As we welcome 2012, I hope that residents and visitors of Oak Brook have a happy, healthy and harmonious New Year! The Village is already busy working on many projects which I'll update about in the near future, but for now, would like to take a moment and focus on safety.
Check Batteries in Alarm Systems and Detectors
Resolve to be Ready for emergencies in 2012
Oak Brook's Emergency Notification System
Call 9-1-1 in an Emergency
Preparing for snowy weather
Alarm Systems and Detectors: The new year is a great opportunity to ensure home security systems, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are properly working. By changing alarm and detector batteries at least once
Dr. Gopal G. Lalmalani
Village President
a year and testing
those alarms monthly, you are providing your family with the most effective ways to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries. Additionally, by proactively checking security systems batteries, residents can help reduce false alarms in Oak Brook.
Resolve to be Ready: : As the new year approaches, the Village is asking residents to make a resolution to be prepared for emergencies in 2012 and beyond. We all known that Oak Brook has had more than our share of weather related events over the past few years and it is smart to be ready for the future. So, the Village is suggesting that everyone does the following: (1) Create a family emergency plan, as your family might not be together when an emergency happens. (You can download a template family emergency plan by visiting:
www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
) (2) Put together an emergency supply kit. This means having your own food, water and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. (3) Get involved in emergency preparedness. Contact local chapters of the
American Red Cross
and
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for local disaster preparedness and response service opportunities.
Oak Brook's Emergency Notification System: If you haven't already, please
sign-up for Village's notification system, which allows Village leaders to send personalized voice messages to residents and businesses within minutes with specific information about time-sensitive emergency information and as well as important local community matters. Additionally, information is now also posted on the Village's official
Facebook page and
Twitter account.
Call 9-1-1 in an Emergency: : Emergencies happen at all hours, but residents, guests and visitors should always call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Your will call be handle promptly and professionally. In order for us to provide the best service possible during an emergency, it is benefit for us to know a few key things. For example, if you have an alarm system at your residence it is helpful to know the names, addresses and phone numbers of any key holders. If you have a security gate, it is good for us to know how to gain access without having to break through. It is also helpful to know whether or not emergency response personnel will encounter any pets in your home. Information about existing health conditions also assists us in providing emergency services in advance of emergency personnel arrival.
Preparing for snowy weather:: As winter settles in, it is reassuring to know that Oak Brook's crews are ready. The Street crews will apply a deicer salt until snow accumulations reaches 1.5 inches or more. Then during snow plowing operations, snow will be pushed to the side of the street, but safety and traffic flow dictates that main streets be plowed first, followed by secondary streets, which are followed by cul-de-sacs and dead-ends. Under normal conditions, the Village strives to plow and salt all streets within 10 hours after the storm.
As always, please know that the Trustees, our Village staff, and I are available to you at all times. We are here to serve you. Feel free to email, call, or meet any one of us. Kindly give us your thoughts and ideas; let us know how we are doing, and what else we need to be working on. There is always room for each one of us to improve. I pledge to you that we will do the best we can to make things happen.
Respectfully,
Gopal Lalmalani
Village President
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION
For more information, click on headings below.
The Village of
Oak Brook will raise its water
billing rates in 2012
Effective January 1, 2012 The Village of Oak Brook will raise its water billing rates to $5.65 (five dollars and sixty five cents) for Oak Brook Residents and $7.05 (seven dollars and five cents) for Non Residents per 1,000 gallons. This rate increase is due in large part to the increases from the City of Chicago, which are passed through the DuPage Water Commission. In May 2011, the DWC raised our bulk water rates by 10%. In October 2011 they announced additional increases of 30% in 2012, 20% in 2013, 18% in 2014 and 17% in 2015. The adjustment in our rates will also insure the availability of funds necessary to maintain, replace and repair the existing water main infrastructure.
The Village would like to introduce an incentive for water customers to sign up for our direct debit water bill payment program and a reward for those who already take advantage of this convenience. The direct debit program automatically deducts the amount due on your water bill from your checking or savings account on the bill due date. If you enroll in or continue to participate in this program you will be given a $1.00 credit per month on your water bill. We are also offering the convenience of having your water bill emailed to you. Enrollment forms and more information can be found on our website at
http://www.oak-brook.org/dep_vservices/water_billing.shtml or by contacting the water billing department at 630.368.5090 or
creid@oak-brook.org.
22nd St improvements Project
The 22nd Street improvements are now completed! The work at 22nd St and Midwest is expected to be completed by mid-January. Thank you for your patience and enjoy the new widened road.
BECOME INVOLVED NOW IN YOUR
COMMUNITY.
Village President Gopal Lalmalani is asking Oak Brook residents to become actively involved in your community by applying for an appointed position to
one of the Village's various Boards, Commissions or Committees. If you would like a chance to donate your time and expertise in a specific field,
you will find a brief description of all appointed positions along with an application for appointments by clicking on this
link. Applications mayalso be
picked up at Village Hall.
All completed applications should be turned in to Village Hall, Office of the President.
