On March 20, 2012 Vernon Hills voters will have an opportunity to vote on a referendum which, if approved, would allow the Village the ability to seek competitive pricing for the provision of electricity to residents and small businesses. According to the Illinois Community Choice Aggregation Network, there are 266 Illinois municipalities which will have this referendum question on the ballot. The referendum question asks Vernon Hills voters if the Village should have the authority to seek competitive pricing bids for electric services under a single contract. The Village of Vernon Hills is working with the Villages of Arlington Heights, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Palatine, Buffalo Grove & Wheeling on this initiative. Collectively, the communities will seek one wholesale electric supplier to obtain competitive electricity prices. By aggregating power, it is believed that the Village will be able to obtain the best supply rate for residents and small businesses. Customers not interested in participating may opt-out of the program. 

For more information, attend a public information meeting on Thursday, March 8 at 7:00 pm at Vernon Hills Village Hall. Also to learn more about this important initiative, go to the Village’s web site at www.vernonhills.org

There are three environmentally friendly options available to Sarah's Glen residents to dispose of your Christmas tree.

1. You can drop off your tree at the Lake County Forest Preserve for recycling. Donated trees are chipped and used for trails and for landscaping at forest preserves throughout Lake County. Bring your tree to the conveniently located Half Day drop-off site in Vernon Hills  Drop-offs are accepted only between December 28 and January 31. Only undecorated, real Christmas trees can be accepted; no yard waste. Commercial drop-offs are prohibited. Lake County Forest Preserves are open from 6:30 a.m. to sunset, daily. More information and addtional drop off points can be found at the LCFP website.
2. The Vernon Hills Public Works department will be picking up Christmas trees in Sarah's Glen on Friday, January 6th and on Thursday, January 12th.  Your tree must be at the curb by 7:00am the day of pick-up and have all lights, ornaments, stands and bags removed from the tree.  If bad weather prevents pickup on the last date, there will be a make-up day on Friday January 13th.
3. After January 13, you may bring your tree to the Vernon Hills Public Works building for recycling.  Public Works will not pick-up trees after the January 13th make-up date (if needed).

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Monday normal pick up will be on Tuesday (Dec 27th / Jan 3rd)
Thursday normal pick up will be on Friday (Dec 30th / Jan 6th)

The Vernon Hills Village Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Village to place a referendum on the March 20, 2012 election ballot. The referendum is a requirement of state law, which if approved, would enable the Village to seek competitive pricing for the provision of electricity to residents and small businesses. In order to seek competitive prices for electrical services in one contract, the Village needs approval from registered voters through a referendum.  

The purpose of pursuing this initiative is to lower electricity costs for the benefit of residents and businesses. To learn more about this important initiative, go to the Village’s web site at www.vernonhills.org or email MikeA@vhills.org

The Village of Vernon Hills Code of Ordinance regulates where waste containers may be stored and the time when waste containers can be placed at the street for pickup.  To comply with the Village Ordinance, the following regulations must be followed.
 
- All trash containers and recycling containers must be stored out of public view In your garage (Sarah's Glen specific)

- Waste containers must have tightly fitting covers and the covers are to remain in the closed position.
 
- Garbage, rubbish or other refuse, cannot be placed at the curb for collection before 5:00 PM the day preceding the scheduled pick up day.  All containers must be removed from public view before 7:00 PM the day of pickup.
 
Thank you for keeping Vernon Hills and outstanding place to live
 
For questions or additional information please contact the Community Development Department.

Roger L.  Byrne
Village President
 
For Immediate Release   

The Village of Vernon Hills fights Springfield “stealth tax” 
State’s threat to pilfer local budgets will increase taxes, fees
                                                               
Just months after state lawmakers increased income taxes by 66 percent, Vernon Hills’ residents could face devastating cuts in essential services if Springfield politicians get their way and don’t return hundreds of millions of dollars already paid by local taxpayers that are legally owed to local communities.
 
One legislative proposal is threatening to cut the Village of Vernon Hills’ funding by $590,000.  This amounts to a “stealth tax” on local taxpayers and our communities.
 
Taking away this revenue, which pays for essential local programs, front-line services and critical personnel, will merely shift the state’s burden onto municipal and county governments and will have a disastrous impact on local services for residents.
 
“Local governments have been reducing spending and balancing their budgets responsibly during these difficult economic times,” said Mayor Byrne. “Springfield cannot expect local taxpayers to fix the state’s budget problems.”
 
Like Illinois families, cities, villages and counties have been making significant sacrifices and cutting back during these tough economic times, slashing programs, curbing constituent services, delaying projects and reducing workers, including police.
 
We have reduced our payroll over the past 24 months by 11 employees. We now have under 100 employees from a peak number in 2001 of 128.
 
But instead of making those same difficult decisions to balance the state’s budget, some members of the Illinois General Assembly have proposed changing state law to hijack locally generated revenue. This money has been paid by local taxpayers with the understanding it would return to their local communities to fund local services.
 
Mayors, Village Presidents and County Board Chairs from around Illinois are launching new efforts to stop the Springfield “stealth tax” and are calling on residents to voice their opposition and tell lawmakers to tighten their own belts without picking the pockets of local communities. They are asking residents to contact their local state senators and representatives, letting them know they oppose cuts in local funding.
 
Local leaders across Illinois have been identifying how the cuts would impact their individual communities and are preparing for reductions if state lawmakers succeed in pilfering the funds and denying the money that legally belongs to their communities, not as a bailout for state government. One proposal is calling for Springfield to take some $300 million in local funding while another proposal could eliminate more than $1 billion in local funding.
 
As a result of the Great Recession the Village of Vernon Hills has already experienced a reduction of the total LGDF from $2.2 M in Fiscal Year 07-08 to a projected $1.8 M in Fiscal Year 10-11.  Legislative action may result in a further loss of up to $590,000.
 
Illinois municipalities and counties rely on the Local Government Distributive fund, which was instituted in 1969 in exchange for cities, villages and counties not imposing their own income tax. It guarantees municipalities and counties a share of state income tax receipts to help fund local services.
 
The legislature’s stealth tax would serve as yet another in a series of blows to local communities. In addition to residents and businesses feeling the pain of the 66 percent income tax increase, cities, villages and counties were excluded from collecting on any new revenue while experiencing lower Local Government Distributive Fund receipts due to the sluggish economy. Meanwhile, the state is now four to five months behind in disbursing payments to local governments.
 
Again, we ask the residents of Vernon Hills to insist that Senator Link and Representative Sente maintain the current income tax distribution under the Local Government Distributive Fund.

Vernon Township Highway Department
3050 N. Main Street
Buffalo Grove IL

Friday, May 27th 2011
8:30am to 3:30pm.

http://swalco.org/collectionevents/ElectronicsCollectionEvents