiroOne Wellness Centers and Panera Bread

Presidential Disaster Declaration for Cook and DuPage

Presidentail Disaster Declaration for Cook and DuPage

Presidential Disaste Declaration - Upload a Document to Scribd

Rally for the Wind Farm Alliance

Rally for the Wind Farm Alliance

October 28, 2008
6:00 PM
Lake Park High School
West Campus Auditorium
500 West Bryn Mawr, Roselle

The Alliance is working to provide clean, Sustainable energy to schools north of I80 by forming a consortium of public entities supporting the use of wind turbines located in Central Illinois.

We want to increase income for school districts, leave a smaller carbon footprint, and be a positive role model for our students who will one day be left to deal with the environment we leave them.

In attendance:
U. S. Representative Peter Roskam
State Representative Fred Crespo
State Representative Randy Ramey
Hanover Park Village Mayor Rod Craig
You, we hope!

Sponsored by: Mayor Rod Craig of Hanover Park
Keeneyville Elementary School District#20
Lake Park High School District #108


Wind Farm Alliance for the Benefit of School Districts in Illinois

On August 23, 2007, Illinois Public Act 095-0390 went into effect permitting that “an Illinois school district may own and operate a wind generation turbine farm, either individually or jointly, that directly or indirectly reduces the energy or operating costs of a school district.”

While the ability to own a wind turbine farm granted in Public Act 095-0390 is a great step in assisting school districts to free itself from the dependence of traditional electricity, the inability to reap the financial benefit due to the location of wind turbine farms and their distance from school districts remains problematic.

The majority of school districts in the state north of I-80 do not have the land or the access to some of the best-proven wind resources that are located in central Illinois.

To remedy this deficiency, legislation was introduced in the Illinois House in July, 2008 under HB 6660 by Representative Fred Crespo.

HB 6660 would mandate net aggregate metering for school districts that own a wind turbine farm regardless of where it is located in the State of Illinois and require electrical companies to give each district that is a participant in a wind farm intergovernmental agreement one kilowatt credit for each kilowatt produced by a wind turbine against the aggregate bills of the district at the current cost of electricity.

This will result in significant savings on utility bills for participating districts, and that savings can be spent on more direct educational needs. It will also mean that participating school districts will not have to ask for more tax dollars as electricity costs increase in the future. This will also be good for electricity-producing companies because they will not have to make a capital investment or provide ongoing maintenance for equipment that produces green renewable energy.

With the proposed federal renewal of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) schools will have access to interest free loans to build the proposed wind farm. This would mean a faster return on investment for our school districts so that more dollars can be used on the ever-increasing needs of our children.

School districts have formed the Wind Farm Alliance to stand up for what the right thing to do is for Illinois and our global environment. By creating more wind farms we will reduce our carbon impact on the atmosphere and set an example for our students and all our citizens. Saving money for the taxpayer, conserving money for education, helping the environment and providing a civic example to students are actions worth supporting.

The Wind Alliance of School Districts in Illinois sincerely hopes you will support passage of HB 6660 and the federal renewal of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds.

For more information contact Gary Ofisher via email at gofisher@esd20.org.

Study says Wind Farm on Great Lakes is Possible

I wanted to pass along this Washington Post article, Studies Lift Hopes for Great Lakes Wind Turbine Farms, that notes that a wind farm may be possible on the great lakes.

Mallard Lake Landfill Update

In Hanover Park we have been concerned following the inspections that occurred last November 2007. The presence of methane underground that has leeched away from the landfill required special investigations and research. I have been following the progress since then, enlisting our legislators and others in the assurance that the methane gas would be removed and that assurances would be made that his problem would be cleared up and the area restored. I have included my letter and a response from IEPA below.

Last night, at a meeting with the EPA, residents received a briefing on the extraction of methane outside the boarders of the landfill. The gas removal outside the landfill has been a point of discussion for some time. What is safe and prudent given the surrounding environment. The method of choice will involve about a half-dozen gas extraction wells and five temporary thermal oxidizing units. Three of these will be placed strategically in Hawk Hollow and the other three along Zepplin Drive, County Farm Road, and Goddard Lane. These methane removal systems are the size of a small trailer that has an engine that runs on propane and methane gases. They will be in place for a minimum of four months and not longer than nine months. I agree with this choice given the alternatives evaluated and reviewed.

The extraction units were demonstrated in the parking lot following the meeting and we were able to see and hear them operate. The noise is very low and it operates from a small 4-cylinder engine. The operation is closely monitored, and the process has been reviewed by the Fire Department who assures us that the operation is safe. The Village will be asking that the extraction facility be sound proofed and surrounded by a fence. We believe this is the best choice for gas extraction, as alternatives involve tearing up the road, lawns, and running pipe over long distances. Additionally, these type wells and extraction devices have been successful within the boundaries of the la ndfill where gas has diminished to a zero level.

Concerning the homes that have wells and septic along County Farm Road, I requested funds to see this is rectified. There is no movement on this matter. There is a policy issue with the Forest Preserve District we can discuss when you have an opportunity.

I was also informed that there is an additional leak of methane gas at the Northeast corner of the landfill. It is near Greenbrook School, the Principal has been advised. I called Gary Ofisher, Business & Finance Manager for Dist 20, today and he is aware. The Landfill Operator will be installing additional monitoring devices between the school and the landfill. This is breaking news. I will be watching this closely as the problem evolves. The integrity of the landfill is in question and people are rightly concerned.

Letter to the EPA from Rod Craig

Letter to EPA from Rod Craig - Upload a Document to Scribd

Mallard Lake Landfill Plan from the EPA

Mallard Lake Landfill Plan from EPA - Upload a Document to Scribd

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domstic Violence Awareness Proclamation

Domestic Violence Awareness Month - Upload a Document to Scribd

Arts and Humanities Month in Hanover Park

Arts and Humanities Month, click here to read the proclamation

Arts and Humanities Month - Upload a Document to Scribd

Welcome to Mt. Prospect District 57 and the City of West Chicago

We are happy to welcome Mt. Prospect School District 57 and the City of West Chicago to our Wind Turbine Initiative. We have been gaining momentum and increasing the interest of local municipalities and school Districts. We continue to work toward wise energy decisions for our communities.