Village closing all facilities, suspending nonessential operations

The village of Buffalo Grove is closing all village facilities, except for the Police Department at 46 Raupp Boulevard, effective tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, until further notice.

All public safety operations will continue, including services provided by the Fire Department, Police Department and Public Works Department. Village facility closures include the Buffalo Grove and Arboretum golf courses.

Village officials encourage the public to take all precautions advised by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to slow the potential spread of COVID-19.

Village services available online or remotely (and not in person) include:

The payment of water/sewer bills, which can be completed online, mailed in, or deposited in the drop box located behind Village Hall, 50 Raupp Boulevard.

** License renewals (except for liquor licenses) can be completed online at vbg.org by clicking on ‘How Do I’.

** Filing of non-emergency police reports, for incidents that occurred within Buffalo Grove village limits, and that have no known suspects, can be done here.

            Other nonessential services being suspended include:

** Car seat checks

** Presentations to community groups

** Blood pressure checks at the fire department

** Courtesy leak checks for residential indoor plumbing

** Citizens Police Academy - class on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 is canceled (future classes will be evaluated based on the latest information)

** Ride-a-longs

** Tours of all village facilities

** Any in-person services that can be reasonably provided by phone

The village also recommends residents pay water bills online at vbg.org/water-bill instead of paying them in person at Village Hall. Another option is for residents to drop off payments in the drop box located behind Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd.

Appointments for building permits (issued on a priority basis for emergencies), and to obtain real estate transfer stamps need to be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling 847-459-2500 or online at vbg.org/appointments. Appointments will occur only at the Police Department. Village Board meetings will continue in order to complete necessary public business. All non-essential public meetings have been canceled, along with events scheduled at any village facility over the next 30 days.

The village will post regular afternoon updates regarding this evolving situation through its e-newsletter, which will also be shared on its social media pages. Links to these pages can be found at vbg.org/socialmedia.  

 Editor’s note: The Buffalo Grove Police Department is addressing only essential operations due to the coronavirus/COVID-19. This includes providing weekly summaries of police activities. Reports will be available when operations are able to return to usual and customary procedures.

Lake County officials ask citizen vigilance during outbreak

In an email to residents, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart and Board of Health President Tim Sashko urged residents to not only follow Health Department guidelines during the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak while being “respectful of your neighbors (while shopping) and buy only what you need.” The two are featured in a video message to Lake County residents..

Schneider addresses Coronavirus in Illinois

U.S. Rep Brad Schneider (D-10) issued resources for Tenth District residents regarding the coronavirus/COVID-19.

In an e-newsletter, Schneider said, “The situation continues to evolve, but as of Sunday, March 15, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 93 cases of COVID-19 in 13 counties in Illinois.”

Schneider noted that “Governor Pritzker has moved aggressively to confront the virus” citing two significant moves:

** All bars and restaurants in Illinois will be closed to the public, beginning at close of business Monday through March 30.

** All Illinois schools, public and private K-12, will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17 through March 30.

The Illinois Department of Health provides updates on the disease's spread within the state, as well as frequently asked questions available here.

The Illinois Department of Health has also created a hotline to answer questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, and more: Phone: 1-800-889-3931 Email: DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV

Libraries shuttered until March 29

The Indian Trails Public Library has closed its main library, 355 Schoenbeck, Wheeling; and its branch, 99 E. Palatine Rd., Prospect Heights; until March 29, in what the district says is “an effort to avoid spreading the Coronavirus by reducing the gathering of groups.”  The Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Road in Lincolnshire is also closed. A notice on its web site says “The library will be closed starting March 14 as a preventive measure against COVID-19. All programs are cancelled and due dates are extended.”

In a news release and email, the Indian Trails Library officials said the decision to close followed the decision of school districts served by the library, including CCSD21, District 96, District 23, District 214 and Stevenson High School to close for the last two weeks of March, the library determined the increase of visitors coming into the library would be counterproductive to health recommendations to follow social distancing.

“We know when schools are out, we see an increase in foot traffic throughout the day,” Brian Shepard, executive director said. “In keeping with current recommendations from local and national health organizations, we decided by closing the building to public entry, we could help slow the spread of the Coronavirus/COVID-19.”

Although the library buildings will be closed for public entry starting Saturday, March 14, staff will be onsite and continue to provide assistance either by phone or via email.

Community News

Nonquarantined quorum

            The Village Board is scheduled to hold a regular meeting tonight (March 16) at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. The agenda can be found here.

Village hires new finance director

Christopher Black, a finance professional with “…more than 20 years of experience working for local government and public organizations,” is the village’s new finance director. Most recently, he was the finance director for the Rock River Water Reclamation District in Rockford. Prior to that, he was vice president and chief financial officer at Rock Valley College, the finance director for the City of Rockford, and the city administrator for McHenry.

In other finance news, the village announced that it “…has a ‘AAA’ – from Standard & Poor’s (S & P), for the sale of bonds in 2020. This rating also applies to the village’s existing debt portfolio. Strong budgetary flexibility, liquidity and fiscal management were cited as justifications for the top ranking, which was released by S & P on March 3, 2020. Other strengths mentioned included the village's history of positive financial operations and progress toward building reserves for future capital and operation needs.”

Rotary offering scholarships

The Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove is accepting applications for academic and public safety scholarship programs to support educational programs preparing students for careers with a four-year undergraduate degree and careers in public safety fields.  One-time grants in the amount of up to $2,000 each will be awarded in both categories.  Applicants must be a current student or graduate of either Buffalo Grove High School or Adlai Stevenson High School.

Academic Scholarship

Scholarship grants in the one-time amount of up to $2,000 each will be awarded to support educational programs preparing students for careers with a four-year undergraduate degree. Grants require acceptance into a bachelor degree college program at a four-year school. Applicants must be a current student or graduate of either Buffalo Grove High School or Adlai Stevenson High School. 

Applicants must provide the following items:

** One completed and legible application with supporting documents (link top left of this page).

** Two letters of reference.

** Transcript of high school and/or community college (if applicable) grades for all institutions attended.

** An essay of up to 500 words explaining how you have demonstrated the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self."

Questions regarding the Academic Scholarship can be directed to Pat Johannes at patricejohannes@att.net.

Public Safety Scholarship

Scholarship grants in the one-time amount of up to $2,000 each will be awarded to support educational programs preparing students for careers in a public safety field – law enforcement, fire or emergency medical services.

The grants will be awarded for students choosing to attend a college/degree program in a public safety field (law enforcement, fire science or emergency medical services), a technical/trade school for Emergency Medical Technician (Basic or Paramedic) or a fire academy. Applicants must be a current student or graduate of either Buffalo Grove High School or Adlai Stevenson High School.

Applicants must provide the following items:

** One completed and legible application with supporting documents (link top left of this page).

** Two letters of reference.

** Transcript of high school and/or community college (if applicable) grades for all institutions attended.

** Information about the college/trade school you would like to attend.

** An essay of up to 500 words explaining why you would pursue a career in public safety and how you would apply the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self” in your chosen public safety career.

Questions regarding the Public Safety Scholarship can be directed to Shawn Collins at scollins@vbg.org.

Submitting Your Application

Please email your completed application for either scholarship and supporting documents to Pat Johannes, Academic Scholarship Chair by June 1, 2020.

Village calls “at your door service” a success

            The “At Your Door Service” offered by Waste Management to village customers is successful. At least according to village officials. According to the Countryside Reminder, more than 1,300 customers used the service that resulted in 120,000 pounds of materials that were sent for recycling according to Community Development Director Chris Stilling.  That amount includes 15 gallons of old paint from Trustee Joanne Johnson’s house.

Local students named semi-finalists in GeoBee

Two Buffalo Grove students, Jason Jacob, a sixth-grader at Aptakisic Junior High School, and Vageesh Ramaswamy, an eighth-grader at Twin Groves Middle School in Buffalo Grove were named semi-finalists in the Illinois National Geographic GeoBee. The competition was scheduled for March 27, but was cancelled due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus/Covid-19.

Patriot color guard teams capture top places

The Stevenson High School Color Guard teams participated in the Stagg High School Invitational where the junior varsity squad placed 1^st and the varsity placed 2^nd.

Student Voices

Here are links to the student newspapers at Stevenson and Buffalo Grove high schools.

Buffalo Grove High School Charger

Stevenson High School Statesman

Wheeling High School Spokesman

Got News?

If you have news about your club, school, church, synagogue or other community organization, please submit news, information and story ideas to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.  Articles should include a contact name email and phone number. Commentary articles are also welcome.  They should be limited to 350 words and should include contact information as noted above. All submissions may be edited for style, spelling, and libelous content. Questions about B.G. News & Info. should be sent to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

Subscribe by email

If you want to receive Buffalo Grove News & Information right to your email box, send you email address to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.