VVIILLLLAAGGEE NNEEWWSS 245 S. State Street •Manhattan, IL 60442 www.villageofmanhattan.org Phone (815) 478-3483 • Fax (815) 478-5103 SPRING 2006 Many Changes in 2005, More For 2006 There were many changes in 2005. The tions to the citizens elected a new mayor and two board within new board members. With this change the next several came new ideas and significant months. We accomplishments that the village board want to upgrade and the citizens should be pleased with. our codes and We upgraded our residential design ordinances before guidelines to be equal to nearby villages, commercial discovered Lakewood Homes is selling and retail its property, recreated a citizens development committee, settled a 12-year boundary comes to our issue with New Lenox, conducted an town, not after. At this time we will engineering study to determine our work with the fire department to future sewer/water needs, began upgrade the fire codes as well. addressing the need to remove radium from our water supply, and much more. The prospects for a new village hall will be researched this year. Our citizens Although debate has been lively, and the committee is in the process of preparing votes on some of these issues were not a report indicating whether it would unanimous by board members, I am make financial sense to remodel our proud of what has been accomplished. small existing facility or to construct a Hopefully, with the board’s continuing new, expandable facility in a different desire to work together we will location. Our board eagerly awaits the successfully tackle some of the following committee's recommendations. issues in 2006. An architectural theme for new These projects include a new water well commercial and retail development will being drilled; a radium removal facility also be discussed over the next 12 being designed and put out to bid and a months. This theme, if approved by the million gallon water tower being board, would only apply to new constructed. We also plan to see the commercial and retail development. An installation of a new sewer and water issue of this complexity deserves line running south along Route 52 and considerable analysis, and the citizens the replacement of the water main along committee plans to have such a report Sharp Drive. for the village board to review in 2006. The need to relocate our existing post Also being addressed is the need to office is currently being investigated. We upgrade our design guidelines for future will continue to meet with our Federal commercial and retail development. Our and State officials to assist us in this citizens committee is already working on complicated endeavor. As the traffic from this and will be making recommenda- Continued on page 5 Village President Special Census William A. Borgo In the coming months, the Village Leighlinbridge, Ridgefield, and Village Board of Trustees of Manhattan will be conducting Brookstone Springs subdivisions. David Beemsterboer Patrick Forsythe a Special Census. A special The tentative timeline for David Gallagher census is where certain areas of conducting this special census is Michael Naughton the Village are counted to June through August 2006. John Phelan determine the number of new Jeffrey Wolfe residents that have moved into The Village is now accepting Manhattan. Since the Village has applications for census takers. Village Clerk Mattie Becker grown by leaps and bounds since Pay rates are $13.50 per hour for the 2000 census, it makes good enumerators, $15.00 per hour for Thomas Pahnke, fiscal sense to conduct a special crew leaders, and $10.25 per hour Village Administrator census now. The State of Illinois for clerical staff. Applications may Tim Barker, Chief of Police pays the Village approximately be picked up at the Village Hall Kevin Sing, Finance Director Marc Nelson, $120 per resident. Our current located at 245 S. State Street. For Planning Coordinator population is estimated at 6,500 more information contact Bill Liszka, residents, equating to an Kevin Sing, Finance Director at Superintendent Public Works additional $380,000 in revenue. (815) 478-3483 or ksing@ Dan Chellios, Areas to be counted are Sunset villageofmanhattan.org. Public Improvement Coordinator Lakes, White Feather, Village Hall Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Emergency Weather Warning Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Sirens In Manhattan… DIAL 911 FOR ANY EMERGENCY The sirens are sounded: only. When it looks like bad Manhattan Fire District • TESTING – 1st Tuesday of weather is approaching, monitor 478-3197 each month at 10:00 a.m. your local radio or television for Manhattan Police • SEVERE WEATHER – current weather information. Your 478-4408 During emergencies residents will best protection is to be aware of Park District 478-3324 hear a 3 minute steady signal of possible severe weather in the Library the sirens. When you hear the area, monitor local conditions, 478-3987 siren and are unsure what they and be prepared to act to seek Anna McDonald Grade School are sounding for, go indoors and refuge. As weather is very 478-3310 turn your radio to one of the difficult to predict and severe Manhattan Junior High Emergency Broadcast Stations, weather may develop suddenly 478-6090 and listen for essential emergency and without notice, the weather Lincolnway High School information. DO NOT call local warning sirens may not be able to 462-2100 fire or police agencies to ask why be activated for every occurrence. Public Works 478-3127 the sirens are sounding. If it is an Manhattan Township emergency, they are busy getting In Will County tune your radio to 478-3123 equipment and manpower to the one of the following stations for Chamber of Commerce emergency scene. emergency reports and 478-3811 information: Cable TV The outdoor warning sirens are WJOL-1340 AM WCCQ-98.3 FM 478-4000 intended to be heard outdoors WSSR-96.7 FM WRXQ-100.7 FM 2 Where’s The Many Changes, from page 1 continue in 2006 and allow all of the Metra station develops and us a chance to plan ahead for Mayor Been? our town continues to grow, the future residential development. necessity of a new postal facility February 8 - Attended Will with more parking and safer Of course, there will be a myriad County Governmental League access will become extremely of other issues that will have to Lobby Day in Springfield, Illinois evident. be dealt with this year, but hopefully you can see we have February 18 - Attended public Chicago commuters and visitors already identified some important meeting in Peotone presented by to the city have a new issues for 2006. Will they all be Congressman Jerry Weller and commuting option this year. solved? We certainly believe so! Will County Executive Larry Beginning January 27, 2006, With your continued support and Walsh about the proposed residents began riding the Metra the dedication of the village staff Peotone airport. train on a daily basis from the and employees, we will keep new Manhattan train station. moving forward! February 24 - Attended Will This wonderful addition to our County Partnership Summit at community will be a major William Borgo, Joliet Junior College that was convenience and asset to our Mayor of Manhattan coordinated by Will County town for decades to come. Executive Larry Walsh As expected, we will continue to March 1 - Attended Lincoln Way investigate and apply for all High School’s referendum available grants and low interest presentation at the Manhattan loans from all levels of First Annual Junior High School government. We will maintain Business Expo working relationships with U.S. March 2 - Attended City of Congressman Jerry Weller, U.S. Manhattan Chamber of Joliet’s Opening presentation Senator Barack Obama, State Commerce is hosting its First about the development of the Senator A.J. Wilhelmi, State Annual Business Expo on city’s upcoming Southside Representative Jack McGuire, Saturday, May 6th 2006, at Comprehensive Plan Will County Executive Larry Manhattan Jr. High School, from Walsh and more. To foster a good 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. March 13 - Delivered Keynote working relationship with other Address at Lincolnway Central villages, the mayors of Elwood, Please stop in and visit the High School’s semi-annual “Honor Frankfort, Homer Glen, Mokena, various booths that will be on Roll Knight” Manhattan and New Lenox will display. meet throughout the year. March 14 - Attended Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s monthly As implemented in mid-2005, the meeting Village of Manhattan will continue to meet on the last March 30 - Attended 2nd Monday of every month with meeting regarding Joliet’s leaders of the local taxing bodies. Comprehensive Plan for its south This communication effort with eastern region. the leaders of the Fire Department, Library, Lincoln Way High School, Park District, School District 114 and Township, will 5 Manhattan Metra Station Radium The Metra Station is operational Parents please reinforce safety Subsequent to with two trains leaving issues with your children: modified testing Manhattan during the week. requirements • NEVER walk or play along the begun in 2003, Leave Manhattan: 6:02 a.m. tracks. It is illegal and could the IEPA notified 6:52 a.m. result in serious injury or death the Village in • NEVER cross the tracks when January 2004 that Wells #6 Arrive Union Station: 7:25 a.m. the gates are down or when the and #7 were noncompliant 8:15 a.m. signal indicates that a train is with the latest adopted coming. Flashing lights and radium standards. In Leave Union Station: 5:00 p.m. ringing bells mean STOP and recognition of this problem, 5:40 p.m.