Village of Barrington

ENGINEERING

Q:

What street improvements are planned for this year?

A:

Call the Public Works Department at (847) 381-7903 for this information.

Q:

Will the Village remove and replace my flowers and landscaping in the parkway during the street improvements?

A:

We request that residents relocate all vegetation that they wish to protect from the parkway prior to construction. Letters notifying residents of the pending work are typically sent out several times before construction starts. Parkway trees will be addressed by the Village. If you have additional concerns, call us at (847) 381-7903.

Q:

What about mail delivery during street construction?

A:

If your mailbox is at the street, the contractor is required to remove and replace it per U.S. Postal Regulations. If the street is completely reconstructed, a mailbox will be placed outside the construction zone at a location designated by the Post Office. A letter will be delivered to you regarding the location of the temporary mailbox location. The phone number for the Barrington Post Office is (847) 381-0510.

Q:

Where do I place my garbage on Friday when my street is under construction?

A:

Place it where you always put it. The contractor will accommodate the garbage collectors so that they can pick up your garbage.

Q:

What is the Village Code regarding discharging stormwater from roof down spouts or sump pumps?

A:

They should discharge into the storm sewer system; if one is adjacent to your lot, or onto your lawn no closer than ten feet from your property line. The stormwater should not adversely affect your neighbors.

Q:

My neighbor has re-graded and landscaped his backyard. Now, I have stormwater ponding in my yard which I did not have before. What can the Village do about this?

A:

Call the Building and Zoning Department (847) 304-3460 to see if a permit was issued for the work. If there was a permit, we will be out to inspect the work to see if it has been done properly. If no permit was issued, they will be required to rectify the condition.

Q:

My neighbor put a large addition on his house and enlarged the garage. Now, I have much more stormwater run-off through my property than I had before. How can the Village assist me?

A:

Call the Building and Zoning Department (847) 304-3460 to have Public Works check to see if the work was done properly.

WATER PRODUCTION

Q:

What is the hardness and iron content of the Village's potable water?

A:

The hardness of the water is 25 grains/gallon or about 400 mg/l as Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). This is the information that most water softener installers are looking for to install water softeners in residential homes. Iron content is less than 0.2 mg/l which is below the IEPA and USEPA minimum recommendation of 0.3 mg/l.

Q:

How do I find out what the lead concentration is in my drinking water at home?

A:

The Water Department uses three (3) State "certified" laboratories for testing the lead concentration in the Village's potable drinking water.

• Suburban Labs, Hillside, Illinois, (708) 544-3260
• Test America, East Dundee, Illinois, (847) 783-4960
• McHenry Analytical Lab, McHenry, Illinois, (815) 344-4044

The typical cost for lead analysis in drinking water is $15.00 - $20.00 per test.

Q:

Where does the Village of Barrington potable water supply come from?

A:

The Village retrieves groundwater from four (4) shallow wells located throughout the Village. The Village investigated the possibility to supply Lake Michigan water to serve the Village, but due to the high costs associated with the process, it was deemed impractical and cost prohibitive.

CENTRAL GARAGE

Q:

What does the Village do with their used vehicles?

A:

Village vehicles are typically sold through the Northwest Municipal Conference Auctions. Contact us for additional information on dates and locations of the upcoming auctions.

Q:

Where can I recycle used oil, antifreeze, batteries, and old tires?

A:

There are collection stations in the area. Please call Public Works (847) 381-7903 for this information.

WATER & SEWER MAINTENANCE

Q:

Whom do I contact regarding my Utility bill?

A:

Please contact Utility Billing located at the Village Hall at (847) 304-3430.

Q:

I have a water leak in my house. How do I turn off the water?

A:

Each home has an inside shutoff valve that is located on the water service before the water meter which is the responsibility of the homeowner to replace or repair. The water can be shut off at this valve. The water meter is usually located in your basement, or crawl space area. Should you find this valve be inoperable, contact the Public Works Department at (847) 381-7903 to have the outside B-box turned off. The B-box is generally located in the parkway or in the street.

Q:

Where does the Village's responsibility begin and end when it comes to repairs/replacement of a sanitary sewer break in a commercial or residential service line?

A:

The Village of Barrington is responsible for the sanitary sewer main (typically running down the middle of the street or in the parkway) and the sanitary service connection at the main. From the service connection to inside the building is the property owner's responsibility for maintenance and repairs.

Q:

Why is my water rusty during hydrant flushing?

A:

Fire hydrant flushing removes a considerable amount of the loose mineral contents and settled solids that accumulate in the water system. During hydrant flushing, the water system becomes stirred up until flushing is complete.

Q:

Where does the Village's responsibility begin and end when it comes to repairs/replacement of a water line break in a commercial or residential water line?

A:

The Village of Barrington is responsible for the water service from the connection at the water main to the underground shut-off (b-box) valve which is located in the parkway or in the street. The property owner is responsible for any repairs or maintenance needed on the service line from the b-box to the building.

Q:

We had a water main break in my yard/parkway. When will my yard/parkway be restored?

A:

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Many factors affect the restoration of the parkway such as the time of the year that the excavation was made, availability of dry topsoil, availability of hot asphalt for driveway repairs, etc. Every effort will be made to have the repairs completed in a timely fashion. For example, if the excavation was made during the months of November through February, the Public Works Department will try to have the restoration completed prior to Memorial Day. For excavations during March through October, we strive to have the excavated area completed within 8 to 10 weeks. A major challenge is to get the parkway area "settled" so that after the restoration is complete, a return trip to add topsoil or repave a driveway because of settlement will not occur.

Q:

When you repair my parkway/yard, can you replace it with sod, instead of grass seed?

A:

The Village uses a quality grass seed to repair all excavations in lawn areas. There are a couple of reasons we use seed. First, seed provides a thicker, more drought resistant lawn after the seed grows. Second, during the summer months, if sod is not watered regularly it dies which necessitates a return trip to remove and replace the dead sod which increases costs as well as lengthens the time it takes to bring the yard back to its original condition. If there are areas of the seed that do not fill in, Public Works will return to re-seed that area.

Q:

My sewer has backed up in my basement. Whom should I call?

A:

Call Public Works at (847) 381-7903 before you call a plumber. It could possibly be the Village's main sanitary line. We need to verify this before a plumber is contacted.

Q:

I have an old lead water service in my home. Is the water safe to drink?

A:

Yes, the water is safe to drink. For further explanation, please refer to the pamphlet "Lead and Your Family's Health," available at both the Village Hall and Public Works.

Q:

During a water main break, how will I know when the water service has been restored to my home?

A:

Check your faucet periodically to see if water service has been restored in your area.

Q:

I am experiencing low water pressure in my home/business. What should I do?

A:

Start by checking and cleaning faucet screens for sediment that might have built up within them, or place your water softener in the bypass mode to see if water pressure has increased. If no change has occurred, contact Public Works at (847) 381-7903 to schedule an appointment for one of our meter technicians to come out and check the inside water meter.

Q:

Does the Village have a program for an overhead sewer/flood control?

A:

The Village of Barrington has a cost share program for installation of overhead sewers. Please contact Public Works at (847) 381-7903 for information regarding this program.

Q:

I have a water meter on the outside of my house. Why do I have to make an appointment for you to read my water meter inside?

A:

If the outside register is not functioning properly, or has been damaged, it will be necessary for Public Works to gain access to the home or business to obtain a reading from the master meter located on the inside of the property to clear up any possible billing discrepancies.

Q:

I am replacing the shut-off valve by my water meter. Who is responsible for this repair, the Village or me?

A:

The Village of Barrington owns and maintains only the water meter. The property owner is responsible for repairs or replacement of the interior shutoff valve before and after the water meter. Please contact Public Works, (847) 381-7903, at least 48 hours in advance so we can make sure the outside b-box is operational prior to calling a plumber to replace your inside valve.

RECYCLING & REFUSE

Q:

Whom do I contact regarding my garbage bill?

A:

Contact the Village Hall Utility Billing Division at (847) 304-3430.

Q:

I have old paint. How can I dispose of it?

A:

If the paint is dried up, you can throw it in the regular garbage. To dry up paint, add kitty litter or oil dry and/or leave the lid open until the paint is completely dry. It is then safe to dispose of as regular refuse. If you have a substantial amount of paint, call Public Works (847) 381-7903 for more information.

Q:

What can I do with my old refrigerator, stove, water hearer, etc.?

A:

Call Groot Recycling at (773) 242-1977 for a "special" pick up. Please be aware, however, they charge a fee for this service, or call Public Works (847) 381-7903 for more information.

Q:

How do I properly dispose of old pesticides, chemicals, etc.?

A:

These are household hazardous waste items. Some municipalities in the surrounding area sponsor Household Hazardous Waste Collection Stations in the spring and fall. Call Public Works (847) 381-7903 for more information or call Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) (847) 724-9205 or check out their website at www.swancc.org.

Q:

When is garbage day?

A:

Garbage day in the Village is on Friday. All refuse, recycling, and yard waste are picked up on Friday. All refuse, recycling, and compost material must be at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Friday morning. Please contact us regarding holiday pick-up.

Q:

What items can I put in my compost container?

A:

Grass clippings, leaves, sod, flowers, and brush or branches that are less than one-inch in diameter (or about the size of your thumb).

Q:

What items can be recycled?

A:

Newspaper, aluminum, and certain plastic containers. If you need more information, call Public Works at (847) 381-7903.

Q:

Where can I get woodchips for my home landscaping?

A:

Woodchips are available at Public Works located at 300 North Raymond Avenue, from April through October. Please bring your own shovel and containers.

Q:

Where can I purchase leaf bags?

A:

You can purchase leaf bags at the Barrington Ace Hardware located at 189 West Northwest Highway (Route 14) or at the Public Works Department, 300 North Raymond Avenue.

STREET OPERATIONS

Q:

Whom do I call to report a traffic signal/outage problem?

A:

Call the Public Works Department, (847) 381-7903. Please provide as much detail as possible. This information should include intersection street names, and which direction of travel is affected by the problem, and what the exact problem is.

Q:

Whom do I call to report a street light outage/problem?

A:

Call the Public Works Department, (847) 381-7903. Please provide the location of the street light with street names and addresses if possible.

Q:

How often does the street sweeper clean the streets in our neighborhood?

A:

The sweeper season starts the first week of April. Each neighborhood will be swept once per month during the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September. Starting in October the sweeper will be out, as necessary, to keep the streets clean. This will continue until all leaves and debris are cleaned up or as long as weather permits. In addition the Central Business District is swept every Tuesday and Friday morning (4am– 7am) from April 1st until mid to late November, or as long as weather permits.

Q:

During snow season, may I park my car on the street?

A:

In addition to the regular Village parking restrictions that prohibit parking from 1am until 6am, there is no parking on any streets within Village limits. Parking is not permitted until snow removal operations have been completed on streets or parkways outside the Central Business District when snow accumulation is over two inches. Parking is not permitted after 1am until snow removal operations have been completed on streets or parkways within the Central Business District when snow accumulation is over two inches. The Village asks you, however, to park your car in your driveway once snow accumulation reaches two inches.

Q:

What roads does the Village plow?

A:

The Village clears snow and ice from over 50 miles of roads within the Village limits. State crews handle snow and ice on Route 14 (Northwest Highway), Ela Road, Barrington Road and portions of Route 59 (Hough Street) and Lake-Cook Road (Main Street) outside the Village limits.

Q:

The snowplow damaged my mailbox and the lawn in the parkway when it went down the street. Will the Village repair the damage?

A:

Public Works crews will repair any damage to lawn or mailboxes caused by Village snowplows. If proof is available that damage was caused by Village snowplows, mailboxes will be temporarily repaired within 24 hours after notification. Permanent repairs will be made when weather permits. Lawn damage will be repaired in early spring when the weather permits.

Q:

How long does it take the Village crews to clear snow and ice from the Village Streets?

A:

The goal of the Village is to clear snow and ice from Village streets within 24 hours after the snow has stopped falling.

Q:

Will I be able to get my car out of the commuter lot if it snows while I am at work?

A:

When snowstorms hit during business hours, the road crews plow and salt exit lanes from the commuter lots. Unfortunately, the crews cannot clear snow around individual cars. After cars have left the parking area, remaining snow and ice is removed from the lots.

Q:

Why does the Village use so much salt on the roads? It rusts my car.

A:

The Village is always studying alternative methods of keeping ice off of the road surface, but a mixture of salt and calcium chloride has proven to be the most effective and economical means of ice control.

Q:

If we have an emergency during a snowstorm, how can a fire engine or ambulance get to my home

A:

If you have a life safety emergency, DIAL 911 at once. An emergency vehicle and a snowplow, if necessary, will be dispatched immediately to your home.

Q:

How much does snow and ice control cost the taxpayers?

A:

The cost of snow and ice control varies depending on the conditions each winter. Records kept over the past years show that the Village spends approximately $100,000 on snow and ice control during a typical winter.

Q:

How does the Village know that a storm is coming?

A:

A consulting meteorologist issues snow and ice warning and recommendations to the Village storm-fighting units.

Q:

Where can I call to get information about road conditions?

A:

If you must travel during a storm and want information about road conditions, call:

Illinois Department of Transportation	1-312-368-4636
Illinois Tollway Information	1-800-865-5394
Weather Information	1-847-976-1213

The Village Hall, Police, Fire, and Public Works departments must keep their telephone lines open to handle emergencies and to deal with snow removal efforts. Please call those departments only in an emergency.

Q:

Large piles of snow end up at the end of my driveway after I just shoveled it out, can Public Works come out again and clean out the end of my driveway?

A:

Unfortunately, we do not have the manpower to clear snow plowed from the street that may be deposited at driveways. There are at least 3800 driveways in the Village. The best thing to do (if possible) is to wait until the street has been plowed from curb to curb before clearing your driveway. You will still have to clear the snow that is plowed from the street; however, you will only have to do it once.

Q:

Do I have to shovel the snow off my sidewalk in front of my house?

A:

Yes, Village code requires that all sidewalks be cleared from ice and snow within 24 hours of the conclusion of the snow event.

Q:

The snow plow has not been down my street yet. Why not?

A:

The Village is divided into four (4) snow plow routes in order to provide timely plowing to all Village streets. In each route there are streets designated as emergency routes, school routes, side streets, cul-de-sacs and alleys. Depending upon the snow fall duration, hourly accumulations expected and time of day, crews may make changes in their assigned routes to keep the emergency and school routes open before starting on the side streets, cul-de-sacs or alleys. During heavy snow fall events, a 5th route is created which designates a truck to stay on emergency and school routes so that the other trucks may continue to open all the side streets, cul-de-sacs and alleys for the duration of the storm. Please call the Public Works Department (847) 381-7903 to get updates on road conditions and other snow plowing information.

Highest priority is given to emergency access routes such as, Hough Street, Main Street, Dundee Avenue, Hillside Avenue, Eastern Avenue, and Lake Zurich Road.

Q:

What can I do to help?

A:

Thank you for asking! There are a number of things you can do to help.

•	Please park your car in your driveway, not on the street, if there is more than a two-inch accumulation of snow.

•	Keep any fire hydrants near your property free of snow so that they will be ready for us in an emergency.

•	Keep your sidewalks free of ice and snow.

•	Do not push/plow or blow snow from driveways onto village streets or sidewalks. Also encourage your snow removal contractor to do the same.

•	On garbage day, please remove your trash cans from the curbside or driveway as soon as possible. During the winter months, these containers tend to end up in the street where they can get damaged by snowplows and slow up the snow removal process. The Public Works Department is not responsible for damaged trash cans.

•	Please call the Village Hall, Police, Fire, and Public Works departments only when there is a life safety situation.

FORESTRY

Q

Is Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in our community? How will we know if it arrives? What can we do? What will happen to our trees?

A

The Emerald Ash Borer has not been identified within our community. Since 2006, several communities have positively identified EAB, which include the following surrounding counties: Lake, Cook, McHenry, DuPage, and Kane. Authorities believe the Emerald Ash Borer has been within those communities for at least 5 years and suspect the movement of firewood from infested areas as a leading cause of the rapid movement of this insect. Symptoms of the Emerald Ash Borer are similar to many other ash distress symptoms including a general appearance of poor health. Specific signs include very small "D" shaped exit hole in the bark and unusual sprouts on the trunk. All the communities within the Chicagoland region are working closely with Federal and State agencies in the tracking and identification of this insect. Village crews and contractors have been trained by Federal and State agencies in the procedure for identification of this insect. While it is not a question of if, but when, the Emerald Ash Borer will make its way into our community, the Village will notify the community of its presence.

Currently, State and local law requires the immediate removal and proper disposal of any ash tree found with this insect. The federal and state authorities recently approved the use of two chemicals, commonly known as Tree-Age and Merit, which can be used in the prevention of EAB. Treatments are performed annually or bi-annually, depending on the chemical chosen and can be expensive, depending on the size of the tree. Experts continue to recommend a complete analysis of your ash trees and that chemical treatment is only one tool that should be reserved for specimen ash trees. Removal, replacment, and diversification, in many cases, is the prudent and recommended course of action. If considering treating your ash trees, please consult with several qualified vendors before making a final choice.

Should you suspect Emerald Ash Borer please contact the Forestry Division, Mon - Fri, 8:00 am until 3:30 pm at (847) 381-7903 and staff will inspect your tree. Remember, this insect only attacks ash trees. You can also go to the web site www.emeraldashborer.info for further information.

Q

When will the chipper be in my neighborhood?

A

The Chipper is scheduled for pick up 3 times a year, January, May, and October. Please check your Village Newsletter for specific dates.

Q:

What can we put out for the chipper?

A:

Any logs or large tree branches that you can get to the curb. Public Works is not permitted on private property for the purpose of removing chipping material. All chipper material must be free from foreign objects. Material should be placed on the parkway, facing one direction. Remember the chipper is designed to process large amounts of wood; therefore, the longer the better. The chipper is not designed to process small plant material such as clippings from hedge trimmers or small branches under 2" in diameter or root balls from dug up plants. This material should be placed in your "Green Monster."

For safety consideration Public Works cannot pick up any material that contains hazardous chemicals or foreign objects. Items that will not be picked up include: any landscape material such as timbers or fencing, any branches or logs with nails or wire, wreaths, holiday trees with lights, decorations or bags. If you are unsure, please contact Public Works, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am until 3:30 pm at (847) 381-7903.

Q:

When will my parkway tree be trimmed?

A:

If you have specific trimming needs, or would like further information about the tree-trimming program, please contact the Forestry Division, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at (847) 381-7903.

Q:

Can I plant a tree in the parkway?

A:

The Village prohibits the planting of any trees in the rights-of-way. We ask this for many reasons, but mostly to protect you. Unfortunately, many trees and shrubs that you find at stores or garden centers, like Home Depot or Menards, import their plant material from all over the country. This is very hard on the plant because it has not and will not acclimate to our climate. We also try to stay away from some of the plant material that is typically "pushed" at these retail establishments such as red maple and pin oak. These plants look great in the nursery, but after a few years in our heavy clay soils they just don't perform. Lastly, there are many buried utilities within not only the parkway but many times within your yard. Striking one of these utilities during planting can be very harmful or even fatal. Also, planting over a buried utility can be costly later on when a repair is required and your tree has matured.

Instead of planting a tree on your own, we ask that you work with the Village to achieve your landscape needs within the parkway. The Village offers a 50/50 Cost Share Tree Planting Program every year, where the Village will plant a 2 ½" caliper tree in your parkway. We will meet you at your property to discuss appropriate planting options available to you based on such things as your desires for size and shape and color along with the physical constraints of the site such as overhead wires, size of parkway and species diversity. We take care of ordering, (all our plant material is grown for our area and typically comes form the Cook, McHenry or Lake County areas) locate buried utilities, plant and the best part is we guarantee it…for life! All we ask of you is to assist in supplemental watering. For more information about the 50/50 Cost Share Tree Planting Program, please contact the Forestry Division, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am until 3:30 pm at (847) 381-7903.

Q:

Why does ComEd "butcher" the trees?

A:

First, it really isn't ComEd. The ICC mandates that each power company provide safe and efficient power to its customers. A large part of that includes vegetative management or tree trimming. While the cuts you see along the road don't always look pretty they really are best for the tree. Tree biology dictates where a cut needs to be made and in many cases when crews are trimming for "line clearance" they must cut back a bit farther than might be thought, to make a proper cut and not injure the tree or leave it more exposed to decay.

In an effort to reduce the affects of "line clearance" trimming, the Village continues to work with the power company to plant the "right tree in the right place." I know it sounds kind of corny, but it really is true. Burying lines is outrageously expensive and will probably not happen in established neighborhoods with existing overhead wires. The solution the Village chooses is to make wiser plant selections and/or a better tree planting location. When no other option exists, we will plant a lower growing species that will not interfere with the overhead utilities and be "butchered" by trimming crews once the tree matures. Where space does exist, we can plant a larger tree, keeping it away from the overhead utility.

Q:

What are my responsibilities regarding tree protection and tree preservation when building or adding on to my home?

A:

Your responsibilities are fairly basic. You as a property owner are required to preserve and protect any and all plant material within the Village rights-of-way and/or on neighboring property, applying techniques, recommended, reviewed and ultimately approved by the Village. In addition, if you live within one of the following subdivisions: Lakeview, Chateaux Bourne, or Carriage Trail, not only are your neighbors' trees protected but also the trees on your lot must be preserved and protected. If you are contemplating construction, please contact the Forestry Division so that we can explain the details of all required tree preservation activities to you. There are many techniques available which aid in the preservation of trees, not only on your neighbors' property, but within yours as well.