La Fox River Drive/Prairie Path Construction (from Public Works)

This week, crews continued the process of building bridge abutments for the new structure that will carry the trail over La Fox River Drive. The abutments serve as supports for the new bridge. Site preparation and foundation work also continued for the new pergola plaza by Rt. 31 and Main Street.

Next week, crews will continue forming and placing concrete for the bridge abutments. Concrete work will also begin on the new pergola structure. The concrete will form the foundation and seat walls in the new pergola plaza. These seat walls will match the seat walls currently found on Main Street. All work is weather dependent.

Please note: There are free, public parking lots near the trail (marked on the detour map below). Please park in these lots and not in the construction zone. Also, as an important reminder, during COVID-19 we ask that trail users not stop and congregate on the trail.

Please refer to project website for additional information.

http://oldtownalgonquin.org/index.html

Remote Village Board Meeting - Tuesday, May 5th

The Village Board meeting for Tuesday, May 5th will be held remotely. Please look at the agenda for details on how to listen to the meeting and/or make public comments. The following items are on the agenda: proclamation of National Police Week (May 10-16); proclamation of Police Memorial Day (May 15th); appointments for various positions/commissions/chair; approval of meeting minutes; and the approval of bills for payment & payroll expenses. Please refer to meeting packet in attached link for additional information.

https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1588347046_59082.pdf

Old Town Prairie Trail Update (from Public Works)

Old Town Prairie Trail Update (from Public Works) -This week, crews began the process of building the supports for the new bridge. Site preparation also began for the new rest area by Rt. 31 and Main Street. This area will provide trail user amenities such as picnic tables, pergola, waste receptacles and water fountains.

Next week, crews will continue excavating and forming the foundations for the bridge abutments (abutments are the walls on either side of the roadway the support the bridge structure). Work will also begin on the new pergola structure. Crews will create a level surface and install the foundations and seat walls in the new pergola plaza. These seat walls will match the seat walls currently found on Main Street. All work is weather dependent.

Please note: There are free, public parking lots near the trail, these lots are marked on the detour map below. Please park in these lots and not in the construction zone. Also as an important reminder, during COVID-19 we ask that trail users not stop and congregate on the trail.

We have received several questions about the type of lighting that will be installed along the trail. Please note:
They are small, decorative lamp posts about four feet high and less than two feet wide – not street lights.
Only five bollard light posts will be installed.
The bollard lights will accent the new features adjacent to the bicycle path near Rt 31.
These lights will match the ones placed on Main Street, as seen in the adjacent image.

Construction Detour:
The temporary ramp will route users to La Fox River Drive onto local streets where they can safely reconnect to the Prairie Trail through Towne Park. Please utilize the free, public parking lots indicated on the map.

For more information and detour map, visit the
Old Town project website.
http://oldtownalgonquin.org/old-town-prairie-trail.html

If you have questions, please contact Dan Crosson at 847-823-0500.

prairie-trail-map-with-under-construction-section.jpg

Stage 3 South Harrison Street Update (from Public Works)

Removal of the Prairie Trail pedestrian bridge over La Fox River Drive was completed this week. Crews also installed the first manhole at the intersection of La Fox River Drive and Center Street.

Next week, installation of the de-watering wells will continue along La Fox River Drive. Crews will also continue to make progress on the installation of the 30" sanitary sewer along La Fox River Drive, north of Center Street. Crews hope to advance sewer installation all the way to about Division Street by the end of the week. This work may cause restricted access, but residents will be notified ahead of time of any restrictions.

Access Information:
Please note that during the first phase of sanitary sewer installation, La Fox River Drive will be closed between Route 31 and Washington Street. The immediate area along La Fox River Drive where the contractor is working will be impassable, residents may be required to access their properties from either Washington Street or Route 31 depending on where the construction is at. Access within the work zone is limited to those residents within the work zone, please use caution while navigating the work zone as some areas may be restricted to one lane. All other traffic should follow the posted detours.

During construction, residents may have restricted access to their property as work progresses past their driveways. Residents will be notified the day before of any access restrictions, either in person or via a door hanger if no one is home. During non-working hours residents will have full access to their properties.

As Division Street, east of La Fox River Drive is a dead end, residents will have limited access while the sanitary sewer is being installed through the intersection of La Fox River Drive and Division Street. These residents will be notified in advance of this restriction which is anticipated to be in place for the next week or two.
http://oldtownalgonquin.org/stage-3-south-harrison-street.h…

Detour:
Traffic will be routed along Route 31 to Main Street and then back to Washington Street and La Fox River Drive.

We ask that drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists use caution due to the level of construction equipment along La Fox River Drive.

This project is expected to take 10 months to complete. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we invest in this important infrastructure project to improve the community.

stage3-4-detour-portrait-2v3_orig.jpg

Remote Special Liquor Commission & Village Board Meetings - Tues., April 28

There will be 2 remote special meetings on Tuesday, April 28 starting at 7:30 p.m. The Liquor Commission meeting will be discussing and approving liquor license renewals. The special board meeting will accept and approve the Financial Resiliency Plan and an agreement with Corrective Asphalt Materials LLC for Reclamite preservation seal application. Please click on the link for additional information on listening to the meeting, making public comment or learning about agenda items.
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1587752204_63603.pdf

Remote Village Meetings - Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Three Village meetings will be held remotely on Tuesday, April 21st: Liquor Commission Special meeting at 7:20 p.m.; Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m.; followed by the Committee of the Whole meeting at 7:45 p.m. The public can listen to the meeting via phone or dial in to the Zoom meeting. Please see meeting packet links for public comment information, agenda items and other details.
https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1587157225_4689.pdf (Liquor Commission Meeting)
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1587156268_17372.pdf (Village Board Meeting)
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1587156952_66141.pdf (Committee of the Whole Meeting)

Groot Garbage Stickers/Service

Are you running low on Groot garbage stickers? Residents can call Groot and order them over the phone at 800-244-1977. They will be mailed out to you.

From the Village of Algonquin website: “Effective the week of March 23, the following changes apply to Groot's weekly pickup service:

  • All trash/refuse must be placed in a company-designated cart, a can with handles, or bagged. Recycling must be placed in a company-designated cart. Loose, uncontained items will not be collected.

  • All bulky item/construction debris collection is suspended until further notice.

  • All white good/e-waste collection is suspended until further notice.

  • The Spring Cleanup event, originally scheduled for April 4 and 11, will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date.

  • At this time, yard waste and recycling service are unaffected; however, we anticipate that there may be changes in the future.

  • Need garbage stickers?  During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Groot is offering garbage sticker sales by phone at 800-224-1977 in addition to various retailers in the Algonquin area.”

groot.jpg

Committee of the Whole, April 14 - Remote

The proposed Pulte Trails of Woods Creek development is on the Tuesday, April 14th Committee of the Whole agenda. The file is very large so it's broken into two links. The first link contains agenda, public input directions, and other meeting materials. The second link contains the development information. The third link is to traffic videos of Fairway View Drive. The meeting is being held via videoconferencing/phone in, please read directions on agenda for public comments. Thank you.
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1586459224_67617.pdf
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1586459289_85432.pdf https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1586886691_79792.pdf

Village Board Meeting - April 7 - REMOTE

The Village Board meeting for Tuesday, April 7 will be held remotely. Residents can submit questions or comments and/or listen into the meeting (see below). Pursuant to Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order No. 2020-07 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 5), Governor Pritzker has suspended certain rules of the Open Meetings Act – specifically the Executive Order permits remote public meetings. In light of the current COVID-19 public health emergency and the prohibition of public gathering of 10 or more, the Village Board has chosen to conduct the board meeting remotely.
If you would like to listen to the meeting, please go to https://zoom.us/j/412538488 or dial in
(877)853-5257 or (888)475-4499 webinar ID 412 538 488.
To submit questions or comments to be read during the Audience Participation portion of the meeting, please submit your questions prior to the start of the meeting to meetingcomments@algonquin.org, Comments or questions received prior to the start of the
meeting (7:30 p.m.) will be read during the meeting and addressed, if appropriate, at that time. Within your email, please include your name and address. The meeting packet is at:
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1585941600_25977.pdf

Public Hearing on Proposed 2020-2021 Budget & Village Board Meeting - March 17

Village meetings for Tuesday, March 17th include: a public hearing for the proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 at 7:25 p.m. and the Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. The Village Board meeting agenda includes: approval of ordinance amending Ch.33 Liquor Control & Liquor Licensing; resolutions pertaining to side letter agreement with MAP, Alg. Civilian Ch. 183; intergovernmental agreement with McHenry Co. Conservation Dist.; agreement with Applied Ecological Services for Holder Park detention area; amendment to MFT Material & Maintenance Funds for 2019; allocation of MFT funds for 2020; ordinance amending Ch.14 Dogs & Other Animals of the Municipal Code; approve 2020 Summer Concerts; approve Family Entertainment Series; approve bills & meeting minutes; and approve zoning map. Please refer to links for additional packet information.
The Committee of the Whole meeting has been cancelled.
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1584130208_02761.pdf
https://www.algonquin.org/egov/documents/1584133280_1426.pdf

Ordinance Amending Ch. 14 Dogs and other Animals of the Municipal Code

Thank you to Tina and her friends, who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting last night, in support of amending Ch. 14 Dogs and other animals of the Municipal Code. This proactive ordinance will restrict the "sale of puppies, kittens and rabbits to only those sourced from shelters, humane or rescue organizations." The Committee of the Whole moved the ordinance forward to be voted on at the next Village Board meeting (3/17). Please note: The Village does NOT have any pet stores that sell puppy mill puppies/kittens.
Please read about Harley the pup featured here at:  www.harleysdream.org . Additional information on this issue can be found at: https://www.humanesociety.org/our-big-fights

Harley’s Dream: End Puppy Mills www.harleysdream.org

Harley’s Dream: End Puppy Mills www.harleysdream.org

Frequently Asked Question - What is a Committee of the Whole Meeting?

Residents have frequently asked me what is a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting? Committee of the Whole agenda items usually fall into three categories: Community Development, General Administration or Public Works/Safety issues. (Please see handout attached for detailed information on each category.) Items are discussed at the COW meeting; if an issue needs formal action by the Village Board it will be placed on the agenda of the Village Board meeting. Interested parties may register to speak prior to any public meeting.

COW explanation larger size.jpg

Sewer Work Update

Sewer Work Update (from Public Works):
Last week, crews completed work on filling in/sealing sewers and manholes that will not be used in the future. The contractor also finished removing the lift station located in the 900 block of North Harrison Street, which pumped sewage from low elevation to higher elevation. The lift station was removed because the new sewer is installed deeper, which allows the wastewater to be transported by gravity instead of having to be pumped.

This week, crews will continue cleaning up the site and hauling material and equipment offsite. The contractor will also continue working on storm sewers; this work is anticipated to last a few more weeks. The major work associated with the storm sewer replacement will take place at two sites: 1) the intersection of North Harrison Street and Sunny Drive and 2) along Edwards Street between North Harrison and North Main streets. Once the storm sewer work is installed, all the underground work will be completed. Crews will also replace a few structures along North Harrison Street, but this work will not impact traffic.

Here's what to expect as we move forward with completing the project:
North Harrison Street south of Sunny Drive will be patched with concrete once the storm sewer improvements are completed at the intersection of North Harrison Street and Sunny Drive.
North Harrison Street will be completely repaved from Sunny Drive north to the 900 block of North Harrison Street.
Crews will begin repaving and patching roads once asphalt plants open up for the season. Historically, this has been mid-April to mid-May.
Crews will replace curbs that were removed or damaged during construction.
Crews will complete driveway and sidewalk repairs around the same time as road patching and paving.
Crews will replace parkway grass after all driveways, sidewalks and curbs are repaired.

As the Stage 2 Harrison Street Project nears completion, the Village would like to thank you for your patience and cooperation during construction.

A special property access notice:

All residents south of Fox 14 Marina should access their properties from Front Street or Algonquin Road, including properties along Park Street, Brook Street, Riverview Drive and Fox 14 Marina.
All residents north of Fox 14 Marina should continue to follow the detour and access their properties from Blackhawk Trail.
Please be advised that while crews are working on storm sewer replacement, residents within the work area may need to follow the Stage 2 detour temporarily during working hours. Residents will have full access during off hours.

*Fox 14 Marina is open during construction and accessible from the north, off Blackhawk Trail.

Terrace Hill Subdivision Construction Update

Terrace Hill Subdivision construction update (from Public Works): Last week, crews finished replacing B-boxes, these are the control valves used to turn water services on and off to homes and structures.Crews also continued with necessary rehabilitation work on the sanitary and storm structures in addition to sewer point repairs.

This week's work will include further sewer construction and relocation of fire hydrants.

Thank you for keeping up with the progress of this project and if you have questions or concerns, please contact Doug Paulus, Project Engineer via email (DougPaulus@algonquin.org) or by phone 847-658-2754 ext. 4403.
http://terracehillproject.org/index.html

Committee of the Whole - March 10

The Committee of the Whole meeting agenda for Tuesday, March 10 (7:30 p.m.) includes:amend Ch33 Liquor Control & Liquor Licenses: Algonquin Cemetery cremation garden presentation;side letter agreement with Metropolitan Alliance of Police to modify certain workplace rules & policies; summer concert special events; amend Ch14 Dogs & Other Animals of Municipal Code; amend investment policy; review proposed 2020-2021 general fund budget; review other funds; Intergovernmental agreement with McHenry Co. Conservation District regarding improvements;agreement with Applied Ecological Services for Holder Park detention naturalization project; amend MFT Material & Maintenance funds for 2019; and a resolution allocating MFT funds for 2020 Material & Maintenance expenditures. Interested parties may register to speak prior to the meeting (forms are on table once inside the board room. The meeting will take place in the board room at 2200 Harnish Drive.

meeting agenda March 10.jpg

Park & Rec Input Needed - March 4

Wed., March 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 2200 Harnish Drive
Please attend & provide input on open space, parks, rec. programs.

The Village is working on a master planning project for the park and rec. offerings over next 10 years. Learn about the project and please give input.

For questions or to RSVP (appreciated but not required), please contact Katie Gock, Recreation Superintendent: phone 847-658-2716 or email recreation@algonquin.org.
https://www.algonquin.org/egov/apps/events/calendar.egov…

Liquor Commission Special Meeting/Village Board Meeting - March 3

There will be a Liquor Commission special meeting on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:20 p.m. followed by a Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. The Village Board meeting will include:ordinance PUD for ALDI in Oakridge Court (1100 S. Randall Rd.); ordinance PUD amendment for Esplanade Phase II (2301, 2351 & 2401 Millbrook Dr.); approval of expenses; approval of meeting minutes; resolution authorizing Village Manager & Attorney to execute documents of conveyance of property at 1110 Prairie Dr; and executive session (land acquisition). Please refer to links for additional information:
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1582907192_36597.pdf
https://www.algonquin.org/eg…/documents/1582924726_80396.pdf